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Thread: Putin warns he will point missiles at Europe

  1. #1
    Senior Contributor xrough's Avatar
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    Putin warns he will point missiles at Europe

    Putin warns he will point missiles at Europe

    MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said Russia would go back to its Cold War stance of aiming its missiles at Europe if Washington went ahead with a plan to build a missile defence shield near Russia's borders.

    In an interview released late on Sunday, Putin acknowledged that Russia's response risked reviving an arms race in Europe but said Moscow would not be responsible for the consequences because Washington had started the escalation.

    Putin made the tough statement before what is likely to be a frosty Group of Eight summit in Germany on June 6 where, among other world leaders, he will come face to face with US President George W. Bush.

    Russia has not specifically targeted its missiles at Europe since the end of the Cold War but, asked if it might return to that if the US missile shield plan went ahead, Putin said: "Of course we are returning to those times.

    "It is clear that if a part of the US nuclear capability turns up in Europe, and, in the opinion of our military specialists, will threaten us, then we are forced to take corresponding steps in response."

    "What will those steps be? Naturally, we will have to have new targets in Europe."

    Russia's combative response to the US missile shield has prompted comparisons with the Cold War. Putin has directed angry rhetoric at the White House, last week calling US policy "imperialist."

    Russia has test-launched a new ballistic missile in a move it tied to the US missile plans, and suspended its compliance with a treaty limiting the deployment of conventional forces near Russia's western borders.

    Political gesture

    Putin's warning that missiles might once again be pointed at European targets carries a clear political message but has few practical implications.

    Even after the Cold War ended, Russia retained the capability to hit European and US targets. Training ballistic missiles on a particular target is a fairly simple technical task that can be done in a matter of minutes.

    Putin's comments came in an interview Putin gave to selected media from G8 countries on Friday. The Kremlin released a transcript of the interview on its Internet site Ïðåçèäåíò Ðîññèè at 2100 GMT on Sunday.

    Russia's response to the US missile moves would be to develop "more effective offensive systems," Putin said in the interview.

    "We know that that risks restarting an arms race, for which we will not be responsible. It was not us who started altering the strategic balance."

    Putin added: "Today we warn: if a new missile defence system is deployed in Europe there will be a response," he added. "We are forced to ensure our security."

    Washington wants to locate elements of its planned shield -- including a radar station and interceptor missiles -- in Poland and the Czech Republic.

    It says the shield is not a threat to Russia but is designed to protect against possible missile attacks from what it calls "rogue states" such as Iran and North Korea.

    Putin said that was not credible. "There are no Iranian missiles with the necessary range," he said. "So it becomes obvious that this innovation is about us Russians."

    Putin reiterated that a military escalation was not Russia's choice. "We are not in favor of confrontation," he said. "We are in favor of a dialogue.

    "We want to be heard, we want our position to be understood," he said. "We do not rule out that our US partners could review their decision (to build the missile shield)."

    "But if that does not happen, we lift from ourselves any responsibility for the steps we take in response because we are not the ones who are initiating the looming arms race in Europe."

  2. #2
    Ray
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    Back to the Cold War!


    "Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

    I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

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    Who you reckon would win a new arms race? USA or Russia lol?

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    Well, and this happens just few days after the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Russia comes into force.

    Some people try to name it “strategic partnership”

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    Senior Contributor xrough's Avatar
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    Between Russia and US no question about that but I would like to know about Russia vs Europe..I would like to ask also if US could shield the entire Europe from Russia?well, probably in a long run Europe with US they will win but what about the damage can it give?

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    Senior Reader Senior Contributor entropy's Avatar
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    Has anyone already found out what the US missile shield is doing there? It is as useful as a life raft in the Sahara.

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    WAB BOUNCER Senior Contributor Stan187's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by xrough View Post
    "We know that that risks restarting an arms race, for which we will not be responsible. It was not us who started altering the strategic balance."
    lol, an arms race has to have at least two parties racing, both of which in part responsible. What a bunch of demagoguery.
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    Good point Ent, just what is the need, when we all know the common enemy is terrorism, think I preffered things before the WALL came down

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    tankie Military Professional tankie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Jones View Post
    Good point Ent, just what is the need, when we all know the common enemy is terrorism, think I preffered things before the WALL came down
    Ha harrr Bob , it looks like recruiting will now go up as they rattle their sabres , and we deploy troops again to Brattyville , loads of LOA , build another wall for some mugs to spend cold countless hours patroling it , never mind though Berlins nice in the booze parlours and other places
    Last edited by tankie; 04 Jun 07, at 15:59.






    TANKIE.

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    Iran doesn't have missile tech. Poland is pretty far from Iran, and one of the most technologically advanced missiles in the world, fielded by India, the Agni III has a range of only 3,000km.

    So what the heck is that shield doing there?

    It's a shield against Russia, so the US can somewhat beat the Russians into submission somewhat like El Salvidor and Panama.

    This doesn't mean that I hate people from the US.
    I have no idea what I'm doing. Honestly!

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    An t-aimiréal chléthúil Senior Contributor crooks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Indirect Fire View Post
    Iran doesn't have missile tech. Poland is pretty far from Iran, and one of the most technologically advanced missiles in the world, fielded by India, the Agni III has a range of only 3,000km.

    So what the heck is that shield doing there?

    It's a shield against Russia, so the US can somewhat beat the Russians into submission somewhat like El Salvidor and Panama.

    This doesn't mean that I hate people from the US.
    Nor do I, and I agree.

    This System is not really needed, and is just needlessly elevating tension with Russia.

    If it was the Third Reich next door, I'd support it, but there is no real threat to warrant it's existence.

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    Quote Originally Posted by crooks View Post

    This System is not really needed, and is just needlessly elevating tension with Russia.

    If it was the Third Reich next door, I'd support it, but there is no real threat to warrant it's existence.
    i'm given to understand - and i'm happy to be corrected - that sites in Europe were chosen because the ballistic tracks from some of the more 'interesting' parts of the world to the CONUS go near Europe, making it an excellent site for the placement of intercept/detection systems. nothing sinister, just an accident of physics and geography.

    the system can't cope with the kind of massive releases inherant in any east/west nuclear exchange, so its pretty irrelevent for Russian security in any objective way.

    Mouse. rape. elephant.

    that Putin makes so much of it is rather more indicative of him and his mindset than it is of anything else.
    before criticizing someone, walk a mile in their shoes.................... then when you do criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

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    chankya's Avatar
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    It's not like you need to physically "point" missiles and unless you're looking for very rapid employment of the missiles they should be pretty easily reprogrammable anyway. Me thinks its just a political gesture.
    "Of all the manifestations of power, restraint impresses men the most." - Thucydides

  14. #14
    Ray
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    The rationale for the ABM in Europe is not valid - at least for the moment!

    But keeping the tensions high is excellent from the political point of view since fear amongst the people can do marvellously well in politics and both the US and Russia are in the election mode!


    "Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

    I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

    HAKUNA MATATA

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    Senior Contributor xrough's Avatar
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    I think it's only 10 interceptor right? so I think it can't catch hundreds or thousands from Russia if that will happen..

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