Russia Threatens massive attack on Saudi Arabia.

[Minimalist]

It's a long way from Russia to Saudi Arabia. What are they going to use? Paratroopers or the remnants of their rusting navy?

[Anomalocaris]

Russia can't topple the Saudi Regime, can't occupy Saudi territory, Saudi Arabia will still have her vast oil resources and wealth.

Actually, left to their own devices, they probably could. However, they do risk pissing off the entire Middle East and we in the US have some experience with that.

If they can't win over the Afghanis right across the border when Soviet military power was at its high water mark, it seem hard to imagine they would make much of a dent against Saudis a couple of hostile countries away now that Russian military power is but a shadow of that which has had its ass handed to it in Chechnya, which in turn is but a shadow of the the force that was stalemated by the Afghanis.

[Lemonvariable72]

Actually, left to their own devices, they probably could. However, they do risk pissing off the enwtire Middle East and we in the US have some experience with that.

If they can't win over the Afghanis right across the border when Soviet military power was at its high water mark, it seem hard to imagine they would make much of a dent against Saudis a couple of hostile countries away now that Russian military power is but a shadow of that which has had its ass handed to it in Chechnya, which in turn is but a shadow of the the force that was stalemated by the Afghanis.

Afghanistan was a guerilla war, alot like nam or iraq. They could topple the saudi governemnt, holding what you won is the issue.

[Anomalocaris]

If they can't win over the Afghanis right across the border when Soviet military power was at its high water mark, it seem hard to imagine they would make much of a dent against Saudis a couple of hostile countries away now that Russian military power is but a shadow of that which has had its ass handed to it in Chechnya, which in turn is but a shadow of the the force that was stalemated by the Afghanis.

Afghanistan was a guerilla war, alot like nam or iraq. They could topple the saudi governemnt, holding what you won is the issue.

How it can even attempt to supply a force holding onto a desert several hostile countries away from Russia would be a puzzle.

Russians would starve even without an exiled Saudi regime with trillions in swiss bank accounts looking for eager mercenaries to boot them out, And this is without even considering the fact that if Russia would like to relieve the west of the burden of being targets of Islamic terrorism by becoming the target of all Islamic terrorism itself, it couldn't do better than try to take and hold Mecca.

[Jackalope]

How it can even attempt to supply a force holding onto a desert several hostile countries away from Russia would be a puzzle.

Considering they would certainly not be able to move supplies unopposed, it is a bit of a mystery. You can move only so much by air, and air freight is extremely vulnerable to attack. By sea? They'd certainly be blockaded - would they risk a naval war with the west (which they would certainly lose)? I think not. By land? Pull the other one.

Perhaps they've mastered teleportation.

Russians would starve even without an exiled Saudi regime with trillions in swiss bank accounts looking for eager mercenaries to boot you out.

They'd have plenty of fuel. Too bad you can't eat it.

[Doubting Thomas]

I thought maybe Russia wanted to go to war with Saudi Arabia because of all those pro-gay Muslims we keep reading about from the conservative right.

[Jackalope]

They'd have plenty of fuel. Too bad you can't eat it.

This comment was of course intended to be tongue in cheek, but having learned that Saudi Arabia actually *imports* refined petroleum products like diesel to supply their domestic needs.... As it turns out, the Russians would be prudent to bring their own.

[bladevalant546]

I agree with most of yalls statements, however there is one possible outcome that is if the Shanghai Cooperation Organization became a military enity. That force can hold a candle to the US military.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Co...ganisation. Now I believe in my opinion Russia has been sandbagging their military capabilties. With that said thanks for the valid responses, I study warfare and the history of wars. (mainly WWI and WWII) so I see some parallels.

[kılıç_mehmet]

http://www.eutimes.net/2013/08/putin-ord...cks-syria/

What do yall think of this source? I find it hard to believe then again WWI and WWII happened.

Saudi Arabia is a very poor choice, I'd say. It would probably turn any moslem allies it had against him, no matter how much of a western puppet Saudi Arabia is, it still is the country in which the sacred cities of Mekkah and Madina reside in. Putin should pick a better target.

[Minimalist]

Maybe he could attack Georgia, again?