Putin dissolves the Russian government... wait no...

[CrossLOPER]

Yes...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296505,00.html

No.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6991053.stm

No.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldN...LB181820070912

No.
http://lenta.ru/news/2007/09/12/fradkov/

Sorry, false alarm.

[Husar]

Can't read the last one but why is everybody but FoxNews omitting important parts of the news?

[CrossLOPER]

Wait yes....
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe....ap/index.html

Wow, it appears that Bush, in accepting resignations, has "dissolved" the government several times already.

[Sigurd]

This is not the only news from Russia today...
Apparently they tested the "Father of all Bombs" 4 times more powerful than the MOAB.

[Husar]

This is not the only news from Russia today...
Apparently they tested the "Father of all Bombs" 4 times more powerful than the MOAB.

Wow, I hope they won't throw the great, great grandfather of all bombs onto anyone.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Wow, I hope they won't throw the great, great grandfather of all bombs onto anyone.

What about the "MISSING LINK OF ALL BOMBS" or MLOAB? Or to make it funny to Americans the MLB (Major League Baseball for you non-Americans).

[naut]

The Vacuum Bomb? The one that is the same size as something big, without the fallout?

Not a fan of the direction Russia is taking.

[Sigurd]

The Vacuum Bomb? The one that is the same size as something big, without the fallout?

Not a fan of the direction Russia is taking.

Yep it is the same... Here is one of the english articles

[naut]

Russia's oil reserves have given it renewed power, so can we expect Cold War II?

[sapi]

The Vacuum Bomb? The one that is the same size as something big, without the fallout?

Not a fan of the direction Russia is taking.

Don't know why they'd bother, really

Any use of that weapon on a NATO ally would quickly escalate to something much worse, leaving its only purpose confined to regional conflicts that Russia would easily win anyway.

...oh, and propaganda purposes, of course

[Husar]

I think the important part is the blast radius combined with the fact that the territory isn't turned into glass and still inhabitable.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

I think the important part is the blast radius combined with the fact that the territory isn't turned into glass and still inhabitable.

Yeah, they probably just bought shares in Youtube too, because they expect an increase in Youtube traffic after this announcement, the release of video and its swift appearance on Youtube.

[Husar]

Yeah, they probably just bought shares in Youtube too, because they expect an increase in Youtube traffic after this announcement, the release of video and its swift appearance on Youtube.

Yes, help Russia, go here.

Your view counts, you can make a difference!

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Yes, help Russia, go here.

Your view counts, you can make a difference!

I probably should have added a smilie huh?

Oh well....

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Despite its destructive qualities, the bomb is environmentally friendly, Gen Rushkin said.

[Tuuvi]

Environmentaly friendly bombs woohoo! Now we can kill each other in confidence, knowing that are panda friends are safe and secure.

[CountArach]

Russia's oil reserves have given it renewed power, so can we expect Cold War II?

Nah, Russia really hasn't got the support in Eastern Europe or South-East Asia it once enjoyed. While I wouldn't relish a Second Cold War, I couldn't see it ammounting to much.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

What about the area of the environment hit by the bomb? Is that safe too?

[Xiahou]

Here's my prediction folks:
Putin endorses one of his flunkies to replace him. Before the new guy's term is over, some phony crisis emerges and he resigns. Having circumvented the constitutional prohibition on more than two consecutive terms, Putin then returns to power. Sound about right?

[CountArach]

Yep, sounds perfectly plausible to me.

[Rodion Romanovich]

Russia has been quite militarily inactive towards outside countries lately; trying more to consolidate and rebuild internally. While the bomb tests, and the resumed bomber patrols, along with Putin's anti-democratic moves are worrying, the interesting question is whether Russia actually has the needed level of centralization in their armed forces to be able to form an offensive military threat to others (without dissolving due to lack of motivation, or turning into civil war/revolts), and have a desire to do so. It's difficult to guess what Putin's international politics ambitions are (if he has any), but his internal ambitions are quite clear... The interesting question is what would happen after his death (whether by old age, or other).

[Kagemusha]

The appointment of new Russian prime minister´s sole purpose was to enable the old one to run for the presidency in the forthcoming elections. In another words in order not to violate the constitution, Putin will place a puppet as the next president of Russia and after the term of the next president, Putin can lawfully run/ get elected again as president of Russia.

[Husar]

Well, there is one factor which should, at least theoretically, be able to stop Putin from doing that. And that's the electorate.

Now the electorate can be stupid and vote for him, in which case I'd say it's their own fault for destroying their own democracy. Or he can help them a bit by adding a few votes and taking some away, which I hope won't happen.

Sounds interesting.

[Ironside]

Now the electorate can be stupid and vote for him, in which case I'd say it's their own fault for destroying their own democracy. Or he can help them a bit by adding a few votes and taking some away, which I hope won't happen.

Sounds interesting.

I'm fairly certain that Putin has already taken care of that. If 95% of the population only knows about 1 "decent" leader then who will get voted in? Democracy needs its opposition.