why Russia is no economic superpower.

[neverfail]

The Europeans desire US protection from Russia...

We definetely DO NOT desire such thing, as we are not threatened by Russia. It is the US which feels its interests are threatened by Russia, and thus tries to keep Europe chained to the defense of those alien interests. What the US is most scared of, is that Europe will establish a long term partnership with Russia, so it tries to force Europe to be as unfriendly as possible to Russia.

Utter rubbish Sertorio. Ask the Poles, if you happen to meet any. Or pay Poland a visit. Talk to ordinary Poles and ask what they think of Russia.

US troops welcomed in Poland

(Subscript: we wish you guys had been here in Poland back in 1939.)

[Sertorio]

Domination comes in many different forms and guises Cassowary.

Without having any militaristic intentions towards it, the US effortlessly dominates Canada.

This domination is well neigh unavoidable: given the immense difference between the two in demographic size and size of GDP.

Canada needs the US as a market far more than vice versa. The bargaining power between the two is very unequal.

The US also dominates its Latino neighbours to the south: though unlike in the case of Canada there is something of a history of the US selectively applying military might and other forms of strong arm interference down there.

No matter how much these may sometimes privately wish the US would vanish off the face of the earth, it is always there.

Imperialistic impulses occur naturally whenever there is a big difference in economical and military power between countries. We are a predator species and are still very far from being capable and willing to control our worst instincts. And the worst possible situation is one in which there is one single super power. The world was more peaceful when there were two such powers. And it will again be more peaceful once we have other powers capable of keeping the US in check. Russia and China can do it, and I wish Europe would be capable of uniting, so that it too could help keeping peace in the world, and guarantee its own freedom and independence from the US.

[SteveFoerster]

The Europeans desire US protection from Russia...

We definetely DO NOT desire such thing, as we are not threatened by Russia. It is the US which feels its interests are threatened by Russia, and thus tries to keep Europe chained to the defense of those alien interests. What the US is most scared of, is that Europe will establish a long term partnership with Russia, so it tries to force Europe to be as unfriendly as possible to Russia.

Utter rubbish Sertorio. Ask the Poles, if you happen to meet any. Or pay Poland a visit. Talk to ordinary Poles and ask what they think of Russia.

It may be true of Poland and of the Baltic States, but that's just about it.

So... the countries that are next to Russia and have been invaded and occupied by them before. Funny how that works.

Europe is a lot more than those countries. Countries which could sign an alliance treaty with the US, if they wish. But the rest of us no longer wish to be tied to US imperialistic policies. We want to have normal relations with Russia and to develop a cooperation with it.

"We", huh? Do you have any independent polling to back that up?

[Sertorio]

"We", huh? Do you have any independent polling to back that up?

No. Just the feeling one gets from living 75 years among Europeans. After a while one knows which are the dominant opinions. Of course there are people who think that belonging to NATO is a good thing, but they tend to be older people who lived through the cold war. Younger people tend not to support NATO and have a rather negative opinion of US policies. They don't much like Putin, either, but they have no negative feelings about Russia. If they were responsible for setting political policies, they would be wary of the EU, they would get us out of NATO, but they would wait until Putin was gone before attempting closer relations with Russia. But the US would never be a country with which they would want to have a close relationship.

[cassowary]

The Europeans desire US protection from Russia...

We definetely DO NOT desire such thing, as we are not threatened by Russia. It is the US which feels its interests are threatened by Russia, and thus tries to keep Europe chained to the defense of those alien interests. What the US is most scared of, is that Europe will establish a long term partnership with Russia, so it tries to force Europe to be as unfriendly as possible to Russia.

Utter rubbish Sertorio. Ask the Poles, if you happen to meet any. Or pay Poland a visit. Talk to ordinary Poles and ask what they think of Russia.

It may be true of Poland and of the Baltic States, but that's just about it. Europe is a lot more than those countries. Countries which could sign an alliance treaty with the US, if they wish. But the rest of us no longer wish to be tied to US imperialistic policies. We want to have normal relations with Russia and to develop a cooperation with it.

Each country can always withdraw from NATO and ask US troops stationed there, if any, to leave. Has any done so?