Concerns about starting a “Cold War” with Russia are overblown. As fun as it is to knock politicians who don’t like to starting a “Cold War”

The August surprise that didn’t surprise McCain (Thomas P.M. Barnett :: Weblog)
Nice to hear. A rogue, maverick senator advising foreign leaders—on the side—on how to restart the Cold War. Imagine if Obama did this, how the Republican realists would howl in contempt!

Remember Russia’s in no position to fight one:

The Russian Petrocracy not looking so strong (Thomas P.M. Barnett :: Weblog)
Ah, but “petrocrats” can do whatever they want, we are told.

Or maybe not, once their financial connectivity with the Old Core gets real.

Russia’s politically-connected companies already control much of their stock market, so when the Kremlin pumps in more money, it strengthens that control but doesn’t exactly get what it wants in the process: a market that attracts FDI.

Remember, Russia went into default just a decade ago.

Russia, a country about as powerful as Portugal being hit far worse than we are by the credit crisis, is no position to fight a “Cold War.”

Calls for a policy of Detente with Russia in order to avoid blowing up the world are simply out of date, because Russia is in no position and has no desire to do so. Dealing with weak countries that have outsized power in this or that realm of economics is a serious problem. With regards to Russia, the solution will be largely State Department-driven, as we encourage European countries to work together to develop alternative energy, alternatives to the Russian nordstream and South Stream petrocarbon lines, and so on.