‘Mutual Destruction’ Danger in US Anti-Missile Plan: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday warned that US plans to deploy an anti-missile system in eastern Europe sharply increase the danger of mutual destruction.
In comments laden with Cold War imagery, the Kremlin leader accused the United States of misrepresenting the true aim of the limited missile shield, which is to be based in NATO members Czech Republic and Poland.
“The threat of causing mutual damage and even destruction increases many times,” Putin said after a meeting with Czech President Vaclav Klaus in Moscow, Interfax and ITAR-TASS news agencies reported.
He scorned Washington’s claim that the role of the US interceptor missiles would be to shoot down missiles from countries such as Iran or North Korea, rather than from Russia.
“Neither terrorists, whom they are preparing to defend against, nor Iran, nor North Korea have such a system,” Putin said. “To talk of terrorists is simply hilarious. They use other methods.”
Moscow’s opposition to the US deployment is steadily hardening, fuelling East-West tensions already heightened over differences on independence for Kosovo, Putin’s record on democracy, and Russian energy export policies.
On Thursday, Putin stunned Western capitals when he announced suspension of Moscow’s participation in the Soviet-era Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty, which imposes strict limits on troop deployments across the continent.
Putin said this was in response to the planned US missile shield.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) called for clarification on Friday. The alliance’s secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, expressed “grave concern,” saying the CFE treaty was “one of the cornerstones of European security.”
The Pentagon insists the anti-missile system would defend against one-off threats and could have no effect against Russia’s enormous nuclear missile arsenal.
But Putin also dismissed this Friday, saying the range of the system would extend to the Ural mountains, covering the entire European section of Russia.
“These systems will control Russian territory up to the Urals if we do not take counter measures — and we will.”
In another Cold War echo, Putin compared the US anti-missile deployment to the stationing of Pershing II ballistic nuclear missiles in West Germany in the 1980s, a step that caused heated debate within NATO.
“The threat is absolutely the same,” Putin said. “This new element fundamentally changes the European security system.”
Washington accuses Moscow of artificially ratching up tension, saying that the proposed system could make no impact on Russia’s military potential. Western analysts say that the Kremlin hopes to use the issue to divide the NATO alliance.
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice complained that Russia was applying Cold War logic to the missile defence issue and described accusations that the system was directed at Moscow as “ludicrous.”
Copyright © 2007 AFP
The Pentagon will end up being responsible the downfall of the USA not the savior of the USA as it is sold being.
This militarism we are subjected to here in the USA is a pathetic example of highjacking the government by the military industrial industry and of our politicians being so desperate to get elected they require selling themsleves those industries that support them with election time donations. The military indusrial industry threat4es to move manufacturing/job from politicians regions if those politicians do not support militarisation of foreign policies……IMO of course.
Bravo, Vladimir Putin. You are “ludicrous”, your move cause “grave concern”, you look do not look like normal and for good reasons.
In that mad house, which used to be called White, any reasonable person does not look normal.
Really, man had aggreed with the “participation in the Soviet-era Conventional Forces in Europe”, with promise of “not an inch to the East”, and smiles and huggs. Now he is presented with a dagger at his throat and Putin, hear! hear! has adacity to declare that he does not believe smiles anymore!
Wait, are we attacking Russia now? Why are we attacking Russia?
PS Did anyone hear Condi call them the “Soviets” yesterday?
Washington is proposing a new missile defense system in Europe, which Putin called “an untested system of questionable reliability deployed against a nonexistent threat.”
“We see no threat of ballistic missiles from Iran for decades, not even years,” Deputy Foreign Minister said.
“This system is to protect territory in the United States, and it was only after an uproar that the U.S. has tried to correct its PR problems by saying that Europe will be protected, too.”
What is that? Divide et impera, an old inperialistic adage. God save America… from us, gullible voters.
“Wait, are we attacking Russia now? Why are we attacking Russia?”
Fran Stubis:
We were attacking Russia ever since Russians delivered Germany to us and never stp doing that. Now Condi and Co accusing Russia of being non-democratic! Not only junta and MSM has now shame, they do know the concept of it.
I hope to live to see when impy and cappy will be as disparaging term as commy once was.
Get the popcorn! Just wait til we start duking it out w/China over Africa’s oil. It may happen sooner than later………..
George Walker Bush’s legacy to the American people and world is a precipitous, and therefore dangerous decline of the American empire, in crimes against nature, humanity and Americanism, in a present win and future threat from al Quida, in an eight year denial of global warming and in triggering a new nuclear arms race! The foregoing are the dangerous realities, when the unchecked power of corporations combine with pathological power fanatics seeking to rule the world! The people who lost their lives on 9-11 by terrorist attack and later by hurricane Katrina gave the final warning, the United States government is now run by the same military-industrial corporations that were complicit in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., and therefore, in the overthrow of the American republic, and continue in a criminal enterprise. The present American empire is now predicated on unrestrained greed, on military force, on manipulating a nation of sheep to the will of a corporate dominated state. The last American pretense of having a higher moral authority is now completely shattered by George W. Bush’s presidential sanctioned torture!
Anyone who has followed the anti-missile saga knows that the project serves no purpose other than to enrich the various companies involved. The original concept to provide a complete shield against nuclear missiles was obviously naive and condemned by a large number of scientists because of the large number of missiles involved and the ease with which counter-measures could be envisioned. The current concept of shooting down odd missiles from rogue states is equally naive because once such states know such a system is in place they would launch such an attack using a container lorry rather than a missile. The latter approach might also be a little cheaper!
I hope very much that the next US president will have the sense to reverse some of this nonsense before it really threatens stability.
Who knew? Russia to the rescue? What a deal! Thanks Putin!
Isn’t it a sad day when we have every reason to believe that an authoritarian Russian President is more responsible, more trustworthy, and more honest in his statements, and has more justification for his positions in a potential conflict with the US, than the leadership of our own government?
Got to feed the M/I/I complex. Any war will do, even a Cold War.
Putin is barking just to hear his brains rattle. The Russian military is so depleted and out of date they can’t even put one boomer (FBM) out to sea for a patrol. And look at how many of their old ICBM’s blow up when trying to launch a satellite in to orbit. Putin must fact it that todays Russia is a third world power and that their glory days are long gone. By the way Putin don’t let Bush know you have any oil or you may be seeing little green men running around that have the American flag on their shoulders. Even worse than that Exon-Mobil flags
I knew Rebel, I saw it at the last Summit. I just tried to find the picture that portrayed it so perfectly but I can’t find it. I wish I had saved it. It was perhaps one of the best photo’s I have ever seen.
The Bush administration is following the Reagan model of arms race. It bankrupted the USSR because of the arrogance of its leaders. Hmmm
Another thought, once we start blowing up satellites in space, the debris would orbit the earth for a long, long time.
In a few short years George W.Bush has been able to turn the U.S. from its once hallowed position as a much admired country to one that is now hated throughout the world.
As a Canaian, a neighbor, long-time ally, intermingled, i view this world-wide reaction with both shock and sadness.
even here in canada where the U.S. has long established roots, the feeling s now one of enmity. And it is widespread growing as the violence in Iraq escalates and thousands continue to lose their lives because of the Americans reackless, illegal and immoral invasion.
the people in the U.S. must act quickly and without hesitation and depose George Bush who is leading the country to ruin.
America needs new leaders, statesmen who can go out into the world and seek forgiveness for their sins.
The strange thing about the debate about the U.S. anti-missile shields in Poland and the Czech Republic is that even old friends like Canada sympatize with the Russian leader.
Bush must be chased out of the White hOuse as the hostility towards the U.S. mounts every day. Arnie Patterson,Canada
The logical response to a missile defense system for a determined enemy is to build many missiles. If defense is 95% effective build 20X the missiles. (The military industrial pentagon dream) OR …… use terrorism to deliver the bombs. (The military industrial pentagon fear mongering politician dream).
Which do you think the neo-cons want?
kivals April 27th, 2007 10:34 pm
“Isn’t it a sad day when we have every reason to believe that an authoritarian Russian President is more responsible, more trustworthy, and more honest in his statements, and has more justification for his positions in a potential conflict with the US, than the leadership of our own government?”
Yes! It’s also very discouraging. The Dems (all of them) need to come clean and reverse the sick policies of this country.
Is it going to take a nuke on D C to stop the insanity out of Washington ? Then where will the world be ?
Ms Rice’s comments after Mr. Putin’s statement was a farce, unbecoming a ’secretary of state’, our ignorance makes us blind and deaf to global shifts, dynamics we can influence positively despite being seen by the rest of the world as irrational, dangerous and especially as nations ‘immature’.
If the US Missile Shield worked, it would not be used in installations outside of the US (to protect it’s secrets).
So one way to recoup the bad investment that went wrong, is to “sell” it overseas to sucker customers.
When we look at the world map as seen from the point of the US ‘unified command plan’,[afri com was just added] we know that America has currently sole sovereignty over the world and its resources. Other nations, especially former powers, have some autonomy, but they’re all are listed on the US nuclear strike list… just in case they need to be disciplined.
It seems Mr. Putin still believes in the sovreignty of his country, and from this perspective Ms Rice’s dismissive, patronising response made sense. It is so dangerous that this scenario is real and not a sarcastic statement.
i highly recommend the documentary “Why We Fight,” by Eugene Jarecki, as it explains why our nation has become an out of control chest beating military beast.
and this article too, about the downfall of civilizations, which ours has officially begun with BushII: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/4/28/104151/554
I believe President Bush is insane and bent on provoking World War Three as his Biblical “Armageddon”. Therefore, he and V.P. Cheney must be impeached immediately. If not, we’re all nuclear toast.
I am new to this site, but I must say I am a little baffled by this article. In the five minutes I spent cruising this site, I have found no few than a dozen articles decrying Bush for destroying civil liberties, one of which compared him to Stalin.
My question to you all is, What the f**k do you think is going on in Russia right now?
Vladimir Putin is an extremely corrupt leader who cares far more about consolidating his own power than ensuring his people’s freedoms. People who oppose him openly keep mysteriously dying. Putin recently ordered that 50% of media coverage in Russia must be “good news” and that the United States is to portrayed as an enemy.
Washington has invited Russia to participate in the shield, but Putin refused. Why? It would seem he has nothing to lose by accepting this offer. Don’t get me wrong, I am no Bush fan, but you guys seem convinced that he is the antichrist who is destroying this country’s rights. I would simply point out that the same thing is happening in Russia, but there is not a word of protest here.
Gracian07, when have you been last time in Russia? Or when did you read last time RUSSIAN newspapers or listened RUSSIAN radio or watched RUSSIAN TV? I have been in Moscow in December 2006 (first time since 1993) and noticed no changes in media operation - except soap operas from Latin America were replaced by home made.
And no specific anti-American propaganda. Though, many people have grunges about NATO expantion and demolition of Yugoslavia (which was not a political satellite or ally since end of WW-II). People in Russia do not like same tendencies in American policy that people criticize here.
There are much more Russians who can read English, German and French and check Putin’s words against W’s TB’s or other Western figures.
Just recently I read an analysis on IZVESTIA (The News) site about those Anti-Missile sites in Europe - titled “IBM - virtual problems and real threats” (http://www.izvestia.ru/comment/article3103681/).
It looks at 5 scenarios (breiefly):
1. Paranoidal tendency in US leadership after 9/11 (in good agreement with article above)
2. Military budget is too good to lose nad/or let it go down
3. AMD shall expand and improve gradually to be ready to block any strike from anywhere. Now it’s time to start reserving the sites
4. Re-play 1980’s Star Wars trick
5. Build on Russian borders a more loyal and controllable military-political structure than NATO is now
And author considered nether of those a real immediate threat for Russia - #3 is a concern in a long run.
Gracian07, which of those scenarios Russia shall join?
Also, looking at USA military operations against Iraq (both) and Yugoslavia, I would add scenario No.6:
Massive ‘preemptive’ strike which takes out 95-99% or Russian ICBMs and other strategic forces. It is technicaly possible since most of Russian ICBMs are still in silos or on submarines in docks. Mobile ones may be traced and destroyed on the ground same way Iraqi SCADs were. What is left - is intercepted by proverbial interceptors or AEGIS cruisers.
Speaking of ‘mysteriously dying’ opponents… give me a list please. If you mean Litvinenko: this guy worked for Berezovskij - but recently lost financing from oligarkh. So, he was definitely of no value for this Putin’s opponent. Why shall Putin go after him?
If you mean Politkovskaya: during first Chechen War she was one who exposed financial link between Berezovskij and Chechen separatists.
Editor of Russian Forbes (forgot his name) was misteriously gunned down… after calling Berezovskij (than still in power) a Riussian Godfather in one of his articles.
Who else of Putin’s opponents or critics suddenly died?
Personal freedom and consolidating governmental power… Would you give a rabbit’s egg for freedom which takes away everything esle - your job and salary, life savings, medical ensurance, retirement plan, school for your children and replaces it by gang wars, falling apart infrastructure, stagnating economy?
USA and Western Europe keep those processes in check - and only as long as thay do so, they can afford a democracy as you know it. Poor people can not be free - thay may be set loose for uncontrolled destruction of each other (Iraq, civil war in Russia after 1917 series of revolts) or neighbours (Nazis in Germany after WW-I).
So far what is happening in Russia is not an assaust on personal freedom but increase of the state role in the economy. Though, it may restrict personal freedom of few. You can probably name couple of those…
What you observe in Russia is a very nervous government holding a traumatized people together, knowing well that its opposition is supported by forces who want to see Russia really fail. There are resources in Russia, and they can be very tempting.
China for instance has seen what happened when thanks to the World Bank and IMF an economy is willingly brought to ‘collapse’ and new opportunities flashed out the wrong people, and it is moving its changes forward in a restrained and controlled way. It is human nature especially after a long history of shortages and insecurities, to ‘I want it all and I want it now.’ But we can exploit this yearning for more, and we refuse the nation time to consolidate their affairs, to settle, to mourn and to find their way forward. It had to be done in a few years, what needed a breathing period of maybe 20 years.
We should not forget that Russia hasn’t forgotten being attacked from the West twice in such a destructive way and has lived with debilitating ’sanctions’ for many decades, we need to honor this memory and not trying to steer up fear and resentment, in again coming too close for comfort.
We tend to sanction people, create shortages and then blame them for not providing for their people, often very convincing…
Remember a real PERPETRATOR using attack, intimidation, gaslighting, diversion will always BLAME the VICTIM diverting elsewhere uncomfortable and inconvenient truths about themselves…..
This mendacious subterfuge of the bully being Bush et al (in this instance) are basically craven or venial or both….
Or put another way….criminal in violation of numerous federal statutes, international laws and constitutional law whereby international treaties (eg Geneva Convention) are the supreme law of land; BUSH swore an oath to uphold, preserve and protect….
To Gracian07: can you please post a list of “mysteriously dying Putin’s opponents”, as well as reference to a DOCUMENT supporting yours “Putin recently ordered that 50% of media coverage blah blah” - other than a newspaper gossip.
You say that “Washington has invited Russia to participate in the shield, but Putin refused”. Would Kennedy agree to paint a fence around Soviet missile site in Cuba? Or Khruschiov do the same to American nukes in Turkey?
Even I would not believe that ANY country (would it be USA, Russia or even Luxemburg) will allow even a closest ally to have a significant control over such a important defence system.
What comes out of Rice’s mouth is so ludicrous that’s not even funny. She probably thinks her audience is the gullible Bush supporters. Iran has no reason or intention of attacking Europe; neither does it have missiles that could reach Europe. The net outcome of deploying U.S. anti-missile batteries in Poland and the Czech Republic is endangering the lives of people in those countries. If Russia ever wanted to attack the U.S. by nuclear missiles, it would, as a first step, nuclear bomb the anti-missile sites by some conventional aircraft since both countries are very close to Russia. Were a nuclear war to happen, people in those two counters would be the first casualties of such a war. They should, therefore, strongly oppose the plan.
Gracian07,
Putin has dreams of a resurgent Russian Empire, so he is merely reacting to Bush’s more aggressive imperialist foreign policy in an area of Russian interest, Eastern Europe. Notice Putin has not opposed Bush’s wars in Afghanistan or Iraq, but they are also in an area of Russian interest. But imperial empires inevitably come into conflict, and Bush is on his way to his beloved “Armageddon” (World War Three).
Condi Rice would have been to stay teaching her BULLSHIT at University….
Atleast she wouldn’t have done as much damage on the international stage or exposed her immaturity and lies for all the world to see…
A total feather-weight and completely out of her depth….
Most foreign diplomats and heads of state would be laughing behind her back….
American influence and reputation speeding down the TOILET!!!!
I meant to say….
Condi Rice would have been BETTER to stay teaching her BULLSHIT at University….