Word Power -- Which is stronger: 'Vehement" or "Fierce"?

Vehement [adj.]  marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions; inclined to react violently;

synonyms:  fierce, angry, violent

Fierce [adj.]  marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions; inclined to react violently

synonyms: vehement, angry, violent

To the untrained eye, the two words certainly appear to mean the same thing.  If you believe that, then you are obviously not qualified to parse the deeper meanings of our nuanced language.   For that you need a journalist. Consider this latest dispatchfrom the NATO summit...

NATO decided Thursday not to put Georgia and Ukraine on track to join the alliance after vehement Russian opposition, but the alliance pledged that the strategically important Black Sea nations will become members one day...French and German concern over Russia's reaction dashed the two former Soviet republics' hopes of being granted a "membership action plan" that bring them into the alliance within the next five to 10 years.

This seems pretty straightforward... Russia is not happy about losing control of its former satellites.  The major powers realize that the alliance will have to mature in order to reassure Russia that this is not some potential threat to its sovereignity.  That's why tucking this little tidbit deep in the middle of the article without comment strikes me as strange:

The NATO summit also gave a broad endorsement to U.S. plans to base elements of its missile defenses in Europe, despite Russia's objections.

[Nate Secretary General] De Hoop Scheffer said a summit communique would recognize the protection the system will give to Europe from long-range ballistic missile threats, particularly from the Middle East.  Russia fiercely opposes the plan.

So the alliance is happy to let them keep alive their dreams of regaining their old territory... because it just gives us more area to target?  And this threat of missiles from the Middle East... since when did Israel threaten to nuke Europe?  Seriously, Iran is a major trading partner with Russia.  Who else is supposed to be this threat they dare not name?  Syria?  Saudi Arabia?  Sheesh....

On the bright side, I now know that "vehement" trumps "fierce" when it comes to opposition.  Stuff like that comes in handy when you least expect it.  Just like we learned that "reject" trumps "denounce" when it comes to domestic politics.