"The Russians Aren't Coming"

Editorial, Globe and Mail | September 12, 2008

Russia's recent actions make it look like the Cold War is back, but Russia is still a poor, weak country. ++ Russia's military is no match for NATO and their backup nuclear arsenal is unlikely to play a role in conflicts. ++ Moscow can claim few worthwhile allies and efforts to woo China have largely failed. ++ Capitalism requires Russia to behave and if energy prices continue to slide, Medvedev may have to be less arrogant. ++ It needs the West much more than the West needs Russia and it can ignore that fact only at its own peril.