www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Putin: U.S. has triggered new arms race

[b]Putin: U.S. has triggered new arms race[/b] [news.yahoo.com]

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV, Associated Press Writer
Thu May 31, 10:56 AM ET

President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that tests of new Russian missiles were a response to the planned deployment of U.S. missile defense installations and other forces in Europe, suggesting Washington has triggered a new arms race.

In a clear reference to the United States, he harshly criticized "imperialism" in global affairs and warned that Russia will strengthen its military potential to maintain a global strategic balance.

"It wasn't us who initiated a new round of arms race," Putin said when asked about Russia's missile tests at a news conference after talks in the Kremlin with Greek President Karolos Papoulias.

[cont...] [news.yahoo.com]

Oh vey! Here we go again....

Lord have mercy!

Russia is accusing another country of being imperialistic...

As far as I can see this is all about Iran.

M.

Why are Russia and Iran so buddy-buddy?

Well, I agree that the accusation that the US has triggered another arms race is one that merits discussion, however, I also agree with Subdeacon Borislav's sentiments about Russia accusing another country of being imperialistic. Also, President Putin seems to have done a fairly good job of sending himself well on the way to becoming a dictator, so even though I have been a harsh critic of President Bush, I'm not particularly interested in Putin's criticisms of him. It seems to me that President Putin should apply the principle that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. As to why Russia and Iran are so friendly, I suspect it is because there must be some financial reward for Russia, and for Iran, the benefit of a measure of protection from one of the world's more influential nations.

Ryan

The enemy of my enemy is my friend!

I thought "Vlad-mir" and "Dubya" were buddies?

[Linked Image]

"Dubya" was too busy posing to see how "Vladi" really feels:

[Linked Image]

Amen!

Amen!

"Russia is accusing another country of being imperialistic..."

I have been loosely keeping track of Putin and some of the interior movements of his administration for the last several years.

I would not be concerned at the rhetoric that comes out of Moscow. It's nothing new. What I would be concerned with is Putin's ambition for a more centralized government.

There are quite a few things he has done in his term which point to this ambition. He has spoken once before of bringing back the Soviet Bloc countries to Russia and he has taken certain veto powers away from the regional governors and placed that power into the hands of people he assigns. There are also indicators outside of Putin's public role, such as with the assassination attempts on Ukraine�s Yushchenko and the recent assassination of Litvinenko (a Putin critic). In that case the Russian SVR cannot be without suspicion. Then there are those journalists who are critical of Putin then end up with a bullet in their head. There are many unknowns in those cases, but they do raise a red flag.

In its heyday the KGB fed foreign newspapers (directly or indirectly) and diplomats many forgeries reinforcing this idea that America is imperialistic. Some of those forgeries are still held to be credible by the general public and by those heads of state who were manipulated and are still alive, like Robert Mugabe. So using the rhetoric again, the looming question is what strategy is Putin following?

It�s obvious that he wants to distance himself from America at the moment. Maybe he wishes to strengthen trade relations with Europe or with the Middle East.

Ocean-going ports.

Renewed economic and military influence/control over the "stans" by wedging them between two great nuclear powers.

Not to mention other strategic advantages.

Do all you folks really think we are in Iraq just for the oil?

M.

"Why are Russia and Iran so buddy-buddy?"

Russia has much to profit with Iran as a friend. Especially if Iran buys weapons they manufacture. Their friendship may be mutually beneficial if Iran mixes it up with the United States and Israel.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4932814.stm


Iran has received weapons from China too. With those weapons from China, Iranian engineers were able to reverse much of the technology and make their own versions. They supplied Hezbollah some of those anti-ship missiles last year, as they were used in striking an Israeli naval vessel.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13875121/

If the US invaded Iran, which is still not so far fetched, it would go absoloutely as bad as it has gone in Iraq; it's been said that IRaq is a Vietnam which will do only short term damage to American prestige, not the long term damage that will assist Russia to take the US place as a European influenced Christian superpower; the support of Iran is all directed at promoting that outcome in the medium term.

Ned

PS I am not taking sides, that's my cold hard analysis of what I see.

Are Russia's links with Iran any worse than the USA's links with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Indonesia ? At least Russia openly condemns the destruction of Christian Kosovo and quietly aids Christian Nagorno-Karabakh. I haven't turned into a Russophile, but I see some good things coming out of Russia lately.