Old Enemies Are New Again

After the Cold War, with the Soviet threat gone and with Democrat President Bill Clinton in the White House, terms such as "the peace dividend" became commonplace within the Washington Beltway and in the mainstream news media. No longer was the political establishment interested in defense, and the new agenda for the US was domestic. However, slowly and methodically Russia's steel-eyed leader Vladamir Putin began to rebuild and expand his nation's arsenal and its fighting forces. This new phase in Russia's military buildup has created fear in some quarters in the US that a new arms race exists. Recently the Russians deployed a nuclear ballistic system that their generals made clear could render US anti-missile defense systems ineffective, according to reports in the European news media. While Americans and Europeans celebrated the Christmas holiday, the Russian army activated a large number of Topol-M class missiles that can fit nuclear warheads and travel 6,000 miles, while rapidly switching their trajectory in order to neutralize any US- or European-based interception device. The National Ledger (blog)

The article goes on to rant about Russia's support of Iran having nukes and the Russians selling missile technology to Iran.
You know, I'm starting to understand the disconnect between the people of a given country and the government that controls them. I read blogs from Iran and all the people seem interested in is getting laid, satellite TV and decent cigarettes. The same seems true for Russians. So, why do the governments of these countries seem so hell bent on stirring up international shit? It is because there is a huge gap between the people and government figures. Not just an economic gap or social difference. There is a lack of reporting and criticism. The couple of people I've spoken with say they don't like what their governments are doing, but they don't feel they have any say in the matter. In Iran, I believe it. In Russia, I think the voters at least have some say. Perhaps not. What do I know. It is nice to have a perspective from some folks who lived there. It all makes me feel better about the US system. It really does sound like the worst possible system, except for all the others.