Medvedev: Increase Russian presidential term to 6 years, deploy missiles near Poland

[ToMyBetterAngel]

"Russia will deploy short-range missiles near Poland to counter U.S. military plans in Eastern Europe, President Dmitry Medvedev warned Wednesday, setting a combative tone that clashed with global goodwill over Barack Obama's election.

In his first state of the nation speech, Medvedev blamed Washington for the war in Georgia and the world financial crisis and suggested it was up to Washington to mend badly damaged ties.

Medvedev also proposed increasing the Russian presidential term to six years from four — a change that could deepen Western concern over democracy in Russia and play into the hands of his mentor, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who has not ruled out a return to the Kremlin."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081105/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_medvedev_9



The increase has to be aimed at getting Putin back in office for another 12 years. I'm interested to see how Obama will react to all this once he becomes president.

[Machu505]

Russia scares the fuck outta me.

[Jason Tate]

Interesting. I hope we reevaluate our Russian relations. I don't get what their deal is (motive wise) on a lot of things.

[Jason Tate]

It almost seems at times like they just want to as awkward as possible and just be huge douchebags about everything because they can.
Hahah, I was trying to figure out how to say just that.

It's one of those situations where I want to smack those in charge and just say, "relax." Fuckers act like they have coal up their ass they're trying to turn to diamonds.

[FScott]

It almost seems at times like they just want to as awkward as possible

That's exactly what it seems like. It's as if they desperately want the US to recognize them now as a major influencing power, so they counter the US at every chance they get. Sometimes I think they do things just for attention. That or Russia's leadership uses the ant-Americanism to build nationalism and support for its own ends.

[ToMyBetterAngel]

Interesting. I hope we reevaluate our Russian relations. I don't get what their deal is (motive wise) on a lot of things.

The impression I am getting from Russia's recent actions is they want to be recognized as a dominant global power again, on par with America. I'm sure they're sick of being trampled on in the 90's and early 2000's, and if the only way to acheive global relevance again is to stir shit up, so be it. That's the only thing I can think of to justify their confrontational new foreign policy.

I hope for both our countries sake Medvedev and Obama can find some common ground in the coming years.

[boykosaurus]

One of the best things I learned about Russia and its people was during the Summer when I visited an Institute (I can't believe I'm blanking on the name), and essentially the speaker suggested that most of the problems with Russia stem from the fact that America claimed to have won the Cold War. To Russians, this was an insult because they believe they won the Cold War alongside America; defeating Communism was a shared accomplishment in their view. SO this sentient somewhat loosely ties to Russias current ambitions, according to the speaker.

[trindaddy]

I just don't understand that country at all. I'm not sure if their disputes are learned in their history books or from their government, but it seems evident that they have never completely moved on from the cold war years. Maybe they're pissed about 007 movies still being made? I have no clue.

[Ailite]

Yeah, Russia seems to look at list of decisions and then conciously choose the worst one

[Praetor]

hahaha, all of the responses so far have been spot on.

[ToMyBetterAngel]

hahaha, all of the responses so far have been spot on.

Well I can definitly understand the Russian point of view and why they are so pissed right now. The Soviet Union fell apart, and then we proceeded to basically walk all over them. We expanded the military alliance that had opposed them for decades right to their borders. We constructed pipelines around their borders in territory that had been theirs only a few years earlier. We're constructing a missile defense base only a few hundred miles from their border, and again in a territory they used to control.

Just imagine if Russia was doing any of this anywhere close to America's borders. I imagine we wouldn't take too kindly to it either. I'm not saying I condone Russia's actions but I can defeinitly understand where their motivation is coming from.

[splitsecond]

Already calling out Obama if you ask me.

[guitarist18241]

Will Russia go to war with the United States?

[saysmydoctor]

I don't understand why the US needs missiles in Poland.

[Adeniz19]

Already calling out Obama if you ask me.Joe Biden set it up

[FScott]

Will Russia go to war with the United States?

If they are foolish.

[saysmydoctor]

Also, how is Georgia our fault? They are the ones who massed troops on the border.

[FScott]

I read an article that Russia blames the US for the war because some US generals were stationed in Georgia prior to the invasion. Medvedev stated that by the US instigating Russia that they are playing politics because McCain will benefit by Russian aggression.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7586605.stm here it is

[HashHolly]

Will Russia go to war with the United States?

Not unless they look forward to WWIII

[ToMyBetterAngel]

Will Russia go to war with the United States?

I think it is extremely unlikely. The nuclear deterant is a very good reason to avoid war at all costs and I think both of our countries understand that. Russia and the United States have been through much worse times than we are seeing right now.

I don't understand why the US needs missiles in Poland.

neither do I, if they are aimed at Iran why do we have to place them so close to Russia? To me it just seems like another way for America to encroach on Russia's traditional sphere of influence. We can talk all we want about how Russia is acting confrontational but America is doing the same.

Also, how is Georgia our fault? They are the ones who massed troops on the border.

I see the Georgian war as being Georgia's fault; not ours or Russia's.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/11/07/Georgia_claims_against_Russia_quest ioned/UPI-93771226085503/

[open mind]

georgia felt over-confident in it's alliance with the u.s. and proceeded to act a fool and got a solid bitch slapping from russia for it.......whether that's the georgian presidents fault for being stupid or if they had been given reason to be confident that we'd back them up i don't know.

russia isn't acting up and flexing it's muscles for the hell of it, there are more then a few legitimate reasons they feel the need to tell the west to back off.

[saysmydoctor]

I blame Georgia and Russia equally. Russia felt the need to manipulate the region's politics by putting troops along the border. Georgia and nations in general need to stop clinging to these ethnic minority regions.

[splitsecond]

I blame Georgia and Russia equally. Russia felt the need to manipulate the region's politics by putting troops along the border. Georgia and nations in general need to stop clinging to these ethnic minority regions.

I really don't understand how one person can be so ignorant. Really.

[splitsecond]

I blame Georgia and Russia equally. Russia felt the need to manipulate the region's politics by putting troops along the border. Georgia and nations in general need to stop clinging to these ethnic minority regions.

I really don't understand how one person can be so ignorant. Really.

[saysmydoctor]

I really don't understand how one person can be so ignorant. Really.
You say this a lot and never substantiate it. On what grounds? Or are you just talking out of your ass? This is a debate forum, not a place to pick a fight.

[splitsecond]

You say this a lot and never substantiate it. On what grounds? Or are you just talking out of your ass? This is a debate forum, not a place to pick a fight.

I don't need to substantiate anything. You say so much ignorant, uninformed shit on a daily basis that you substantiate it for me. Its like you look at a book called "Wut do liberals hate" and then state every major premise you can find without backing it up. Its seriously fucking insane.

[saysmydoctor]

I don't need to substantiate anything. You say so much ignorant, uninformed shit on a daily basis that you substantiate it for me. Its like you look at a book called "Wut do liberals hate" and then state every major premise you can find without backing it up. Its seriously fucking insane.
So what about this is uninformed? How is this statement I made uninformed? As I differ from a lot of other 'liberals' on this forum (no one on this forum is a liberal, but whatever...), I think you need to try again.

[open mind]

i'm not quite sure what it is you two are really talking about but i consider myself to be pretty liberal. :shrug:

[saysmydoctor]

Neither do I, I make a statement and this asshole comes out of no where and calls me ignorant even though everything I said was accurate.

[FScott]

He's mad that his brother lost the election.

[open mind]

Neither do I, I make a statement and this asshole comes out of no where and calls me ignorant even though everything I said was accurate.

well really you just shared an opinion that may or may not be completely accurate depending on how you choose to look at things.....but it's not like dude has made much of a case either.

[saysmydoctor]

well really you just shared an opinion that may or may not be completely accurate depending on how you choose to look at things.....but it's not like dude has made much of a case either.
Well, my conclusion of the facts may not be the opinion of everyone but Russia did mass troops and Georgia did try to stop South Ossetia from breaking off.

[open mind]

Well, my conclusion of the facts may not be the opinion of everyone but Russia did mass troops and Georgia did try to stop South Ossetia from breaking off.

it's a bit more complicated then that, but i'm to exhausted from a bad case of insomnia to want to get into it right now.

[saysmydoctor]

it's a bit more complicated then that, but i'm to exhausted from a bad case of insomnia to want to get into it right now.
Obviously, I simplified it.

I do have a question that stems from the title of this thread. Who would be opposed to an increase in our presidency's term limits?

[open mind]

Obviously, I simplified it.

I do have a question that stems from the title of this thread. Who would be opposed to an increase in our presidency's term limits?

i would be.
it's best for everyone not to let anyone hold that kind of power for to long...and i'd immediately suspect someone of being up to no good if they proposed it.

[saysmydoctor]

I said limits, I meant term length. From four years to five.

[open mind]

I said limits, I meant term length. From four years to five.

which would still allow for someone to be president for 10....that's to much time.

[saysmydoctor]

:shrug: I guess I see a problem with transitions every eight years. I dunno, longer terms aren't as bad in other countries.

[open mind]

:shrug: I guess I see a problem with transitions every eight years. I dunno, longer terms aren't as bad in other countries.

such as?
i'm not being sarcastic.....i really have no idea what term limits you're talking about and which countries have them.
it's one of those things i've never concerned myself with....but perhaps i should.

[saysmydoctor]

such as?
i'm not being sarcastic.....i really have no idea what term limits you're talking about and which countries have them.
it's one of those things i've never concerned myself with....but perhaps i should.
France. Used to be seven.

[Machu505]

which would still allow for someone to be president for 10....that's to much time.

FDR was badass for 12 fucking years. I don't advocate any president to run for three consecutive terms though.

[ToMyBetterAngel]

What bothers me about the Russian presidency is Putin can essentially stay in power there as long as he wants already, and the increase will only make it easier for him to do that. After Medvedev it seems pretty likely we're going to see another 12 years of Putin.

[saysmydoctor]

Putin is a scary one. He took away the people's ability to vote for their province's governor and said they had to be named by him instead--with little voice of dissent. The Russians are slowly losing civil liberties and they are hardly reacting.

[FScott]

Russians have never been accustomed to democracy.