Russia To Build Nuclear Reactor in Syria

[Juno Beach]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/11/syria-russia-nuclear-talks

Russia just doesn't get it! :mad:

[Affentitten]

I'd say they get it very well.

[Juno Beach]

I'd say they get it very well.

Not if Russia wants to be taken seriously by most first world countries.

[Affentitten]

Not if Russia wants to be taken seriously by most first world countries.

And why would they give a flying fark about that? OOOooHHHH no Mr Putin. What would Belgium think?

[hcrof]

Russia has gas. Europe needs gas. Russia can do what it likes (within reason).

On the other hand I don't really have a problem with this. Its a long way from reactor to bomb especially if the Syrians didn't actually research the reactor themselves, and besides, the Syrian leadership is not irrational enough to actually use a nuclear device.

This will just give the Russians more leverage over the country and that is not necessarily a bad thing if it can help with the Middle East peace process.

[Michael Emrys]

Besides, the Israelis will probably bomb it before it comes on line.

Michael

[Juno Beach]

And why would they give a flying fark about that? OOOooHHHH no Mr Putin. What would Belgium think?

Hi,

I can tell you are young and immature, so let me give you some guidance. Russia wants to be taken seriously amongst the EU, USA, etc, it would not be difficult to convince these countries to boot Russia out of their select clubs, such as the G8.

Cordially,

JB

[hcrof]

I think you misread the situation.

a) Russia is very self confident right now. It has a strong economy despite the recession, it has Europe reliant on its gas and militarily it is in pretty good shape. Certainly enough to pacify the 'near abroad'.

After the incidents in the Ukraine and Georgia I would say the 'west' takes Russia very seriously indeed. Russia is also reaching out once again to the third world, particularly in India, South America and the Middle East. These regions have more influence than they did in the cold war so it gives Russia great global 'leverage'.

c) With stable government and a growing economy the Russians see themselves as only getting stronger in the future. While Russian society has its problems I see no reason why this shouldn't be the case.

d) The G8 isn't as important as it once was anyway. Without China, India and Brazil it is starting to look more and more irrelevant. In the future the important decisions will be made by the G20.

[Juno Beach]

I think you misread the situation.

a) Russia is very self confident right now. It has a strong economy despite the recession, it has Europe reliant on its gas and militarily it is in pretty good shape. Certainly enough to pacify the 'near abroad'.

After the incidents in the Ukraine and Georgia I would say the 'west' takes Russia very seriously indeed. Russia is also reaching out once again to the third world, particularly in India, South America and the Middle East. These regions have more influence than they did in the cold war so it gives Russia great global 'leverage'.

c) With stable government and a growing economy the Russians see themselves as only getting stronger in the future. While Russian society has its problems I see no reason why this shouldn't be the case.

d) The G8 isn't as important as it once was anyway. Without China, India and Brazil it is starting to look more and more irrelevant. In the future the important decisions will be made by the G20.

Hi, the foundation for Russia's economy is fossil fuels, without them and they will some day run out or the world won't use them and Russia moves to 2nd world status.

Cordially,

JB

[dieseltaylor]

Raw materials also figure highly - this is from 2007 but seems authoritive. And with a population smaller than the EU or the USA its running out of resources will be sometime later than the "first" world perhaps.

http://www.larouchepub.com/eiw/public/2007/2007_30-39/2007-39/pdf/43-47_738.pdf

As for calling someone young and immature - I think you will be probaly younger than most of the posters here. Maturity levels of course differ and are not necessarily age related : )

[hcrof]

Russia is not like Saudi Arabia. It has considerable scientific achievement and its universities continue to produce quality graduates in Science and Mathematics. The difficulty is to commercialise this knowledge and to set up new and innovative industries with all of these graduates. It need to better harness its human resources.

Russia has problems. It is too reliant on energy right now and the old Soviet era specialists and equipment are beginning to be retired. However, the government is well aware of this and is putting measures in place to try to deal with these problems, paid for by its natural resources. The Russian economy is beginning to diversify, in 20 years time I am sure it will look very different to what it is now. In particular, watch the nanotechnology and software industries. They are expanding very quickly.

[Affentitten]

Hi,

I can tell you are young and immature, so let me give you some guidance.

Gold.

[Stalins Organ]

"Could build" isn't "to build" - and we talk about journalists being shonky reporters!:mad:

[Other Means]

I wish they'd build a few bloody reactors here so we weren't reliant on Middle Eastern/Russian fossil fuels.

[Mikko_I]

I wish they'd build a few bloody reactors here so we weren't reliant on Middle Eastern/Russian fossil fuels.

The Finnish Government only recently authorized two new reactors*. Local Greens are livid!

*Probably won’t be Russian made, though.