Breaking Russia – How dare the United States defend itself!
That’s how I read this. Russia President Medvedev is disturbed at how well the United States missile defense network is working, so Medvedev is now threatening to point Russia’s offensive missiles at NATO’s defensive missile sites in Europe.
President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia will aim its missiles at the U.S. missile defense sites in Europe if Washington fails to address Russian concerns on its missile defense plans.
Medvedev said that Russia will deploy missiles in its westernmost Kaliningrad region and other areas if Russia and NATO fail to reach a deal on the U.S.-led missile defense plans.
He also said in a televised statement Wednesday that Moscow may opt out of the New Start arms control deal with the United States and halt other arms control talks if the U.S. proceeds with its plans to deploy its missile shield in Europe.
Russia considers the U.S. shield as a threat to its nuclear forces.
My guess is Russia does not have the ability to create a defense shield of its own. This offensive threat should be dealt with by the United States working hard to ensure our missile defense system is top-notch and always at the ready.
If you have the capability to lock the doors of your home from intruders, securing those doors does not equate to an offensive move by the homeowner.
Exit question for those with a lot more experience than I … what’s going on in Europe to set off Medvedev like this? Is it all tied to Iran’s nuclear ambitions?
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The site is not broken.
Let’s see how far Obama will bend over to kiss Medvedev’s ah…. hand
Europe is weak.? NATO is weak.? Russia respects strength.
Great way to provide a reason for continued US missile defense: provide a threat that justifies its existence!? Maybe this guy is trying to look nuts to pave the way for Putin’s return.?
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Sadly, I fear that ?bama will back down.
Gillie, Can you answer the exit question Steve asked?
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Now, I need a more experienced answer, didn’t Reagan want these defensive missile sites? or did he want the Leftist derided Star Wars Defense? Is that two different defense systems? OK, I’m not up on missiles, I admit.? I need a scientist here.
Steve, to answer your question, yesterday the State Department announced we will no longer allow Russian inspections of our conventional forces in Europe under the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE) I think this is more a response to that than anything concerning Iran. Russia has not been adhering to the CFE since 2007, so our actions are a little late IMO.
?This has nothing to do with Iran,Russia is making noises to cover Obama’s retreat from everywhere. Our technology is way ahead of their’s & they are frightened because we are not frightened.
For Russia to announce that they are going to target our missile defense system tells me that they have already done just that. Those missiles are targeted on something, and you can bet that those Rusky missiles have been targeted on the NATO missiles for quite some time. The Russians always played a complicated game.
Iran as? nuclear power is not something that any nation wants, unless you are an Islamic fundamentalist. Russia does not want to worry about a rouge nuclear country right on its southern border. They can’t control Iran in any meaningful way, so why acquiesce to their acquiring nuclear weapons?
If Iran acquires nuclear weapons, Israel is very much at risk, and thus the whole of the Middle East. Tehran has been pursuing a domestic nuclear policy against the wishes of the West for many years. It is actively hiding its offensive nuclear activities while developing weapons delivery systems. Iran wants to become a nuclear power to enhance its image with its main oil trading partners, India and China, both of which are nuclear powers. Coupled with the Islamic hatred of the West, an offensively capable Iran is not good for its neighbors or the world.
Russia has “always” been paranoid about being attacked by/from the west. And for good reason. Every time it has been attacked it has resulted in millions of deaths of their population: 21 million in WWII.
They are more at risk from their own political philosophies.? Stalin killed tens of millions with his purges and 5 year plans (that sounds familiar somehow) alone.?
True. Russia as a country, as an empire during time of the USSR, and as a country ruled by Tsars has never been forthcoming. What you see in Russia NOT what you get with Russia. There is always something going on behind the scenes; coupled with their native paranoia is the track record of being the target of imperial expansion whether it was Napoleon or Hitler. Russia is a paranoid government run by paranoid rulers who feed on its own citizens. Being that, they do not want nor will they tolerate a nuclear Iran on its border. It worked hard to rid its former states of nuclear weapons leftover from the breakup of the USSR with due concerns.
This is nothing new. It got noticed because Russia now threatens US installations. Those threats are made ever since Putin got into power. He wants to show Russians, who are traditionally very patriotic, that he is a strong leader and everybody is now shaking in their boots at any mention of Russia. When Poland bought 20 jets they moved above mentioned missiles to Kaliningrad and aimed them at Poland. When Poland was about to join the missile shield in Europe Russia announced that their missiles can fly in circles around the shield and that they just aimed them at Poland. The thought is, that at some point Western politicians, read – Obama,?will give in and than gates to Europe will be wide open to Russia. Just like France supported Russia during their attack on Georgia.