A novel approach to foreign policy, national debt etc
The Russians and the Finns fought a comparatively little known war in 1939-1940, notable for the Finns inventing the Molotov Cocktail and giving the Red Army a remarkably bloody nose, although eventually giving up the unequal struggle and signing a peace deal that saw substantial chunks of Finland passed over to the USSR, per the map below.
So much for the history lesson. The more immediately interesting thing is that the Finns are falling over themselves to deny that there were talks twist Helsinki and Moscow in the early 90s over the USSR selling Karelia to Finland for what looks to be the bargain price of €10 billion. That figure is considerably less than the cost of the wretched outdoor steroid abuse fest London will have to suffer in 2012.
Some years back the idea of Yakutia ('Siberia') being sold by the Russian Federation to the US, Alaska-style was floated, so maybe this is a way forward. I think we should make the French an offer for Gascony.
So much for the history lesson. The more immediately interesting thing is that the Finns are falling over themselves to deny that there were talks twist Helsinki and Moscow in the early 90s over the USSR selling Karelia to Finland for what looks to be the bargain price of €10 billion. That figure is considerably less than the cost of the wretched outdoor steroid abuse fest London will have to suffer in 2012.
Some years back the idea of Yakutia ('Siberia') being sold by the Russian Federation to the US, Alaska-style was floated, so maybe this is a way forward. I think we should make the French an offer for Gascony.
Labels: Finland, Mother Russia
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on Saturday, August 25, 2007 at 9:33 am.
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If we had spent our rebate on French agricultural land, by now the reason for the rebate would have been nullified.
...And we would have owned Gascony.
Great description of 2012. I'm going to have to use it myself. Hope you don't mind.
Diogenes - Good point.
Sepoy - Be my guest.
More to the point which crap parts of Britain can we sell?
I wrote my undergrad dissertatioon fhte russo-finnish war. Quite interesting really, as an example of how a small country could put up a very good fight.
It is very tempting to say we sell Scotland whilst they still have enough oil to cover up the huge social costs...
Ross - I think there are many, many candidates for such sales.
CU - Lucky you. I often wish I had studied history to degree level.
I think the Finns should buy back Karelia, though as an occasional visitor to Finland I can firmly say that the Russkies should never have nicked it in the first place.
As for Siberia ... who would they vote for as President if they were in the USA?
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