Article

2007-05-03 Europe

U.S. backs Estonia amid ongoing war memorial dispute with Russia

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Posted by mrp 2007-05-03 07:28|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Estonia was getting too big for its britches and had to be taken down a few pegs, or so figures Russia. And probably the rest of quasi-socialist Europe. Estonian economy has been booming since they shifted to a flat income tax. That is not acceptable to socialists. Now it remains to be seen if Russia will trump up enough of an excuse to actually invade and take over Estonia again. And if they do, if anybody will do anything about it. I believe Estonia is now a member of NATO - will NATO fall apart rather than defend a member against agression? This is potentially a very big deal. If Putin gets daring, and gets away with it, it will not stop at Estonia - look for the rest of European SSRs to 'rejoin' the Soviet Union. Who would stop them? Not Bush - not with his hands full of Islamofascists. This scenario would explain why Putin has been so accomodating of Iran - just keeping the US occupied and diverted from Russia's goals. A simple protest of a statue in a small European country could be the most important item in the news this year - but no one will notice.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2007-05-03 09:51|| 2007-05-03 09:51|| Front Page Top

#2 Estonia has also been a member of the EU since 2004. The huge body of regulations they had to adopt as a result may well dampen their economic miracle.

But, the European Commission is sending a delegation to yak with Moscow, and Merkel, as current president of the European Council, has backed the Estonian PM.

In the face of a Russian invasion, I figure the EU could use all those file cabinets full of 20 years' worth of white papers on the Eurocorps to bar the door, while they dial 911 for NATO.

Posted by exJAG 2007-05-03 10:31|| 2007-05-03 10:31|| Front Page Top

#3 NATO has also said they stand with Estonia.

So far it looks Merkel, at least, realizes that to go soft on this would hurt the EU with the nordics too much.

The French, I presume, are preoccupied with their election campaign.

Posted by liberalhawk 2007-05-03 11:45|| 2007-05-03 11:45|| Front Page Top

#4 indeed, Estonia is developing too well and becoming a counterexample, a danger to the soviet propaganda that socialism (communism) is the best of the best. This is ideologic battle which RU is losing.

Only 2% estonian export comes to Russia, 80% - to Finland and Sweden. Russia is losing grip of Estonia in economic sphere. Latvia and Lithuania is a bit different, they are much more dependent economically, and guaranteed not to go off the hook in the near future.

Below is the link, how democracy and tolerance is understood in Russia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J6A-tlHENU

Posted by Nesvarbukas 2007-05-03 13:57|| 2007-05-03 13:57|| Front Page Top

#5 Fascinating, Nesvarbukas. :-)

Posted by trailing wife 2007-05-03 14:22|| 2007-05-03 14:22|| Front Page Top

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