Thread: U.S. "imperialism" means new arms race: Putin

Putin: Missile Tests Are Response to US

Friday June 1, 2007 3:31 AM

AP Photo MOSB124, MOSB114
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
Associated Press Writer

MOSCOW (AP) - President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia's test-firing of new missiles this week was a response to U.S. plans to build missile defense sites across Europe, and suggested Washington is pursuing an imperialist policy that has triggered a new arms race.


In a clear reference to the United States, Putin harshly criticized ``diktat and imperialism'' in global affairs and warned that Russia will keep strengthening 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 this week at a news conference in Moscow.

In Washington, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe indicated that Moscow's tests only underscore the U.S. contention that the missile defense system is not aimed at Russia.

``As the Russians are well aware, our missile defense assets in Europe could be easily overwhelmed by existing Russian missile capabilities,'' he said.

Putin described the tests of a new ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and a new cruise missile as part of the Russian response to the planned deployment of new U.S. military bases and missile defense sites in ex-Soviet satellites in eastern Europe.

He assailed the United States and other NATO members for failing to ratify an amended version of the 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe treaty, which limits the deployment of heavy non-nuclear weapons around the continent.

``We have signed and ratified the CFE and are fully implementing it. We have pulled out all our heavy weapons from the European part of Russia to (locations) behind the Ural Mountains and cut our military by 300,000 men,'' Putin said.

``And what about our partners? They are filling eastern Europe with new weapons. A new base in Bulgaria, another one in Romania, a (missile defense) site in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic,'' he said. ``What we are supposed to do? We can't just sit back and look at that.''

Putin and other Russian officials have repeatedly rejected U.S. assurances that the planned missile defense installations are meant to counter a potential threat from nations such as Iran and pose no danger to Russia.
He reaffirmed his warning that Russia would opt out of the CFE treaty altogether if NATO nations fail to ratify its amended version.

``Either you ratify the treaty and start observing it, or we will opt out of it,'' Putin said.

In remarks directed at Washington, Putin blasted those ``who want to dictate their will to all others regardless of international norms and law.''

``It's dangerous and harmful,'' he added. ``Norms of the international law were replaced with political expediency. We view it as diktat and imperialism.''

In one of the tests Tuesday, a prototype of Russia's new intercontinental ballistic missile, called the RS-24, was fired from a mobile launcher at the Plesetsk launch site in northwestern Russia and its test warhead landed on target 3,400 miles away on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the far eastern part of the country, officials said.

Deploying a new missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads could allow Russia to maintain nuclear parity with the United States despite having to gradually decommission Soviet-built ICBMs.

The military also tested a new cruise missile based on the existing short-range Iskander missile.

First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, widely seen as a potential Kremlin candidate to succeed Putin, hailed the missile's capability on Thursday.

``It can be used at long range with surgical precision, as doctors say'' Ivanov said, according to the ITAR-Tass news agency. ``Russia needs this weapon to maintain strategic stability.''

ITAR-Tass said Thursday the new cruise missile, R-500, will have a range of up to 310 miles, the limit under a Soviet-era treaty that banned intermediate-range missiles. Putin and other officials have called the treaty outdated but have not said Russia would opt out of it.

Putin: Missile Tests Are Response to US | World Latest | Guardian Unlimited

Originally Posted by Sparta

Putin is using this as an excuse for something he planed to do in the first place. A missile defence system is not a weapon, just as kevlar is not a weapon.

Do you seriously believe in what you said?

If you and your opponent both have handguns you are in equal position.
If you have (in addition) Kevlar, your opponent would want something better than handgun, something like assault rifle, to get back equality.

The nuclear stand-off in Europe between US and Russia
The nuclear stand-off in Europe between US and Russia - Independent Online Edition > World Politics

Originally Posted by Alien Traveler

Do you seriously believe in what you said?

If you and your opponent both have handguns you are in equal position.
If you have (in addition) Kevlar, your opponent would want something better than handgun, something like assault rifle, to get back equality.

But equality isn't a neocon agenda AT......

Originally Posted by Horhey

Missile defense is recognized by the the world's intelligence agencies as a first strike weapon, so of course rival powers would react in this fashion. Its a sword, not a shield. It expands the domains for aggression. As expected, Russia is building up its nuclear weapons capacity in an effort to overwhelm it. China will react to Russia, India will react to China, then Pakistan, and then you get a ripple effect increasing the threats to us all. And at this level were talking about survival of the species. This isnt just thousands of people being killed.

Your comments just get dumber and dumberer. Good lord. How the hell is a DEFENSE system used to knock out OFFENSIVE missiles considered a first strike weapon?

You haven't got the remotest clue what you are talking about do you?

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, why don't you post a link where someone credible in ANY of the world's intelligence agencies that made this absolutely STUPID comment? I would love to see who made it.

Horhey, you and your merry band of loony leftists have truly gone over the deep end in your wacky world of downright nonsense.

Originally Posted by Truth Detector

Your comments just get dumber and dumberer. Good lord. How the hell is a DEFENSE system used to knock out OFFENSIVE missiles considered a first strike weapon?

You haven't got the remotest clue what you are talking about do you?

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, why don't you post a link where someone credible in ANY of the world's intelligence agencies that made this absolutely STUPID comment? I would love to see who made it.

Horhey, you and your merry band of loony leftists have truly gone over the deep end in your wacky world of downright nonsense.

It is well known on all sides that missile defense is a first strike weapon. US military analysts describe missile defense as "not simply a shield but an enabler of U.S. action." It "will facilitate the more effective application of U.S. military power abroad.” “By insulating the homeland from reprisal, missile defense will underwrite the capacity and willingness of the United States to `shape' the environment elsewhere." "Missile defense isn't really meant to protect America. It's a tool for global dominance.” “Missile defense is about preserving America's ability to wield power abroad. It's not about defense. It's about offense. And that's exactly why we need it.” All quotes, from respected liberal and mainstream sources who favor developing the system and placing it at the remote limits of US global dominance.

ABC Radio National - Background Briefing: 29 February* 2004* - The Missile Defence Offensive

http://stinet.dtic.mil/dticrev/a414602.pdf

frontline: missile wars: excerpts: the strategy: america the invulnerable | PBS

The logic is simple, and well understood. A functioning missile defense system informs potential targets that “we will attack you as we please, and you will not be able to retaliate, so you cannot deter us.” The system is being marketed to Europeans as a defense against Iranian missiles. Even if Iran had nuclear weapons and long-range missiles, the chances of its using them to attack Europe are lower than the chances of Europe being hit by an asteroid, so if defense is the reason, Czech Republic should be installing a system to defend the country from asteroids. If Iran were to indicate even the slightest attention of such a move, the country would be vaporized. The system is indeed aimed at Iran, but as a first strike weapon. It is a component of the escalating US threats to attack Iran, threats that are in themselves a serious violation of the UN Charter.

So called missile defense ratchets the threat of war a few notches higher. The defense it provides is to increase the threat of aggression in the Middle East, with incalculable consequences, and the threat of terminal nuclear war.

My biggest concern is that Putin might throw this out of proportion. Try to get his people on his side (against the US) so he can get relected. It's never a good thing when a government uses fear to shape the opinion of its people. If thats the case, then it may not be a good idea to put up these missile defense systems. Seriously, why waste your money USA. Let the EU do it if they want...

Originally Posted by TenGig

My biggest concern is that Putin might throw this out of proportion. Try to get his people on his side (against the US) so he can get relected. It's never a good thing when a government uses fear to shape the opinion of its people. If thats the case, then it may not be a good idea to put up these missile defense systems. Seriously, why waste your money USA. Let the EU do it if they want...

Imagine how the US would react if Russia or China or Iran or any foreign power dared even to think about placing a missile defense system at or near the borders of the US, let alone carrying out such plans. In these unimaginable circumstances, a violent US reaction would be not only certain but also understandable.

Originally Posted by Horhey

Imagine how the US would react if Russia or China or Iran or any foreign power dared even to think about placing a missile defense system at or near the borders of the US, let alone carrying out such plans. In these unimaginable circumstances, a violent US reaction would be not only certain but also understandable.

I know. It gives Putin a reason to react. That's why it may not be a worth wild idea to put these up.