1. The government resisted a public inquiry into the death of Alexander Litvinenko until 2014, signalling that it was disinclined to name and shame Russia for fear of harming attempts to rebuild ties.
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2. The winding down of a fair portion of the UK’s maritime reconnaissance and warfare capability in northern waters was regarded with disbelief by Russia.
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3. David Cameron's government chose to absent itself from the Russia-Ukraine 'Minsk Process', a signal to Moscow that Ukraine is a low priority for the UK.
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4. Brexit - From Moscow’s perspective, the UK’s position at the EU top table enhanced US and British influence simultaneously. That advantage has been thrown away.
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For these reasons, the Salisbury attack is a test - If the UK chooses to act toughly, will its allies support it or simply send their best wishes?
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They missed the shameful HoC Syria vote in 2013. And the UK Georgia response in 2008.
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Right on Syria but actually Gordon Brown was blunt on 2008 hot war & argued for a rigorous response & a review of the EU-Russia relationship
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Argued perhaps (D Miliband was even blunter) but words are cheap. The direction of British travel towards Russia didn't change. And Brown was then engulfed in the financial crisis, leading to SDSR, a milestone of UK pusillanimity as noted by the authors
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Agreed but that was the longer context & at the time Brown's words stood in stark contrast to much being heard elsewhere. (I don't think we disagree on the fundamentals!)
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Indeed. tbh Putin's disdain and antagonism towards West dates to at least Iraq in 2003. Fingers can be pointed at many, not only in UK, for communicating weakness - on both sides of the Atlantic.
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Does anyone remember how the Falklands War started?
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Yes piss poor spending on defending our country sun shine
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