The Cold War Continues

The AFP's got an interesting story about a Russian general who has somewhat unfriendly things to say about Washington. Let's read on...

Russian air force commander General Vladimir Mikhailov accused Washington on Saturday of still fighting the Cold War against Moscow, the Ria-Novosti news agency reported.

"The Cold War is finished on our side, we have a very peaceful stance," Mikhailov said in a speech at Engles in southwestern Russia.

"But as far as the Americans are concerned it seems that given what they are producing and planning in the way of weapons the so-called Cold War is not over."

Mikhailov was speaking at the beginning of joint exercises with the armed forces of Russia and the former Soviet republics of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

Russian political and military leaders frequently warn Washington against reviving the Cold War, the 40-year conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union until the collapse of the latter at the beginning of the 1990s.

Mikhailov also said that Russia's Tu-160 strategic bombers would begin testing long-range cruise missiles by the end of August, and that Moscow was prepared to attack "terrorist bases" abroad.

That's right, the Cold War is finished on their side. That's why the Putin government is continually consolidating power. That's why the Russian military is holding military exercises with its former member nations. That's why Russia is dusting off their old Tu-160 bombers and testing long-range cruise missiles.

The Cold War isn't over, my friends. The Cold War has just shifted. Don't forget that. The Russians may not be enemies anymore, but they continue to be rivals.