Blue Star Chronicles

The Russians came out in droves to celebrate Victory Day, the 63rd anniversary of their defeat of the Nazis in World War II. They call it the Great Patriotic War. They celebrated by watching a grand display of Russian Military might march through Red Square. Read more about it and see photos and video below.

Russian Military

The Russians are coming. The Russians are coming. Not really. At least I don’t think so for the moment. But our favorite nemesis is rattling her sabers with an impressive show of Russian military might for their Victory Day parade in Red Square. Victory Day is one of the best loved holidays in Russia. Its the day set aside to celebrate their defeat of Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War (World War II). That’s all well and good except for a few little things.

For instance, the new Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, with the new Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, by his side, used the opportunity to toss a few darts westward towards … us! He spoke of ‘irresponsible ambitions’ and defending themselves against those that ‘meddle in other states’ affairs, especially by redrawing borders.’ This just as Georgia is reasserting its independence from Russia by attempting to join NATO, asking for our assistance and coming precariously close to war with Russia. The message is dreadfully clear.

Ahhhh … but isn’t it reminiscent of the Cold War days when we knew who our enemies were and we knew what they were capable of doing. We more or less understood the Russians. They were and are more or less like us. We know they don’t have fantasies of getting virgins for dying for a cause and so would probably just asoon live. Their lives are more or less comfortable, so they aren’t hankering for a big fight. They just want to be a big fighter and they want everyone to know it. They didn’t like it a bit when the walls came down and people could see how they had decayed. That’s why Putin has been so popular. He has poured money into the military, restored national pride and given at least the appearance of strength. They want us to think they can and will, if they have to, bring us down. But we know they don’t want to fight us any more than we want to fight them.

Another good thing about having Russia be the bad guy is that we can actually call them the bad guy. I don’t know why we can do that when we dare not identify anyone of Arab descent as a terrorist or an enemy of any sort. That’s not so of the Russians. Look at all the movies in which the Russians are the bad guys! James Bond would have no one to fight if we got to be super good friends with Russia! We can use them as the bad guys in Nintendo and PlayStation games.

The world makes sense when Russia is the bad guy. No more tippy-toeing around identifying the enemy. We can just stand right up and look over there, point at the Russians and say ‘they are the bad guys and we have to keep an eye on them.’ Especially when they are marching, driving tanks through and flying over Red Square with their finely tuned, highly disciplined, spit-polished, goose stepping Russian military. HOOAH!!!

Still, the tribes seem to be gathering. From the Russian display of might in Red Square to Hugo Chavez’ power plays in Venezuela to Lil’ Kim Jong-Il’s nuclear tests in North Korea, to Ahma-dinner-jacket’s fiery, defiant, dangerous rhetoric in Iran. Its the mixing and mingling of all those that give me pause. Kim Jong-Il’s weapons are found in Iran. Iran’s military and weapons are found in Iraq. Know body knows where the suitcase nukes from Russia are and Chavez is everywhere.

Its good to know who your enemies are and what they can do …. and who they view as their friends by virtue of being the enemies of their enemy.

Russian Military - Photos