so you think its just business as usual with Russia?
This is how things were between the two countries until the fall of the Soviet Union. Then this kind of harassment and brinksmanship stopped.
Over the last 2-3 years...if not longer...Putin has been making move internally to consolidate power and stifle opposition.
He put the richest guy in Russia in jail on what most say is trumped up charges...he's shut down the free press...he gives the illusion of allowing opposition protests...but when it comes time for these events to happen either the location owner suddenly refuses to allow his space to be used or the police show up and break up the meeting before it happens.
He is slowly trying to rebuild Russia into what it once was. This is just part of his game.
i would wager they think a Dem is going to come roaring into the White House, and they feel emboldened. Knowing that Dems have no guts for war, it wouldnt suprise me that Russia and China would gently threaten to test our attitude.
I was just reading an interview with Garry Kasparov...he's turning from chess into politics...according to him...Putin only gives lip service to anyone but the actual head of a country when it comes to international affairs.
Condi Rice can speak on behalf of the President to him all she wants to...but it goes in one ear and out the other. He only takes matters between the U.S. and Russia seriously if it comes straight from W.
of course, Hilary and Obama would roll over and show their bellies in a hot minute...
They're birds of a feather IMHO. Hillary or Obama in office would just make whatever Putin has planned for Russia that much easier to pull off.