U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper (file photo)
US News and World Report: Esper Downplays Russia’s Threat: Not a Challenge in the Future
Esper’s derriding comments – akin to those that have infuriated Vladimir Putin the past – come amid a new Pentagon shift to focus primarily on China.
The secretary of defense on Wednesday dismissed Russia as unable to present persistent dangers to the U.S., marking a notable shift in the Pentagon's view of the global threats for which it must prepare.
"China has a vast population, its resources, its vast dynamism of its economy," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said at an event organized by the RAND Corporation in California, "very different from Russia in terms of demographics."
"We see Russia as a challenge right now, but in the future, less so."
Esper's comments mirror the kind of American denigration for the former Soviet republic that has reportedly infuriated Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past, including in 2014 when then-President Barack Obama referred to Russia as a "regional power."
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WNU Editor: China is the bigger threat. Russia still has a massive nuclear arsenal. They should not be dismissed.
5 comments:
The last two sentences of the editor cimmeht are spot on. I would add that one should not needlessly provoke them. When one needlessly provokes another, threats are often created where they didn't exist before. While China may or may not be the bigger "threat" either are as powerful as America and perhaps more si and should be treated as such.
B Poster trolling true to form.
Anon (11:41)
Are you suggesting that a nuclear armed power should not be respected? Are you suggesting a nuclear power should be provoked without cause? As this seems to be what you're implying, this would make you a "troll."
I don't understand why Esper and others say such things. Doing so accomplishes nothing.
My 8th grade history teacher used to say "Talk's cheap". My SOP would be speak softly and carry a big stick.
Bposter take it easy.
We all respect Russians, not so much for the nukes, but sure, that too. But in generally because we always felt Russians and Europeans (and with that also Americans, as the founders and first immigrants and value systems were prediminantly from Europe) are basically brothers, at war sometimes, but that's the history of Europe/Eurasia. Genetically, by race creed and culture we're also very similar and just like Russia we have many Christians atheists and Jews, very similar engineers, families and hobbies, so there's deep respect. It's just we like to make fun of you sometimes, go watch some 90s Schwarzenegger movies and you'll get it. It's all good. :)
Eventually we'll work together again as brothers, for now we're stupid and divided.
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