Well, nationalism and attacking an unbeloved ethnic group is apparently popular in Russia, boding ill for any sort of domestic check on revanchist nationalism and, indeed, likely stoking public anger at the first sign of push-back by the West.

Not that that’s likely to happen any time soon. Balts, meet your “allies.”

And here at home, process advances against principle.

On the upside, Kazakhstan seems to feel bold enough to conduct exercises with NATO. As they’re extremely sensitive to Russian pressure, the Volgi is guessing that they are willing to annoy Russia because they see Russia committing to their western and southwestern flanks, and because the Russians know that the GOK, as the government says, really is no ideological threat to Russia. So Kazakhstan can make a show of its independence, irk Russia mildly, but really face no serious consequences. But that’s just a guess. If it’s the case, however, NATO (read; the U.S.) should be happy to have on-going diplomatic relations and military-to-military cooperation with Kazakhstan, a potential resource powerhouse on the order of a Gulf State.

Confucius, Œc. Vol.

Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu.