[adm]

One thing I did not like about the SG series is that other Earth based powers are irrelevant, or worse, comic relief. A power with access to a Gate will be looking for advantages to take home, by Cannon Russia has gate access, they should be more than an over site, a cliff hanger, or comic relief. Furthermore, the System Lords will be looking for this sort of thing to exploit. We could always go later, and use China instead, or a resurgent (military power wise) EU.

I stuck with Russia, since they are already in the story line.

1989 can work just fine. While the USSR collapses into CIS, it will still be looking for advantages, and may be more willing to listen to Baal's whispers.