
The Old Bear has New Claws!
Not_a_boffin said:And they stopped when exactly?
Doesn't take a genius to work out that when the FSB is more active than ever and we're all convinced sand-based COIN is the future that Ivan will look after number 1...
Passed-over_Loggie said:Shouldn't this be "Moscow may target Europe with weapons"? Just a minor point; you aim weapons and, err, target targets (ie designate). Had it been "on" Europe, common usage may have allowed a pass.
Passed-over_Loggie said:Lamri; sorry, I wasn't having a go at you and I should have clarified that point. It's a constant source of annoyance to me that civilians, journos and "celebrities" in particular, take milspeak and mangle it beyond recognition. Things like the oft heard "targeting resources" is just one example. The other one that grips me is the phrase "to go ballistic"; meaning to depart from controlled and sustained flight in its original aviation expression. Sorry, rant over.
To topic, the Russian view is not difficult to understand. If two opposing blocs agree throw weights under previous SALTs, deploying, for whatever reason, enhanced countermeasures on one side does tip the balance unfavourably. I don't think Putin is daft enough to suggest that the missiles deployed in former Warsaw Pact states are a direct threat. It does make it theoretically possible, though, for the West (whatever that is these days) to play the nuclear strike card without risking a significant counter strike.
If this is a serious antidote to rogue States or fanatical groups, maybe the Russians should be invited to take part. We do tend to forget that Johnny Ra***ad is just as likely to poke Ivan the Bear at some juncture.
UncleAlbert said:Shouldn`t worry about it …..Russia can`t feed itself and until it can will never be a threat to the west….
That may seem to be an oversimplification but Russia needs us more than we need them and the people with their fingers on the buttons know it.
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BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6719507.stm Mr Putin issued his warning in an interview with foreign reporters ahead of the G8 meeting.
"If the American nuclear potential grows in European territory, we will have to have new targets in Europe," Mr Putin said.
Russia has tested a new ballistic missile to restore 'strategic balance'
He said neither Iran nor North Korea had the weapons that the US was seeking to shoot down.
"We are being told the anti-missile defence system is targeted against something that does not exist. Doesn't it seem funny to you?" he asked.
Top Iranian security official Ali Larijani described the planned deployment as the "joke of the year", adding that Iran's missiles were not capable of reaching Europe.
Mr Putin said Washington had "altered the strategic balance" by unilaterally pulling out of the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) treaty in 2002.
He hoped US officials would change their minds about the missile plan, and said that if an arms race resulted it would not be Russia's fault.
Last week, Moscow announced it had tested a ballistic missile to maintain "strategic balance" in the world.
Lamri said:Thing is, its probably all misrepresentation. Poland must've signed this deal to let the US place that missile silo there eons ago in political terms, and Russia are probably just trying to bully the Poles around (again). This has parallels with the "Stop and erm, not search" Law over here in the respect of "If you've done nothing wrong, you've nothing to fear". By that I mean that why is Russia so set against an anti-missile silo in Poland unless they are thinking of launching against the West? Worth thinking about, lets face it, Russia is still in massive decline and theres nothing like a war (Cold at least) to boost the economy. Are we playing into the hands of Putin? I think maybe we are.
Backpacker1uk said:I recall a thing called "The Cuban Missile Crisis" where instant sunshine was nearly here. Yet is ok to offload anything and everything in new claimed friends land. USA are the good guys remember.