The Russian Balance.

[Superlative]

"It wasn't us who initiated a new round of arms race," Putin said when asked about the missile tests at a news conference after talks with his Greek counterpart.

"There is no reason to fear these actions by Russia, they aren't aggressive. It's merely a response to tough and unfounded unilateral actions by our partners," Putin said.

Russia tested a new ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and a new cruise missile on Tuesday.

"These actions are aimed at preserving a global balance."

"And what about our partners? They are filling Eastern Europe with new weapons. A new base in Bulgaria, another one in Romania, a [missile defence] site in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic.

"What are we supposed to do? We can't just sit back and look at that."


http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B553494A-A8B9-429B-8248-4C2C1521DF95.htm


They're testing weapons that could effect the safety of the US.

Should we invade?

 

[Annie]

"It wasn't us who initiated a new round of arms race," Putin said when asked about the missile tests at a news conference after talks with his Greek counterpart.

"There is no reason to fear these actions by Russia, they aren't aggressive. It's merely a response to tough and unfounded unilateral actions by our partners," Putin said.

Russia tested a new ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and a new cruise missile on Tuesday.

"These actions are aimed at preserving a global balance."

"And what about our partners? They are filling Eastern Europe with new weapons. A new base in Bulgaria, another one in Romania, a [missile defence] site in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic.

"What are we supposed to do? We can't just sit back and look at that."


http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B553494A-A8B9-429B-8248-4C2C1521DF95.htm


They're testing weapons that could effect the safety of the US.

Should we invade?

You want to deny that Putin is working at re-establishing a form of USSR? It's not the West that is the aggressor here. Putin has been killing journalists all over the place, whoops, my bad. Journalists that have been sending out warnings about Putin have been 'killed, died in out of proportion numbers for many years now.

 

[Bullypulpit]

You want to deny that Putin is working at re-establishing a form of USSR? It's not the West that is the aggressor here. Putin has been killing journalists all over the place, whoops, my bad. Journalists that have been sending out warnings about Putin have been 'killed, died in out of proportion numbers for many years now.

There is little doubt that Putin is working to re-establish a totalitarian regime in Russia, an oligarchy at the very least, but the fist of the government won't be hidden behind the empty rhetoric of communism this time around. It will be raw, naked power. If Putin had been less of the former KGB hatchet man than he is, he would have co-opted the journalists instead of having them killed.

What few have recognized, most especially George W. Bush, is that Putin is a shark in a pool if little fish. And yes, Bush is one of those fish. Or have you never noticed the look of utter contempt on Putin's face every time he's in Dubbyuh's proximity?

 

[Annie]

There is little doubt that Putin is working to re-establish a totalitarian regime in Russia, an oligarchy at the very least, but the fist of the government won't be hidden behind the empty rhetoric of communism this time around. It will be raw, naked power. If Putin had been less of the former KGB hatchet man than he is, he would have co-opted the journalists instead of having them killed.

What few have recognized, most especially George W. Bush, is that Putin is a shark in a pool if little fish. And yes, Bush is one of those fish. Or have you never noticed the look of utter contempt on Putin's face every time he's in Dubbyuh's proximity?

Yes I've noticed, which is his weakness. One must always remember the office not the individual.

 

[Gunny]

There is little doubt that Putin is working to re-establish a totalitarian regime in Russia, an oligarchy at the very least, but the fist of the government won't be hidden behind the empty rhetoric of communism this time around. It will be raw, naked power. If Putin had been less of the former KGB hatchet man than he is, he would have co-opted the journalists instead of having them killed.

What few have recognized, most especially George W. Bush, is that Putin is a shark in a pool if little fish. And yes, Bush is one of those fish. Or have you never noticed the look of utter contempt on Putin's face every time he's in Dubbyuh's proximity?

How does this go from a Russian missile test and Putin's statement to bashing Bush? Is there ANY topic you cannot interject your Bush-hating rhetoric?

Bush probably doesn't give a shit WHAT Putin thinks of him.

 

[Bullypulpit]

How does this go from a Russian missile test and Putin's statement to bashing Bush? Is there ANY topic you cannot interject your Bush-hating rhetoric?

Bush probably doesn't give a shit WHAT Putin thinks of him.

But Dubbyuh "...Looked into Pooty-poots soul..." and saw a kindred spirit. Perhaps it was their shared tendency to concentrate power into the hands of the executive branch of their respective governments. Bush did say, after all, that:

<blockquote>"If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." - <a href=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0012/18/nd.01.html>George W. Bush, 12/18/2000</a></blockquote>

America isn't a dictatorship but it isn't for the lack of Dubbyuh's trying.

 

[Superlative]

There is little doubt that Putin is working to re-establish a totalitarian regime in Russia,

And its different than the US how?

Oh, nevermind, no one is allowed to have even remotely similar military power, if they do they are either terrorists, or communists.

What a fun little pattern.

Tell me, whats going to happen when there are too many countries doing wrong, for the US to police?

 

[Shogun]

it sure is taking ole gummyL a long time to figure out that his "nuke em all" opinon on foreign policy might actually have reprocussions....


...and that we wont always be the baddest pit bull on the playground....


how anti-american to admit as much...

 

[Superlative]

Russia will once again aim its missiles at targets in Europe if U.S. plans to build a missile defence shield near Russia's borders go ahead, President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying on Sunday.

In an interview reported in Italy's Corriere della Sera, Putin acknowledged Russia's response risked restarting an arms race but he said Moscow would not be held responsible for the consequences because Washington had started it.

Putin made the tough statement days before a Group of Eight summit in Germany on June 6 where, among other world leaders, he will come face to face with U.S. President George W. Bush

Russia has not expressly targeted its missiles at Europe since the end of the Cold War but, asked if it would do this again if the U.S. missile shield plant went ahead, Putin said: "Yes, naturally."

"If the American nuclear capability widens across European territory, we will have to give ourselves new targets in Europe," Italy's leading daily quoted Putin as saying.

Russia's combative response to the U.S. missile shield has prompted comparisons with the Cold War. Putin has directed angry rhetoric at the White House, last week calling U.S. policy "imperialist".

But Russia has gone further, test-launching a new ballistic missile in a move it tied to the U.S. missile plans, and suspending its compliance with a treaty limiting the deployment of conventional forces near Russia's western borders......


http://news.scotsman.com/latest_international.cfm?id=868502007

 

[onedomino]

They're testing weapons that could effect the safety of the US.

Should we invade?

The US is doing what it should in the face of the new Soviet Union. We are consolidating the countries gained by the West after the fall of the Warsaw Pact. We are moving bases to Eastern Europe in order to limit the new Soviets. We are erecting a missile defense and new radars in Eastern Europe. Putin is angry because he knows that Russia has no chance in an arms race with the West. That was proven dramatically in the 1980s. If one does not think that Putin has re-introduced totalitarianism in Russia, then he has not been paying attention. This is how Russia is displaying its good intentions to the West: http://defensenews.com/story.php?F=2695401&C=navwar

 

[Annie]

The US is doing what it should in the face of the new Soviet Union. We are consolidating the countries gained by the West after the fall of the Warsaw Pact. We are moving bases to Eastern Europe in order to limit the new Soviets. We are erecting a missile defense and new radars in Eastern Europe. Putin is angry because he knows that Russia has no chance in an arms race with the West. That was proven dramatically in the 1980s. If one does not think that Putin has re-introduced totalitarianism in Russia, then he has not been paying attention. This is how Russia is displaying its good intentions to the West: http://defensenews.com/story.php?F=2695401&C=navwar

Yep, we are. I wonder how more effective we might be with a better president. I'm not being facetious, the mix of good and bad with this administration is phenomenal. I really do not know what to make of it, since it seems to be speeding up as the elections draw nearer.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Since when is a DEFENSIVE screen aggressive? Especially if the side claiming it threatens them has no intention of firing missiles anyway? Or any nefarious plans for those countries?

 

[onedomino]

Since when is a DEFENSIVE screen aggressive? Especially if the side claiming it threatens them has no intention of firing missiles anyway? Or any nefarious plans for those countries?

Russia feels encircled by the US. A much abbreviated list: Mongolia and the Ukraine fighting in the US led coalition in Iraq, US in Afghanistan, US bases in Poland, Georgia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Romania, and other former elements of the Warsaw Pact, F-22 fighters and Aegis anti missile destroyers deployed in Japan, F-117 in South Korea, and a 2006 nuclear agreement with India (a former Soviet client).

It is clear that the Putin regime is re-introducing totalitarianism in Russia, and it sees America as a threat to that plan. Flush with euros derived from high oil prices, the Kremlin now feels ready to block America&#8217;s advances, and is investing heavily in military technology, even though the plight of the average Russian worker remains dismal. The Putin regime recently launched a new ballistic missile submarine, the Yuri Dolguroky, the first of at least eight Borei 935 class boats. They will have 16 silos each, loaded with missiles that have ten MIRVs, for the very friendly ability to kill 1280 targets. These boats enhance Moscow's credibility to produce mutual destruction in a nuclear war with America, and depending on the missile used, also deliver a first-strike capability. In contrast, America has not launched an Ohio class ballistic missile submarine since 1997, the USS Louisiana. It seems that the US stopped building the Sea Wolf attack submarine class too soon, limiting the total build to just three boats: Sea Wolf, Connecticut, and Carter. These were to be the ultimate weapons for hunting and killing Soviet ballistic missile submarines. Instead, America now produces the smaller, less expensive, USS Virginia class of attack boats, whose missions include intelligence gathering and special forces deployment. The new CCCP knows that America has overwhelming conventional military power; especially regarding naval, air force, and space based systems. Russia sees the US - Eastern Europe anti missile system, and associated independent radars, as reducing its ability to threaten limited nuclear strikes against the US and Europe. This does not pertain to the nuclear war philosophy of Mutually Assured Destruction, which remains intact. Instead these developments pertain to the possibility of a limited nuclear exchange (a war fighting possiblity always denied, yet never discarded), and whether the Kremlin&#8217;s ability to pursue Mutually Assured Damage remains credible: Putin has recently slipped the phrase, "mutual damage," in hostile remarks made in April. See the following link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6599647.stm. Moscow sees the US - Eastern Europe anti missile system as limiting its nuclear war fighting capability to all or nothing.

 

[Shogun]

maybe if we send Condi back to smooth things over we can all set off geiger counters by the 08 election!

 

[hjmick]

AH, another "Cold War." Things were much simpler before '89.

 

[onedomino]

Russia will once again aim its missiles at targets in Europe if U.S. plans to build a missile defence shield near Russia's borders go ahead, President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying on Sunday.

In an interview reported in Italy's Corriere della Sera, Putin acknowledged Russia's response risked restarting an arms race but he said Moscow would not be held responsible for the consequences because Washington had started it.

Putin made the tough statement days before a Group of Eight summit in Germany on June 6 where, among other world leaders, he will come face to face with U.S. President George W. Bush

Russia has not expressly targeted its missiles at Europe since the end of the Cold War but, asked if it would do this again if the U.S. missile shield plant went ahead, Putin said: "Yes, naturally."

"If the American nuclear capability widens across European territory, we will have to give ourselves new targets in Europe," Italy's leading daily quoted Putin as saying.

Russia's combative response to the U.S. missile shield has prompted comparisons with the Cold War. Putin has directed angry rhetoric at the White House, last week calling U.S. policy "imperialist".

But Russia has gone further, test-launching a new ballistic missile in a move it tied to the U.S. missile plans, and suspending its compliance with a treaty limiting the deployment of conventional forces near Russia's western borders......


http://news.scotsman.com/latest_international.cfm?id=868502007

Of course this threat contains nothing new and is propaganda designed for the media and the uninformed. Does London, Paris, Berlin, or Warsaw think they are not currently targets of Russian nuclear weapons? If so, think again. Missiles and their nuclear weapons can be re-targeted in seconds. So what does the threat mean "we will point them at you?" Nothing. They can be pointed anywhere in seconds.

 

[Shogun]

Im sure London, Paris, Berlin, and Warsaw find comfort from a guy ina nation on the other side of the atlantic ocean.. Indeed, i'm sure they have nothing better to do than be pawns for the latest, greatest game of cold war chess.

 

[onedomino]

AH, another "Cold War." Things were much simpler before '89.

Representative government is failing in Russia. The West missed its chance to build democratic elements in Russia. This was a huge failure of Bush I, Clinton, and the EU. By the time Bush II showed up, Putin had an iron grip. When Yeltsin was running the show, there should have been more economic aid and investment. The West could have provided money to help build democratic institutions, but did not. Hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of former military and high technology workers went either under employed or unemployed. They missed even the meager benefits of the CCCP. Putin, son of the former KGB, and darling of the FSB, is not meeting much resistance as he rolls back the modest gains made under Yeltsin.

 

[Truthmatters]

Since when is a DEFENSIVE screen aggressive? Especially if the side claiming it threatens them has no intention of firing missiles anyway? Or any nefarious plans for those countries?

Since we started doing preemptive wars.

 

[onedomino]

Im sure London, Paris, Berlin, and Warsaw find comfort from a guy ina nation on the other side of the atlantic ocean.. Indeed, i'm sure they have nothing better to do than be pawns for the latest, greatest game of cold war chess.

Does your hatred of America completely cloud your thoughts? London and Paris have their own nuclear weapons, and Berlin has US nuclear weapons on its soil. Do you think they were not targets before Putin's latest anti West bluster? Clearly America is also a target in any possible limited nuclear war. Being on the other side of an ocean means nothing. We are installing systems designed to defeat threats of limited nuclear war, whether it comes from Iran, DPRK, China, or the new CCCP.