"According to scientists, for twenty years there will be no shortage of the Russian oil resources. Such a period is also envisaged by the geopolitical policy-makers of the Kremlin for overtaking Europe. Their new futurological book „The Third Empire“ (quazi novel) is really noteworthy, as well as „Mein Kampf“ of the Russian political elite. In these books even less time if foreseen for Europe‘s takeover and prostration of America. According to their plans, by 2015 the Baltic States will have completely vanished from the stage. The Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians would be physically destroyed. The book was written by vice chairman of Duma, and V.Putin‘s favorites M.Leontyev and A.Dugin advertise it with enthusiasm."

Geopolitika - Concepts of „abroad“: near and remote neighborhood of Lithuania

First Russia will have to get a decent sized economy. Currently it has just surpassed what it was before the collapse of communism. Their economy is only the size of the netherlands and belgium combined.

Russia wont be a superpower. Currently its all about the US and europe and to a lesser extent japan. In a year or 10 it'll be about china also.

Russia lost its superpower status when it abandoned communism. Go figure.

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"Facing a cold wind

Jun 28th 2007
From Economist.com
Russia looms large in the Baltic states

WEST BERLIN, where your columnist lived during the cold war, was small, indefensible, symbolically vital and rather badly run. As Europe slides again into chilly division, West Berlin’s current equivalent may be the Baltic states. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are small: even their combined population of 8m would make them one of NATO’s bantamweight members. Though they shelter in theory under the alliance’s nuclear umbrella, in practice NATO offers little more than moral support. "

Europe.view | Facing a cold wind | Economist.com

if you are willing to fight for it, i have little doubt we will support you.

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www.myspace.com/crusade7

THat they already have.

???...? What? Where-ever you ripped this one, I have more than hard time digesting that info. Russia is the biggest nation in the world with vast resources and currently "iron man" to rule it all. Not only have Russians climbed up from the rubble of `communistic´ rule, but they have already gotten away with democratic system in favor of their familiar rulership.

Let me tell you something which is not only disturbing, but downright scary; Europeans are and will become even more dependent to Russia. And Russia is again powerplayer.

How? Putin rules through energy. Oil, gas and elctricity.
Currently green-wave of pretty thoughts is flowing through European nations, and they are getting rid of nucklear plants\coal plants and try to fill the need for energy by using alternatibe methods, which by the way are not enough, not by a longshot.
Putin sells us gas, and oil along with normal electricity. In addition he is beginning to order new type of nucklear plant; floating plant. It is great in the sence of strategy, plus EU will compleatly run using Russian energy.
Belarusian tried to bully Putin, he closed the pipes and they had to admit humiliation. Similar situation looms in the horizon.
Putin can and will tell EU what to do, and what not to do simply by keeping his hand on the switch...of energy.

You simply do not folllow Russian matters that much, as we happen to be right next to them, we do.

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En uneksi. I do not dream.

They havent climbed up, they have only just recovered from the collapse. And their economy really is the size of the netherlands and belgium.

The issue is two-fold: they can slow down our economy but it will hit theirs equally hard. And honestly I dont understand the european resentment versus nuclear energy (the finnish seem to be the only reasonable people) and frankenstein food for that matter. It is ironic that the greens arent not fighting for the enviroment but rather make the world poorer, more polluted and less forested.

I'd have to disagree with that. Actually, based on GDP, the Russian economy is twice the size of Belgium and the Netherlands combined. More important Russia's industrial sector is very strong with far less dependence on services than the EU, Russia experienced a 2006 growth rate of 6.7% and is endowed with immense natural resources including the all-important oil and natural gas reserves. Economically Russia will be more of a future benefit to many EU countries than the US as Russia trades those resources for Euros, lessening EU dependence on buying US debt for oil trades. From a numbers viewpoint, Russia made an amazing, positive turn-around after the demise of the USSR and has a very healthy economic outlook.

China eventually will be the top dog.

CIA world factbook:

2006 exchange rate GDP of Russia: $733.6 billion
2006 exchange rate GDP of Netherland: $612.7 billion
2006 exchange rate GDP of Belgium: $369.6 billion

2006 PPP GDP of Russia: $1.746 trillion
2006 PPP GDP of Netherlands: $529.1 billion
2006 PPP GDP of Belgium: $342.8 billion

So it depends what defenition you use. Anyway Russia is nowhere near superpower status. Plus its population is shrinking by 0,5% per year which is even worse than europe.

I agree Russia is not a superpower. From a numbers viewpoint I do like theirs better than any western nation due to their natural resources.

What exactly and concrete Putin can and will tell the EU to do? Elaborate the details of the treat you try to impress Erik, will you? All the European media that belong to the american-centered capital are full of fierce hystery about Putin who will harmfully affect the EU one day. But none of the barking dogs explains what harm namely can be done. Russia doesn't project and thrust the ideology anymore, neither it has plans to reassemble the East European Bloc of satellites, counter-union to the EU structure. We don't want anything from the EU exept for the fair trade, as well as the Europeans want Russia be their trade partner - that's all and sufficient for everybody to be happy. The fair trade in the market economy means that everyone sells his goods for maximal possible price which is balanced with the global demand. It's normal capitalism.
Germans and Chinese are good partners because they call a spade a spade, because they are pragmatic, predictable and enough independent to do what is profitable for their national interests. That is why we deal with them. As for some member-states of the EU which are in fact client-states of the USA - they have bound themselves for the US politically so that their economic ties with Russia will be dependent and equal to the ones of their master. The trade relations between Russia and the US are microscopic. Every new command from Washington to his client-state to execute some new impact or insult on Russia will curb the economic relations further. But this process isn't the threat or tragedy at all. Some countries in Europe will have the direct benefits of trade with Russia and some will not - this will be the only result of the US' efforts to undermine the trade between ALL Europe and Russia. If your country has it's own national interests and it's own national business - c'mon, welcome, let's make money together. If the government of your country is being totally defined in the US, the yoke of the IMF or of the so called World Bank is firmly seddled on you - sorry, guys, may the Brussel and the German taxpayers help you.

You really don't understand it? The oil deliveries in the world are totally controlled by the US military force and their base network - all except for those which Russia regained after the chaos or 90-s. All producers of oil are dependent from the US, and as the Saddam's example has shown, they punish the renegades very sternly. The production of oil is highly localized and easy to control, quite contrary to the atomic elecricity. Everybody buying oil authomatically credits and donates the US economy.
For every barrel of the oil or every cubic meter of natural gas the companies have incredible 200-300% of clear profits on the retail trade, this gives to the small knot of economic elites the absolute unreachable championship among all other business. In other word, this give to some small group the power. Consider the difference between the retail prices in Europe and in the US and you will have the complete picture which explains the secret of the US' successes, because oil control as well helps to easily arrange advantages for their home economy.
Coal technologies or atomic renessanse in Europe - all this is deadly dangerous for the US domination, Europe simply would become independent in it's energy supplies and some European countries advanced in atomic high-tech would gain great weight. Oil-gas retail jack-pots will be no more possible.That is why the US will sooner tolerate the Russian influence in oil-gas sphere, then to eliminate the oil-gas structure of economy itself. The allergy is better then death.

Oleg, you read only Russian news, don't you?

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When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid
Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

Yes, yes...that no doubt explains why major oil producers like Iran and Venezuela are so eager to be on such good terms with the US...

LOL. Look up the numbers, my friend. Almost ALL of the price difference between the US and Europe is composed of European taxes. If it weren't for taxation, some Europeans would pay less for gasoline than Americans do.

The US has (one of) the lowest gas taxes of any industrialized nation; it's somewhere around 15%, or was last time I checked. European gas taxes tend to be between 100-150%. Most European nations have decided to raise gas taxes to encourage conservation and alternative fuels; the US has not, so gas taxes here as quite low.
So when Americans pay $2.75 per gallon and Europeans pay $6.00 (or the Euro equivalent), that extra $3.25 doesn't go to some US organization; it goes straight to taxes.

$2.75? Almost worth the drive to Philly. I paid $3.33 yesterday.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them; speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition