Russia Stations Warships Off Australian Coast Ahead Of G-20 Summit

[Old Nick]

Source: HuffPo

Posted: 11/14/2014 4:54 am EST - Updated: 4 hours ago

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Vladimir Putin is underlining his presence at a major summit of world leaders in Australia by stationing warships in waters off the country's northeastern coast, prompting the Australian prime minister to angrily accuse Russia of trying to reclaim the "lost glories" of the Soviet Union.

The diplomatic drama, which has been simmering since a Malaysia Airlines plane was shot down over an area of Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed separatists in July, threatened to overshadow Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's goal of keeping this weekend's G-20 summit focused on economic growth.

But Abbott, who had previously said he would physically confront the Russian president over the Flight 17 disaster that killed 298 people, including 38 Australian citizens and residents, did little to dampen tensions with his latest critique of Putin's Russia.

In recent days, four Russian warships have entered international waters off the northeast Australian coast to coincide with Putin's visit to Australia for the summit that brings together the leaders of the world's 20 biggest industrialized and developing economies. Australia, in turn, sent three warships of its own to monitor them.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/14/russia-g20_n_6156950.html

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The good ol' days are back again!

[hrmjustin]

1. Seems petty on his part.

[quadrature]

5. tell that to the Baltics ...

DDR (OK, former East Germany)
Poland
Checs and Slovaks
Hungarians
etc
etc

[uhnope]

56. What's that overcompensating creep Putin up to now?

[MNBrewer]

2. I'm sure Russia was provoked into doing it!

[whistler162]

60. Austria... Australia same diffrence.

[ballyhoo]

3. This is exactly what Putin should have done. I think

Abbott is a mental case and would put nothing past him. Oh, that he would physically challenge Putin on worldwide tv.

[LanternWaste]

4. What then, do you believe is it precisely intended to accomplish?

"his is exactly what Putin should have done..."

What then, do you believe is it precisely intended to accomplish or prevent?

[ballyhoo]

12. Prevent Abbott from trying to do something outlandish like

arrest Putin for Flight MH17 and put him in custody. Like I said: I think Abbott is mentally unstable as does a growing portion of Australia. We are entering a new chapter in history that will make the cold war seem like a sauna in Palm Springs. You apparently have not read Art of War.

[LanternWaste]

21. I'm not sure how merely asking a question leads one to believe a particular book has or has nor been

I'm not sure how merely asking a question leads one to believe a particular book has or has nor been read. However, no doubt one's dogma will indeed, compel one to believe in absurdities to better validate that bias.

(read Art in 1982... you yourself should try Meditations by Aurelius if not already,as your bias seems to deny contextual historicity.)

[ballyhoo]

24. Not into poetry, contexual or otherwise. Your question was related to Putin's activities. I

know that Putin has read Art of War. He has said so. Sorry for the perplexing question. I should have placed a more logical antecedent.

[hrmjustin]

8. You think this is a good idea?

[ballyhoo]

14. In this particular case with this particular leader--yes. Have you

been following the dialogue between the two?

[hrmjustin]

17. No I have not. can't say I like either of them but I think this was a bad move.

[stevenleser]

67. There is no shark that person can't jump. nt

[leftynyc]

10. You can't be serious

You think the proper response to a dick waving contest are battleships off the coast? Just how small is putin's dick? Or anyone else's who thinks this is an appropriate response?

[ballyhoo]

18. I'm not as concerned with penis size as you

ostensibly are. I am concerned with Abbott trying to arrest Putin for Abbott's belief that Putin had something to do with the downing of MH17. Like I said, I think Abbott is mentally unstable, and Putin may think the same. With China and BRICS, Putin is emerging as a revived world leader who is within two years of telling SWIFT to go screw itself. He cannot have take chances with a leader who is acting like Kim Jong Kook of the South.

[freshwest]

77. I don't think it's a good response. But your response makes me laugh! Keep it up!

[War Horse]

16. Why? Nutcase against nutcase, both in postions of power, is rarely a good sign

Judging by that article, Merkel is sort of the adult in the room...

[ballyhoo]

19. That may be. But Putin is exercising prudence. Also, I don't regard

Putin as a nutcase anymore. When compared to others he has advanced Russia by leagues and he has an approval rating now of 87 per cent by his people. See, I'm pro leader who thinks about "we the people". Others should take note.

[War Horse]

23. You of, of course, have a very good point there.

[hrmjustin]

27. Advanced Russia by leagues? I wonder how LGBT Russians would see your comment.

[hrmjustin]

34. A country not ready for that? Holy Shit!

My rights as a gay man should not be up for debate and should nog be curtailed because a country is "not ready" for it.

So you put popularity ahead of civil rights?

[ballyhoo]

38. I have no say over what other countries do or think. I don't like SA chopping people's heads off but

I'm not going over there with a sign demanding it stop immediately. Right now, if suddenly Putin gave more right to gays, his authority would be questioned and gays would be shot en mass in the streets. Is that what you want? Different cultures have different timelines for acceptance of behaviors skewed too far away from the midpoint. That's the way it has always been. Do you not remember the fifties in this country?

[hrmjustin]

40. I don't give a shit about Putin's popularity! i do give a shit that my LGBT brothers and sisters ar

being persecuted and I am disgusted that you put his popularity ahead of LGBT people's rights.

[stevenleser]

69. Anti-US Nationalism is everything to that person. They will throw everyone under the bus for it. nt

[Adrahil]

88. So wait... people's rights are subject to the will of the majority?

I can't tell you how much I disagree with that. I find that position wholly despicable. Would you support such a position if the minority in question were, say, Jews? I frankly am astonished by your position. Astonished and, yes, disgusted.

[Odin2005]

45. America "wasn't ready" for desegregation in the 1950s, either.

[ballyhoo]

49. And.......your point..? I was in Meridian in

the sixties. I know how it was.

[hrmjustin]

52. The point is you are making excuses for Homophobia in Russia!

[Adrahil]

89. The point is quite simple....

peoples' basic human rights are not subject to the will of the majority or the good of the state.

[uhnope]

59. OMG this is like having a FOX-addled RWer on DU arguing

wtf?

[stevenleser]

68. Yes, I am sure DU's LGBT community feels the love and concern just oozing from you. nt

[leftynyc]

31. I'm sure the Russians

just LOVE the sanctions and just LOVE the fact their currency is in the toilet. And when they're finished LOVING putin for that they can LOVE what the price of oil is doing to their economy. Personally, I find him nothing but a asshole and I find pro putin people pretty sickening.

[ballyhoo]

35. Good for you. The sanctions are doing nothing except to the

oligarchs. And, oh, yes, the currency is so bad the Chinese just signed a deal for gas for many years. They will buy ALL Russia's gas if need be--no matter what sanctions are involved. And when SWIFT is kaput it won't be Russia sweating about currency.

[leftynyc]

39. You honestly have no idea how

the price of oil works, do you? The currency is in the toilet. But I think it's adorable that you defend that colossal asshole so well. Really truly adorable (deranged, but adorable).

[ballyhoo]

41. I was STAT Regional Finance Manager for Texaco. I think this conversation is done. You

should stick to your main topic here. I know what will happen to oil prices as well as you know your wrinkles on your right hand. Good bye.

[leftynyc]

53. Suuuuuure you were

Again - so adorable that you defend that homophobic piece of shit on a progressive board. Really, really adorable. He's now doing the very same thing that brought the soviet union down. He truly is that stupid.

[Odin2005]

43. Putin is "advancing" Russia straight into the ground.

He's to Russia what Justinian was to Rome, the last hurrah of a dying empire.

[ballyhoo]

47. Negative. The only dying empire is one that became another Parthia when it attacked Iraq. Course,

neither of us will be alive to learn the accuracy of our prognostications.

[Odin2005]

50. The US is "dying"? LOL!!!

Russia is facing a population crisis and if China wants Siberia then Russia will be completely helpless unless it wants a nuclear winter.

[ballyhoo]

54. Baloney. Tell me that next year. Putin is

in charge. Course, China can learn about SS-27 Topol M's face first. Russia and China will cling to one another's coattails while across the sea Parthia re-emerges--unless a few things change.

[GGJohn]

55. Wow, you really are in the tank for Putin.

[MNBrewer]

62. I wouldn't be surprised it he's ol' Vlad, himself.

[uhnope]

58. Putin "has advanced Russia by leagues" = yet another insane comment

over 300,000 of the educated and able fled Putin's dictatorship in the two years after he started his latest "term"
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/24/russia-putin-emigration-idUSL6N0PI4TH20140724
and that figure is probably a gross underestimate

[EX500rider]

66. Mussolini was very popular for a awhile too....so what?

But i guess as long as the trains run on time....lol

[Adrahil]

86. Ummm.... dude..... really?

Putin is pushing his economy to the brink. And his approval is based on advancing a jingoistic, militaristic, nationalist, imperial policy. He harasses minorities, crushes vocal opposition, and has single-handedly pushed Russia back to a Cold War relationship with the West.

Supporting such policies is INSANITY.

[chrisa]

90. And Mussolini made the trains run on time!

Actually, he never did, and Putin is just another authoritarian jackass who invents enemies to scare his own people into supporting him.

Putin only cares about you if you're in the tight inner circle of the Russian mafia state. Otherwise, you're just another lemming that must be distrusted and ignored (unless if you publicly denounce him or challenge his power - then he'll do everything in his power to ruin your life).

[ladjf]

6. Let's see now. If Putin isn't pleased with the way the conference is going,

he's prepared to shoot a few missiles at Brisbane and other targets in Australia. Sure he is. So, that had better treat him with respect.

[War Horse]

20. He would never do that (and I'm just hijacking your point here, sorry)

He just wants the world to know that they are capable of if... (fill in the blanks, it's all been said before)

[LanternWaste]

22. No more and no less than he would be arrested... both being absurdities.

"He would never do that..."

No more and no less than he would be arrested... both being absurdities.

[War Horse]

37. Sorry, I don't get it

Putin is capable of doing a lot of damage. If pushed enough, he'd 'push the button', as it were, both literally and figuratively. But he currently has no desire to do that. Russia has a lot of issues, and he wants it to hold together. It is literally Eurasia. That's causing a lot of issues internally.

[GGJohn]

36. Russia's Navy is a joke,

they've got a few modern warships but the bulk of their Navy is a motley collection of rust buckets, the Russian Navy would fare very poorly against most western Navies, including Australia's Navy, who have very modern and technologically advanced warships.

Oh, and BTW, you can bet those Russian warships are shadowed by H/K subs and other western Naval assets.

[nilesobek]

7. I wish that idiot fascist Abbott would

"physically confront Vladimir Putin." Then promptly get his arm broke in a Putin judo hold. I really feel sorry for the Australian people on their unfortunate selection of this low brow dum dum.

I was watching John Oliver last night and his episode on Abbott. Sometimes Abbott's mind is so clouded he cannot respond to a question for up to 20 minutes.

[hrmjustin]

9. I feel sorry for the people of Russia as well. Don't care for either leaders.

[nilesobek]

13. Amen.

Putin's policies on gay rights are wrong and unnecessary. However, that falls far short of a reason to get into a shooting war with Russia.

[leftynyc]

11. Are you serious?

I feel sorry for the Russian people who are being led by a lunatic who thinks he can deflect from the damage of sanctions and falling oil prices by waving his tiny dick around.

[nilesobek]

15. You really like Abbott?

Have you checked that guy out yet?

[GGJohn]

25. Did leftynyc say he/she liked Abbott?

Do you like Putin?

[leftynyc]

29. No - both are morons

But only one of them is moving tanks and battleships into position. That's the one who gets my attention. Trash talk is nothing but trash talk so to put them on the same level is insane.

[nilesobek]

32. Agreed, not on the same level.

[Comrade Grumpy]

26. What is it with you and Putin's penis? You seem quite obsessed with it.

[nilesobek]

30. Looks like I got nailed by a hit and run specialist.

He interrupts, asks a question that should have been answered by someone else, then puts me on ignore right after asking me a question.

[ballyhoo]

51. It happens. People are still aggrieved from the election.

[nilesobek]

65. Yeah but I'm always willing to talk it out.

I already admitted mea culpa that I'm frequently wrong. They got to show me, not ignore me.

[uhnope]

61. Putin is the one who started his Macho Man propaganda that is embarassing to any thinking person

But the thinking people are fleeing Russia in droves now
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/24/russia-putin-emigration-idUSL6N0PI4TH20140724

[uhnope]

64. you crack me up except not because you are support a vicious dictatorship

your bureaucrat comment was 100% wrong. Try doing more than skimming the bullet points.

At least you were a star in this show

[freshwest]

85. Have some extended family from Kiev and Moscow. It was hard to get US citizenship, but worth it.

They're professionals and scientists, fairly young, intelligent and friendly, and are grateful for the opportunities here.

Where I live people are coming in droves from Ukraine and Russia, of all ages and income levels, but most are elderly.

All like the USA, which one wouldn't think if one only read the negative things said online.

[Agnosticsherbet]

28. Classic Gunboat Diplomacy

It is a threat to the G20.

[ladjf]

79. To me it looks like a silly move. I think Putin is tipping off the World

that he is a borderline psycho. But, psychos with nuclear weapons are still dangerous to everyone else.

[Agnosticsherbet]

80. He is letting the world know that he is willing to go to war if they offend Mother Russia.

International Intimidation.

[GGJohn]

81. Only problem with that is,

unless the conflict is close to mother Russia, and conventional, they would lose any war, their Navy, except for a few modern ships, is a collection of rust buckets, their Air Force is in a little bit better shape, but still no match for most Western Air Forces, they can't project power like the US can, given all that, Putin is bluffing if that's his intent.

[Agnosticsherbet]

82. Intimidation isn't proof he could win a war. It is a tactic to cow others into submission.

A war with Russia would be long, bloody, and possibly cost millions of lives that he is more than happy to spend.

Also, a quick look at history shows that going to war with Russia is more than likely to lead to a loss by other nations. Germany and France both proved that the best trained and equipped militaries in the world are no match for Russian Winters and a refusal to be beaten.

[GGJohn]

83. As I said, if this were close to Russia's borders, then it would probably be

a drawn out war, but away from Russia? Russia would suffer a defeat, their Armed Forces are nothing compared to what they were during the time of the Soviet Union.

There would be no invasion of Russia, what would probably happen is that after Russia's decrepit Navy is sent to the bottom of the ocean, their Air Force knocked down, they would sue for peace or go nuclear, at which point, all is lost.
No, I don't believe the military leaders of Russia would allow Putin to go to war, especially if it involved the projection of forces.

But it's all moot, Pres. Obama isn't falling for Putin's bluff or intimidated by Putin, Pres. Obama doesn't want a war with Russia, but he's certainly isn't going to be bluffed.

[Odin2005]

42. It feels like Deja-Vu, and I'm not even old enough to REMEMBER the Cold War!

[GGJohn]

44. I do.

I remember being stationed in W. Berlin during the height of the Cold War, didn't know from day to day if the Soviet's were going to come across the border or not.

[Odin2005]

46. What years were you stationed there?

[GGJohn]

48. 70-71, I was a chopper pilot.

[Alittleliberal]

70. That's when my grandpa was stationed there.

My mom was born in Berlin in 70, they came home in 72.

[GGJohn]

71. Aarrrgggh!!!

Thanks alot, now I really feel old.

Who knows, I might have known your granddad.
What was his MOS?

[Alittleliberal]

73. Well he was young when my mom was born, and she was young when I was born

So you probably aren't doing too bad.

I don't know his MOS. Only that it was shortly after he graduated from West Point.

[GGJohn]

74. Ahhh, an officer.

I probably didn't know him, enlisted and officers didn't mingle much.

[Alittleliberal]

75. Ya I've heard that

He was an academic spent most of his career teaching. Many years as a dean as well. Retired as a 2 star. A great man. Thank you for your service my friend

[GGJohn]

76. Thank you, and thanks to your grandpa for his service.

[daleo]

57. International waters

The phrase means what it says.

[BadtotheboneBob]

72. As is the Black Sea...

But, it drives The Rodina bat-shit crazy when NATO deploys its ships there because the Rooskies consider it their private pond. That's Czar Vlad's excuse for his planned long-range bomber flights down our coasts and into the Gulf of Mexico. Not to mention their buzzing of our ships with their tactical aircraft in the Black Sea. How would the Czar like it if that was done to his Red Banner Fleet? Not-very-much... and he'd howl bloody murder. Ol' 'One-way' I call him. That and a menace

[freshwest]

78. Yes, but he has so many fans... Fischer, Jones, Palin, Faux, the GOP. They can't be wrong!

[Adrahil]

87. One should not do a thing simply because one can.

No one is (I think) questioning his RIGHT to steer warships in those waters, but rather the WISDOM of doing so.

[Snow Leopard]

84. Zzzzz

Whatever, it is like 4 boats. He can' t sink Australia. It is open waters too.