What would the world look like today if Jackson had said yes? 'I'm not going to start the Third World War for you' might be the most consequential sentence spoken by a general since 1945
I think you have a point there! I would imagine the Russians would have been thrashed in a straight conventional fight in 1999. But the nuclear question…
An interesting reminder that the post-Cold War order was never as stable as many assumed. The Pristina airport episode already showed that Russia still viewed the Balkans through a strategic lens, even during the Yeltsin years. In hindsight it feels less like an anomaly and more like an early signal that the “partnership era” between NATO and Russia had clear limits.
100% Even something as “small” as Kosovo was a big deal to post-USSR Russia. If only commentators at the time had been as thoughtful in their analysis.
Exactly, even in the late 1990s, when Russia was extremely weak after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kosovo triggered a strong reaction in Moscow. That alone should have signaled that certain geopolitical sensitivities had not disappeared. What changed later was not the existence of those concerns, but Russia’s capacity to act on them.
I remember this - particularly the British general's quote, but only now that you brought it up. Stuff gets forgotten...
Russia has had an empire perspective going back several centuries. Throwing of the yoke of the Holden Horde has been part of their national psyche, and they have a sort of "Monroe Doctrine" view of their neck of the woods.
Couldn’t agree more, Russia’s national psyche has been shaped by events like the one you mentioned. And yes, they are very “protective” of their near abroad…
What would the world look like today if Jackson had said yes? 'I'm not going to start the Third World War for you' might be the most consequential sentence spoken by a general since 1945
I think you have a point there! I would imagine the Russians would have been thrashed in a straight conventional fight in 1999. But the nuclear question…
An interesting reminder that the post-Cold War order was never as stable as many assumed. The Pristina airport episode already showed that Russia still viewed the Balkans through a strategic lens, even during the Yeltsin years. In hindsight it feels less like an anomaly and more like an early signal that the “partnership era” between NATO and Russia had clear limits.
100% Even something as “small” as Kosovo was a big deal to post-USSR Russia. If only commentators at the time had been as thoughtful in their analysis.
Exactly, even in the late 1990s, when Russia was extremely weak after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kosovo triggered a strong reaction in Moscow. That alone should have signaled that certain geopolitical sensitivities had not disappeared. What changed later was not the existence of those concerns, but Russia’s capacity to act on them.
I remember this - particularly the British general's quote, but only now that you brought it up. Stuff gets forgotten...
Russia has had an empire perspective going back several centuries. Throwing of the yoke of the Holden Horde has been part of their national psyche, and they have a sort of "Monroe Doctrine" view of their neck of the woods.
Couldn’t agree more, Russia’s national psyche has been shaped by events like the one you mentioned. And yes, they are very “protective” of their near abroad…