Are we returning to Cold War tactics or will we see a conflict in the near future?

2015-09-22T21:59:40-04:00

All around us there are signs of a return to a cold war relationship with Russia and China. The U.S., Russia and China have been flexing their military muscles. In the last couple of years there have been multiple military moves which seemed to be aimed at testing the limits of each other and or as trying to provoke each other.

Russia and China more often than not deny that they participated in some of these actions, while U.S. plane crews take photos of Chinese aircraft.

Provocation after provocation is leading to greater tensions between the countries. Tensions grow over cyber hacking, missile placement, close air encounters and other actions.

*Chinese fighter jet flew dangerously close to a U.S. navy plane.
*Chinese beef up naval patrols in the South China Sea.
*Chinese established a air defense in the East China Sea because of a territorial clash with Japan.
*Chinese cyber attacks.
*Russia bullies Ukraine and pushes it's claims up to the North Pole.
*Russia annexes Crimea.
*Russia shifted several of it's nuclear capable, long range missiles to a territory near Poland
*Russia reinforces it's FOB in Syria
*The U.S. bases four warships in Singapore.
*American tanks move across Europe
* US military maneuvers in Georgia
* American troops landing in Ukraine

Are we on a course to return to cold war policy or for a military conflict? Are we again entering into a game of chicken?

What are your thoughts?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/china-russia-flex-muscles-in-increasing-number-of-close-calls-with-us-aircraft/2014/10/04/a398731c-4b21-11e4-891d-713f052086a0_story.html

Close calls between U.S. military aircraft and Chinese and Russian planes are becoming more...

Close calls between aircraft have U.S. forces keeping a close watch.

Response by SSG Kelly Ferguson made Sep 22 at 2015 10:00 PM

2015-09-22T22:00:57-04:00

Head shot

Response by SFC Maury Gonzalez made Sep 22 at 2015 10:35 PM

2015-09-22T22:35:02-04:00

Unfortunately to the world, Vladimir is a narcissist with nukes

Response by LTC John Shaw made Sep 22 at 2015 10:43 PM

2015-09-22T22:43:29-04:00

We are not in the Cold war, we are at war with IS and Iran and their proxies, we just have not decided to really fight back. We are hoping that somehow if we talk, they will stand down, they won't and they will use our 'backing away' as the opportunity to influence.
Welcome to the multinational, we do everything through a coalition world! We will need to decide if any of our prior commitments mean anything or we will let the Russian, Iranians, Chinese, NK or anyone who wishes to pursue a Bully strategy to do what they want.
We (US/NATO) need to figure out what is our, you have pushed us too far line. I don't see the Obama Administration doing anything but giving ground.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 22 at 2015 10:52 PM

2015-09-22T22:52:58-04:00

We are actually in a cold war with Iran and have been in one for some time CPT Private RallyPoint Member. No open conflicts with Iran; but, several below the radar interactions have been going on for years in the gulf of Aden, Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, etc. Iran's leaders have been rattling their swords lately; but, I think they want to keep the status quo - except they would like to have less casualties among their quds force and Revolutionary Guards.
As far as Russia and China are concerned the cold wars have been over the former soviet republics like Ukraine and the Baltic republics and the Spratly Islands for China respectively.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2015 11:10 PM

2015-09-22T23:10:22-04:00

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 22 at 2015 11:18 PM

2015-09-22T23:18:01-04:00

There is a real possibility of a return to the cold war. The Russians are attempting to provoke us...

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Sep 22 at 2015 11:22 PM

2015-09-22T23:22:54-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member The "incidents" you have posted here do definitely look like "cold war"tactics to me.As for the conflict in the near future--most likely will be the same as the past --with one of the other powers backing a particular regime and the U.S. backing the opposing one.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Sep 22 at 2015 11:43 PM

2015-09-22T23:43:53-04:00

In the 1970 and 1980 we called it Low Intensity Conflict, and that is what we have been doing, so we are back to the game of human chess similar to the cold war.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2015 11:53 PM

2015-09-22T23:53:10-04:00

No Ma'am, we are in the lukewarm era, is not hot or cold, is both.

Response by SFC Kevin Presser made Sep 23 at 2015 12:31 AM

2015-09-23T00:31:46-04:00

It seems to me that Russia and China have increased their bellicosity in relation to our appeasement and the apology tour made by the President at the beginning of his administration.

We (US) have elevated Putin's status on the world stage by backing away from our own stated goals and objectives. We have no one to blame but ourselves.

I also can't help but notice the world has become a much more violent place since Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace prize.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Sep 23 at 2015 12:33 AM

2015-09-23T00:33:47-04:00

Power 'wants' to be diffuse. When it is concentrated other powers attempt to counter balance. Multipolar systems have lots of shifting alliances, Bipolar systems all involve small powers being leveraged by the two major powers to counterbalance eachother. Unipolar involve only the hegemon exerting power at will on vastly less capable smaller players. The world was multipolar in the 1900s. It shifted from multipolar to bipolar somewhere around 1945. It went Uniploar in the 1980s. It's going back toward bipolar, maybe multipolar.

This is natural. But also a little scary to people who have never experienced it (us). Far scarier? Most wars happen when a power that has held significantly more power in a balance with a rival recognizes a rival is gaining and things striking first can change this.

Response by PO1 Tony Holland made Sep 23 at 2015 6:12 AM

2015-09-23T06:12:04-04:00

LOL - I thought he was wearing rolled-up reflective PT belts.

Response by SGT William Howell made Sep 23 at 2015 6:16 AM

2015-09-23T06:16:39-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member We are not in a Cold War. There is no imminent threat of destruction of ours or another nation. If we did have a run in with either Russia or China and somebody splashed the others plane nobody is going to be launching missiles. The Russians don't have the cash to withstand a Cold War and frankly we don't either. If we did start a cold war with anybody we better learn Mandarin real quick because it will be our native language.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Sep 23 at 2015 8:28 AM

2015-09-23T08:28:18-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member I would say it's a little chilled right now, but definitely not "COLD". Let's hope it thaws out quickly through some great dialogue with Mr. Kerry - he's a real diplomatic expert (LMAO)! Sorry, I had to be sarcastic this morning. Seriously, let's hope it doesn't lead to another Cold War with each side's finger close to the button. That is expensive and real waste of time and resources, when we should be working together to fight ISIS and other Terrorist Groups throughout the world. Just my 2 cents

Response by PFC Robert Falk made Sep 23 at 2015 10:21 AM

2015-09-23T10:21:07-04:00

I might be far out on a limb. But I think there will be another conflict but not like any living person has seen. I might be blowing smoke but I trust my gut it has kept me alive so far. If things go to worse from what it is now could be the trigger that touches it off. No I ain't making threats or anything along that lines I am just calling things as I see them.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Sep 24 at 2015 10:47 AM

2015-09-24T10:47:56-04:00

I hope we don't get into a shooting war with Russia or China. I see the most likely scenario for WW 3 being that ISIS incurs and attacks European locations in large number. That will draw everyone in.

Clearly, though, Putin wants to return to the Rodina, and the USSR. I think that while China is flexing her muscles, she isn't as much of a threat. The US and China are too intertwined economically, and it would be devastating to both of us to get into a hot war...