flickering pictures

From an overly sensationalist in article in Forbes magazine:

The first economic blow of the new Cold War between the West and Russia has been struck–although instead of aiming for the energy markets, Russia has decided to target the humble hen.

From September 1, Russia will reportedly ban poultry imports from 19 American producers, with the fate of another 29 plants hanging in the balance. The official reason for the ban is food health and safety concerns, after Russia claimed that tests found the chickens were stuffed with antibiotics and arsenic.

I suppose we could continue to explore the finer points of poultry politics during this low point in U.S.-Russian relations, but I think the real issue here is this: why the heck does Russia buy American chickens in the first place? It’s not as though Russia’s short on agricultural space. Are none of Russia’s 14 bordering countries chicken-producing nations?

And are American chickens really laced with arsenic, or is this all just another way for cocky Russia to ruffle the West’s feathers, maintain its place in the global pecking order, and put a little egg on Washington’s face? Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has struggled to maintain the rule of the roost in Eastern Europe — to remain the cock ‘o the walk, you might say — and former Soviet nations’ NATO aspirations have had Moscow madder than a wet hen for years. Now the war in Georgia has diplomats on all sides walking on eggshells and running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Some analysts are even warning that all this strutting around might lead to World War III, while others worry about the Russians getting their hackles up and invading yet another country.

Not me though — I think they’re too chicken.

Image via Uncommon Descent.

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