Let's say Obama wins on No. 4th, would the US do any more come January '09?

I would be surprised if either McCain or Obama would back down from Russia. McCain may be the obvious hawk on this issue but Obama and Biden also made very strong statements after the August invasion.

Obama made "strong statements" about the war in Irag -- "let's cut our losses and get out in a quick but orderly manner". He changed his mind after the surge proved to be successful.
Obama believes in the power of his own silver tongue. It works well in a democracy in peacetime. At war, with a Putin or Ahmadinejad, you can use it to get on the bus, if you can combine it with a loonie.

Fine - nothing is certain. But I think that an American President would stick to and defend the longstanding principals behind the NATO treaty.

I actually thing that McCain would uphold NATO and Monroe Doctrine.

Whamo Barrick would just bounce around with his marxist doctrine and lose eastern Europe. to his comrade Putin.

I agree that "Maxim de la Trine" is amazing. As vicious as that kick was, can't say that he didn't beg for it.

Anonymous!!!! You have a magic way with words!
Christening Erik K. with the nickname "Maxim de la Trine" is so perfectly fitting!
Thanks.

two years ago I stated in plain English that due to the amazingly poor level of commentary about Estonian developments, I would be willing to offer any opinions that would help stimulate more progressive debate to avoid further shortcomings from critics who have no idea about what is happening in their homeland. I said at the time that due to the overwhelmingly positive response of the silent majority, it seems that my mission in expressing vital information is seen as an invaluable service to the community in Toronto. I wish to thank all those people who have expressed positive feedback, and hope that in spite of the character assassination that has accompanied most of my postings, that I have come out of that battle a better person and someone willing to offer even more accurate responses to questions fielded here, and for which my critics have no idea about how to answer. I wish all my fans the very best of luck in all they do, and it's always a pleasure to be here and correspond with you. To my critics, better luck next time.

A question for Maxim -- would you be willing to deliver the keynote address at next year's Vabariigi aastapaeva aktus in Toronto?
If you truly have overwhelming support in our community, as you believe, then you should discharge that august responsibility.
This is a good opportunity for you. The approving roar of the crowd will, once and for all, silence your critics as you explain that we're genetically inferior, that Lutherans are "white trash", that your mother's generation are sluts and that your father's are Nazis.

Where would you send the invite to?

No fixed address?

I have your e-mail address, Erik. Would you like to have it posted so that your fans, if any, can communicate with you directly?

MAXIM DE LA TRINE?!

Just love it! A guy could laugh himself silly here.We've got a comical poet here. Why don'y you step into the spotlight and take a bow.

For a start, you are such small fish that an invite from you is hardly on the cards, my friend. Should such an invitation arise, I would be more than glad to respond positively. Until such a time, it is clear to me that one and the same critic writing under a dozen different names is not really representative of the Toronto Estonian community. If my comments were really off the mark, there would be more than one stupid critic here kicking up a storm. But I have been applauded and acknowleged by so many well meaning people, that it amazes me there is so much pettiness and jealousy on the part of a few who wish to hang their dirty washing in front of everyone else because they never got anywhere themselves in life, and so it is more than convenient to blame a well-meaning person such as myself. History always repeats itself. The only sad indictment on the Estonian community in Toronto is that there aren't as many people around these days, for the very same reason that people just don't tolerate the sort of underhanded aggressive intimidation that my critics have always proudly displayed here to the detriment of both myself and my readership.

The last laugh has always been on you, because I am not who you think I am. Indeed, I have a very different persona to the identity you mistake me for every time you push a key and your mind becomes consumed with hatred for a man named Erik. Who the hell is Erik anyway???

So, Maxim de la Trine has been "applauded and acknowledged". But, where? Certainly not among Estonians either at home or abroad. We've seen him barking irrationally, only here, at EE.
Is it possible that he uses another name, (Walter Mitty, perhaps?), when he addresses the General Assembly of the United Nations, or, collects his Nobel Prize for Omniscience in Stockholm? If so, he should let us know. Otherwise, it's simply too tempting to conclude that he's a half-wit with a big mouth.

These comments are vulgar and offensive. I would again suggest that EE implement a login for these discussions and ban the IP that these messages are being posted from.
Suggesting that someone be dipped in urine is quite over the top, and given that someone has been named here, I shall send that indivudual the links to these posts and will suggest a good new media/slander lawyer. This has to stop: you're embarrasing the entire community.

Maxim's critics occasionally over-react. We can agree on that.
But -- how about Maxim? Has he ever said anything that's unacceptable? Do you have any suggestions for him to modify his behaviour?

I have never said anything that has ever approached the disgusting diatribe that my critics publicly hang here, nor have I ever had a rude thing to say when alternative opinion arises. I think that my critics should have been blackbanned a long time ago. The same way that it was all too late to remove the Pronksmies from his home, the same way a bunch of hoodlums that represent the so-called cream of our community continue to carry out acts of intellectual violence of the kind that should put them behind bars for life!

I don't know and don't care.
What's happened in this string of posts is terrible - regardless of who is posting. My concern is the threatening and vulgar nature of the posts. It's happened before and it's bound to happen again -unless someone stops it. Others have been dragged through the mud on these forums as well by name and by, I would assume, the same group. Unfortunately, the only way to stop this is through legal action.

It seems that you're of one opinion with Maxim. You even share writing-style.
In any case, when you hire a lawyer, prepare yourself for bad news. He could tell you that it's in exceedingly bad taste to jeer at a freak, but it's not against the law.