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[keasy]

So Poland and America have signed the agreement for the missile defence system.

Hmmmm, I think we're just days away from the new confirmed cold war.

I can't say I blame the Ruskies for being aggrieved, it can easily be seen as expansion into former territory. On the other hand I can see where America stands as it pushes closer to rogue states and suspect middle eastern countries in their and our defence.
But 100 miles from the Russian border is to close for comfort.
 

[Wooster]

Look at how the US reacted to Cuba..

Then again the missiles there were offensive nukes..

[keasy]

This is it.

We were on the brink back then in the Cuban missile Crisis.
It's surely not to hard to adapt defensive systems to be aggressive, especially as it's so close and a shorter ranged missile could easily carry a nuclear payload 100 or so miles.

[Thermalsig]

The big difference is that open inspections and monitoring are on the table. Russia is not scared of what is happening now, but of what we will be able to achieve in the future. The fecking things could protect Russia for fucks sake. Russia, for all it's bluster is still financially fecked and has too much internal crisis to really follow through with their bluster.

[keasy]

But alas a once huge empire retains the same pride.

[Wooster]

I think 'Amoland' sounds punchier..

[Thermalsig]

The blustering just got bigger and may yet prove dangerous. I think Russia just shot us the finger. I just hope someone gets smart somewhere. I doubt anyone will, but I can hope.

[Wooster]

They always take a hard line the Ruskies, even if it's detrimental to themselves. (They're not exactly strangers to hardship..(nation of feckin Masochists if you ask me.. ))

They're also realists so they'll be posturing for a concession or two, not publicly of course, but it'll be on the agenda.

[Wooster]

It seems that NASA have run into a problem too.

The Shuttle is due to end it's service in a few years and the USA is relying on the Ruskies to get them up to the ISS (NASA has some sort of special dispensation to deal with them even though everyone else can't, due to them passing nuclear tech to Iran). So if they can't use that (the deal has to be made very soon), they have no way of getting up there.

[Thermalsig]

I'm not so sure that you can leave European consortium off the table. They are very close to manned flight as it stands. At least they claim they can make it up and down with the same ship(capsule) intact. They're not yet considered full replacements and fully reusable, but they are close. Can't write off the Chinese either. They aren't scared of killing a few during testing to speed things up.

[Wooster]

A manned European capsule would take about seven years to develop apparently, so there's no time..

The Chinese idea might do the job though..good plan Stan. 

[keasy]

Yeah an indispensable supply of human test fodder is a real good plan, you twat 

Anything ESA is going to be done through the French isn't it ? (without goin to look shit up) they already are streets ahead in commercial launch, own the rights to launch from land in ideal launch hot spots etc.
Feck that, I'd rather be egg Earth bound.   

[Wooster]

Yeah an indispensable supply of human test fodder is a real good plan, you twat 

I was referring to utilising the technology they've already developed to get their Taikonauts into space.

[keasy]

You're talking through yer Taikonauts ya bam.

Should see the doctor I'm sure he must have ointments for that.

 

[Thermalsig]

The Chinese have the basic infrastructure and the govt induced will to get something done. I don't think any Americans will be holding their thumbs up for a ride though.