Russian and Finland :)

[Reagan]

The only chance for russia to get rich and settle a stable economy.
Cause russia can't do it alone!

The only way russia can get rich is by plundering...

[Mihail]

So?

[USA_Bullfrog]

You fellas scare me. If you wanna plunder, go loot France, but leave Italy alone or you'll lose to a war of their own pickings. Food! Cold beet soup of ravoli or prochutto or maybe some manacotti... mmm.... Why would you want Mongolia? Take over a desert and yaks. Always useful....

[ILay]

There was a joke in Russia in Soviet times:

- Give me power for just 2 days!
- And what you gonna do?
- By the first day I will declare war against Finland. And on the second I will capitulate, so let them feed us to the end of days.

Who needs Finland? Helsinki already seem to be a suburb of St. Petersburg

[udarnik]

To get back to the start, Finland is, after all, one of the countries that have been Russian at some point - and which the Russians at a later point suffered what one might call a defeat to. The Fins are rather an independant people, and I think they have rather strong feelings against joining forces with The Bear. It makes sence that Russia and Finland should work on trade agreements, for instance - I support that very much, it makes sence - but if Russia starts voicing imperialistic sentiments, it may be trouble. Besides, the Fins would give them Afghanistan Part III (if one puts both Chechen wars under part II).

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Progress Prodolzhaet... M. S. Gorbachev

[Nonson]

Udarnik, are you so bold as to dare imply that there's a WUSSIE side to the BEAR?

[Dr_Woland]

"kuritsa - eta ne ptitsa,
i Mongolia ne za granitsa"

But I think you would have a lot of difficulties persuading Mongolians to join a reborn "soyuz" :-)

And in any case, what would you need it for, do you have a use for a huge country full of desert, population 2.5m, no energy resources, one railway line, and massive national debts?

Dr W.