> Over the last decade, the West has repeatedly PROVOCATED Russia over
> security, trade and diplomatic issues:
>
> 1997-99 NATO Enlargements:
> NATO invites Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary to join the
> alliance. Russia protests, but the three countries join in March 1999.
>
> 1999 Kosovo:
> NATO bombs Serbia to stop the war in the breakaway province of Kosovo.
> Russia protests, but is unable to intervene.
>
> 1999 Chechnya:
> Russia invades its breakaway province of Chechnya. Western leaders
> accuse Russia of human-rights abuses, to the fury of its new
> president, Vladimir Putin.
>
> 2002-04 NATO and EU Enlargements:
> NATO and the EU invite several new members from the former Soviet
> sphere to join. Russia again objects, but the enlargements take place
> in spring 2004.
>
> 2005-07 Trade Rows:
> Following the EU's 2004 enlargement, new members Poland and Lithuania
> find themselves in conflict with Russia over a ban on Polish meat
> imports and a shut-off of oil to Lithuania. Both countries veto talks
> on a strategic EU-Russia deal. Moscow accuses them of holding its
> relationship with the EU for ransom.
>
> 2007 Missile Defense:
> The US announces plans to site parts of an anti-missile system in NATO
> and EU members Poland and the Czech Republic. Russia threatens to aim
> nuclear missiles at the duo in response.
>
> 2007 Cyber War:
> The Estonian government relocates a Red Army war memorial in Tallinn.
> Ethnic Russians retaliate by rioting in Tallinn, attacking EU
> diplomats in Moscow and launching a massive cyber-attack on Estonian
> government systems. European politicians condemn the attacks. Russia
> retorts by accusing Europe of trying to "rewrite the history" of World
> War II.
>
> 2008 Kosovo:
> Kosovo declares independence in February. The US and most European
> states recognize it, but stress that it is a unique case. Russia
> condemns the move and warns that it will be seen as a precedent in
> other conflict areas such as Georgia.
>
> 2008 NATO Enlargement:
> At a summit in April, NATO leaders agree that Georgia and Ukraine
> should join the alliance at an unspecified future point. Russia warns
> that this would destabilize the security situation in the Caucasus.
>
> dkj