tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post116126645061321878..comments2023-10-28T12:01:47.929+00:00Comments on Edward Lucas: this week's European Voice columnEdward Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11369936559712607693noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-1162378726538775172006-11-01T10:58:00.000+00:002006-11-01T10:58:00.000+00:00Good point. On the other hand, I don't agree that ...Good point. On the other hand, I don't agree that the Baltic states would not join NATO had not Russia made it difficult. If we take broader look at Europe we see predominantly those Western European states that avoided being conqueered or occupied and stayed neutral in the WW2 not part of NATO today. Those are Ireland, Finland, Switzerland. Was Denmark threatened by the Soviets not to join NATO and Ireland, on the other had, was it "allowed" to join by the USSR? I think those countries who managed to survive alone don't see point in NATO accession as much as those who didn't.Estonia in World Media (Rus)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13791711276337826586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-1161959916859738022006-10-27T14:38:00.000+00:002006-10-27T14:38:00.000+00:00Story with pissing on the flag shows Estonian degr...Story with pissing on the flag shows Estonian degree of respect to their own country.<BR/><BR/>Estonian goverment signed mutual assistance pact with USSR to place Soviet forces in Estonia. Estonian goverment was also very keen for Soviet forces to stay.<BR/><BR/>If you see some crucial difference with Germany then you need to elaborate.dmitriyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05122385202365560555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-1161949989639208872006-10-27T11:53:00.000+00:002006-10-27T11:53:00.000+00:00I am a bit puzzled by Dmitriy's post. Estonia is s...I am a bit puzzled by Dmitriy's post. Estonia is still a country? Yes indeed. <BR/><BR/>Ruutel was a poor president and no doubt his children did behave badly. But I'm no fan of his. I don't see what that has to do with Estonia as a country.<BR/><BR/>British forces do remain in Germany, expensively and reluctantly. They have not been occupation forces since 1956. The British forces in Berlin were technically occupation forces though the west german govt and the Senate of Berlin both were very keen for them to stay. <BR/><BR/>I can't imagine that Dmitriy is seriously comparing the Russian forces in the Baltics in the early 1990s with the allied forces in Germany. If so, he needs to elaborate.<BR/><BR/>Regards<BR/>EdwardEdward Lucashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11369936559712607693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-1161653201664222302006-10-24T01:26:00.000+00:002006-10-24T01:26:00.000+00:00Edward, Estonia is still a country, where Presiden...Edward, Estonia is still a country, where President's granddaughter's friends piss on a state flag on the roof of presidents palace. NATO protection of Baltic states is purely symbolic. <BR/><BR/>By the way, has Britain already withdrawn it's forces from Germany?<BR/>For you, British soldiers in foreign countries are not "occupation soldiers" like Soviet soldiers in Baltic states, aren't they?dmitriyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05122385202365560555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-1161273637640036862006-10-19T16:00:00.000+00:002006-10-19T16:00:00.000+00:00Not only did Russia ignore Armenia's concerns abou...Not only did Russia ignore Armenia's concerns about spillover from the Georgian embargo, it has also systemmatically ignored their understandable panic over the pandemic racism sweeping Russia. One can predict that if Armenia goes on dancing with bear, it'll soon be lunch just like that guy in "Grizzly Man."<BR/><BR/>Edward, any chance of you pushing some more coverage of Lidia Yusuopova, who can easily be identified as a potential "next Politkovskaya"? She needs continuing publicity both to protect her from a hit and to generate funds for her work and is being neglected just as Politkovskaya was during her life. Here's background:<BR/><BR/>http://russophobe.blogspot.com/2006/10/lydia-yusupova-keeps-flame-alive.htmlLa Russophobehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05672264388217953086noreply@blogger.com