Are we already at war with Russia?

2015-01-22T00:00:42-05:00

This opinion article (link provided below) raises a lot of good points and questions, and mainly asks whether for all intents and purposes we're already at war with Russia. I highly encourage you to read the article in its entirety, but a incomplete summary is as follows.

- The United States has been the orchestrator of numerous, and very effective, sanctions that is driving Moscow away from the west towards allies that do not necessarily share our nations interests.

- Our Secretary of State John Kerry has officially and numerous times accused Russia of funneling hundreds of tanks, armored personnel carriers and other heavy equipment to the separatists in eastern Ukraine without providing much in the way of public evidence. This doesn't sound like much but in the world of diplomacy it's significant to use the type of rhetoric our state department has adopted.

- The United States has already adopted two pieces of legislation that are historically "stepping stone[s] on the path to war." These being H.Res 758 passed on Dec. 4, and The Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 passed by the Senate on Dec. 11. The latter of the two directly arms and otherwise provides aid to Russia's opposition.

I'm not 100% sold on what the author is selling, and we obviously don't have American troops engaging Russian troops, but there's an argument to be made that our economic and political actions are straining the bounds of peaceful diplomacy. IMO there's unreported potential for this to escalate into something greater if relations continue to deteriorate. Thoughts?

Perhaps you missed it: We’re at war with Russia

The U.S. has been waging economic, financial, trade and political war against Russia. Worryingly, nobody in power in the U.S. or Europe has told us why.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2015 12:04 AM

2015-01-22T00:04:13-05:00

I Honestly Hope Not.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2015 7:41 AM

2015-01-22T07:41:17-05:00

Yes, we are. Right now it's a Gentlemen's war. We have been supporting the elected Ukraine President since last February. Putin would have moved on Eastern Ukraine and Crimea sooner had the Olympic Games in Sochi not been in (Boycott) financial jeopardy. Like to see one of the Political Cartoons they draw about us?

Response by Sgt Adam Jennings made Jan 22 at 2015 7:45 AM

2015-01-22T07:45:45-05:00

I believe we're slipping back into a Cold War state. Except this time Russia has a leader that won't back down from using military force to back up his talk. Especially while our military is being dismantled piece by piece back into a pre-war state. Kind of puts me in mind if WWII. While Japan was gearing up for war and doing all they could to incite it we were making refrigerators and cars.

I believe Russia has sat back and watched during the GWOT and seen the people of this nation tire of war and watch our military and its equipment be worn out and they're just waiting.

That's just my $0.02 worth though.

I also called this in a forum on Armchair General several years ago before I joined the military in 2007. Everyone laughed at me then. Can't say I didn't tell them so.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jan 23 at 2015 2:08 PM

2015-01-23T14:08:01-05:00

Maybe, but we don't have to.
SSG Private RallyPoint Member put it well. I hope not.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2015 3:08 PM

2015-01-23T15:08:54-05:00

I don't think we are at war with Russia in the same sense that we are not at war with Iran or North Korea. Our interests are definitely at odds and we seem to be supporting each other's adversaries. As Col Michael Grubbs implies, we seem to find ourselves more along the lines of a proxy war than anything else. Soon we will be helping to train Ukranian forces and this is directly opposed to what Russia would like, but we are not looking down the barrel of a gun at Russian troops. The article by Chris Martenson highlights some of the diplomatic and political steps we have taken to try to change Russia's behavior towards Ukraine. These actions fall far short of direct conflict with the Russian Federation. I believe that what we are doing is trying to tell Russia that in Ukraine, the juice isn't worth the squeeze. The message seems to be that if Russia continues to destabilize Ukraine, we will continue to destabilize their economy and put more of their strategic goals at risk. I don't see this as war just yet. I see it as diplomacy with an adversary resulting in very real tangible consequences.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2015 11:28 PM

2015-01-26T23:28:00-05:00

This is todays "tactical" version of jamming Russian short range command frequencies.
We did it to one another often for laughs. It's short-term, no real harm and really sticks a weed up their ass on a bad day. Russia is NOT a religion based foe, they're more like us than you can possibly imagine. That's why this works.

"Russian Special Forces
Kept in the Dark and fed Shit"

Place it in one of the online photo galleries, tag it properly, and they WILL see it.
Me, I just slap one on the US Embassy, Moscow FB page and tell the US Embassy Staff to "have a great day, and thanks for serving!" I'll be back later with one of theirs, and deliver another Salvo on them. Think it's a waste of time, and juvenile?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2015 10:34 PM

2015-01-28T22:34:03-05:00

I certainly hope not. I have spent countless years reading and studying the Russo-German War 1941-1945 and its brutality. A few points however. I have been warning about Russia for the past 15-20 years, but have only been laughed at. I've been told that we have other enemies out there (yes, that is true and very obvious). The closer NATO and the EU get to the borders of Putin's Russia, the more threatened he becomes. Lets not forget his grand vision of "Novorossiya,” or New Russia, his idea of a return to Russian great power. Russian leaders have always desired buffer states on its borders and now NATO, the old enemy is right on its border. I may have some of my facts backwards, but the bottom line is Putin is a threat to world peace, he will continue to expand Russia's borders and he doesn't give two hoots what the USA, EU, or NATO have to say. I do recommend the book "Terror at Beslan." I welcome feedback.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2015 7:21 PM

2015-02-04T19:21:26-05:00

Why all the hubbub, bub? Primarily, using natural gas for heat and cooking as a weapon. Putin uses the Ukraine Pro Russ Rebel Mothers as the distraction. 5,000 plus, killed on both sides since last March.

The only *Containment. Pick a side and make it smart.
This is now a Demilitarized Zone.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2015 7:59 PM

2015-02-04T19:59:25-05:00

Take a funny picture and post it to the web, they'll snatch it to make a MEME.
Their online Newspapers do the rest.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2015 9:53 PM

2015-02-04T21:53:54-05:00

When a Physicist is appointed SECDEF. The big-stick fun starts.

U.S. must warn Russia: Arms treaty a 'two-way street' - Ashton Carter

President Barack Obama's nominee to become the next U.S. defense secretary said on Wednesday that Russia needed to be reminded that a Cold War-era arms control agreement was a "two-way street" and that Washington could respond to any violations. Washington and Moscow have long questioned each other's commitment to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty. Ashton Carter, a former Pentagon No. 2 who is expected to win swift Senate...

Response by 2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2015 3:38 AM

2015-07-03T03:38:57-04:00

Definitely concerning. Vice news just released a small story with interviews from the President / Vice President and several high ranking officials in the Russian government.

Response by MSG David Rogers III made Jul 16 at 2015 4:40 PM

2015-07-16T16:40:32-04:00

We might have to rename them like we did with the World Wars.
Cold War I : 1945 - 1991
Cold War II : 2014 - ?

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Oct 27 at 2015 1:35 PM

2015-10-27T13:35:11-04:00

Alienating or going to war with Russia is a big, big mistake. Not that we could or would not win, but that the cost, financially and strategically is way too high. And, while we battle a war a attrition with a country that should be our allie (we have so many common goals and wants and trade interests) our true enemy, Extreme Islamic terrorist and Islamic States are making headway. No, in spite of our differences, we should ally with Russia against the real enemy.

Response by CPT Kirill Russian Varshavskiy made Dec 31 at 2016 6:50 PM

2016-12-31T18:50:12-05:00

The deportation of Russian embassadors out of the US, a very important moment in rising tensions between US and Russia. If before quadrupled militiray budged for Europe for 2017 from the US was ominous, this is quite major. Especially considering Russia cannot afford the war in traditional sense, and nuclear attack is the only available option for winning the conflict for Russia. Push the guy too far and vuala. Especially since Putin is already aggressive against the US. No matter how much Trump hopes, he won't be buddy buddy with Putin, but with his stupidity will provoke a war. He is already calling for bigger nuclear capabilities for the US, has no sense of diplomacy with his stupid and dangerous twitter account, and he hasn't even been inaugurated yet.

Are we already at war with Russia?

Are we already at war with Russia?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2015 12:04 AM

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2015 7:41 AM

Response by Sgt Adam Jennings made Jan 22 at 2015 7:45 AM

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jan 23 at 2015 2:08 PM

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2015 3:08 PM

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2015 11:28 PM

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2015 10:34 PM

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2015 7:21 PM

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2015 7:59 PM

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2015 9:53 PM

Response by 2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2015 3:38 AM

Response by MSG David Rogers III made Jul 16 at 2015 4:40 PM

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Oct 27 at 2015 1:35 PM

Response by CPT Kirill *Russian* Varshavskiy made Dec 31 at 2016 6:50 PM

Response by CPT Kirill Russian Varshavskiy made Dec 31 at 2016 6:50 PM