It is starting again!

[latinmajorac]

Post-Soviet nations to form military force - CNN.com

how interesting, a new Russian led rapid response team. this will do interesting things to the balance of power in eastern europe. coupled with the closing of Manas airbase.... interesting things in the future

[Kirchgoens]

It's all very complicated. News reports note that the Tajiks are really annoyed at the Russians right now for apparently backing out of a hydroelectric plant deal after the Medvedev visited Uzbekistan and locked in some exclusive gas deals (the Uzbeks and Tajiks are arguing over water - critical to Uzbek cotton, and needed for Tajik power when the Uzbeks cut off electrical supplies - tough circle); the Azeris probably don't like strong Russian support of the Armenians in their spats; the Kyrgyz go back and forth over Manas over just two or three weeks between US and Russian visits; Russians try to lock in all FSU gas and oil to squeeze the Ukrainians and EU; honest reporters gunned down throughout Russia, making it the most dangerous place on earth for journalists (more so than Iraq). It's a strange thing, all of this, not nice for a comfortable and safe future. But... I doubt you'll see an easy way to form a real and coordinated "quick reaction force" among this lot. It sounds like more noise and less teeth to me.

[latinmajorac]

i agree that it won't be a major force, i just wonder if doing it so close to the US losing access to a military base gives russia the ability to move troops into a more forward deployment 9under the guise of rapid reaction) while the Us is pulling back from the front. an interesting game is beign played here

[ekclete]

It's all very complicated. News reports note that the Tajiks are really annoyed at the Russians right now for apparently backing out of a hydroelectric plant deal after the Medvedev visited Uzbekistan and locked in some exclusive gas deals (the Uzbeks and Tajiks are arguing over water - critical to Uzbek cotton, and needed for Tajik power when the Uzbeks cut off electrical supplies - tough circle); the Azeris probably don't like strong Russian support of the Armenians in their spats; the Kyrgyz go back and forth over Manas over just two or three weeks between US and Russian visits; Russians try to lock in all FSU gas and oil to squeeze the Ukrainians and EU; honest reporters gunned down throughout Russia, making it the most dangerous place on earth for journalists (more so than Iraq). It's a strange thing, all of this, not nice for a comfortable and safe future. But... I doubt you'll see an easy way to form a real and coordinated "quick reaction force" among this lot. It sounds like more noise and less teeth to me.

To me this is exactly why this new group will have a hard go of it. Too many disagreements that go back decades and longer. But having said that a common enemy can make allies out of anybody. Thanks Clete