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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Moscow says US missile shield aimed at Russia |
| 2010-02-10 |
| [Al Arabiya Latest] Russia's top general said on Tuesday that U.S. missile defense plans were directed against his country, and differences over the issue were holding up an arms treaty with Washington, Russian news agencies reported. "The development and deployment of missile defenses is aimed against the Russia Federation," General Nikolai Makarov, chief of staff of the Russian armed forces, was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. "The development of these missile defense systems without question weakens our potential nuclear deterrent." The renewed blast from Moscow raised questions about the chances of an early agreement on a successor to a Cold War-era nuclear arms reduction treaty that expired in December. A U.S. defense official rejected his comment. Washington has insisted its plans for a limited missile defense are intended to intercept a small number of warheads that might be fired by a "rogue state" such as Iran or North Korea. U.S. President Barack Obama pleased Russia by scrapping the previous administration's plans to deploy elements of a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, which was bitterly opposed by Moscow. But Makarov said Russia still had serious concerns about Obama's revised plans, which are based on sea- and land-based missile interceptors in Europe, despite U.S. insistence that they are no threat to Russia. "Despite the declarations of those statesmen who say that, on the contrary, it provides for our security, that's far from the case," state-run RIA news agency quoted him as saying. "For this reason it's completely understandable that we have a very negative attitude about this issue," Makarov added. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #10 ION GUAM K57 > US-JAPAN "FUTENMA" base controvery > JAPANESE DELEGATION CONSIDER RECOMMENDING THAT 4000 US TROOPS BE SENT TO CNMI. versus MARIANAS VARIETY GUAM [MVGUAM] > DEMAND, DON'T ASK: JAPANESE PARLIAMENTARIAN WANTS GUAM TO BE ASSERTIVE, on its Rights as per every kind of issue or debate, etc. related to the US Marine Reloc from Okinawa to Guam + other. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-02-10 21:12 |
| #9 If you can't even shoot nuclear weapons at your friends, are they really your friends after all? |
| Posted by: bigjim-CA 2010-02-10 17:38 |
| #8 Is there a reason the US should consider Russia a threat? Perhaps all the bluster and threats and arms and nuclear sales to enemies. The main way the shield is aimed at Russia (in the short term) is that it would make Russian sold missiles worthless and cut of a cash stream the Russians like. In the long run, of course the shield will be expanded to protect from everyone, including Madagascar if needed. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2010-02-10 12:18 |
| #7 Just Russians being Russians. Smile and nod. |
| Posted by: Whiskey Mike 2010-02-10 11:13 |
| #6 "As naturally as Cause follows Thursday..." |
| Posted by: Fred 2010-02-10 11:05 |
| #5 How, exactly, do you aim a shield at someone? These people are intentionally conflating some very basic concepts here. |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2010-02-10 09:40 |
| #4 Something about "give the Russians an inch and they will take a mile" comes to mind. |
| Posted by: ed 2010-02-10 08:08 |
| #3 "For this reason it's completely understandable that we have a very negative attitude about this issue," Makarov added. He joins hundreds of millions who are stricken with classic Russian insecurity and paranoia. Of course he has a negative attitude. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-02-10 07:22 |
| #2 Markov. |
| Posted by: gromky 2010-02-10 07:08 |
| #1 Markarov should be thanked for having the same surname as that chain guy..... and then be told to bug off. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2010-02-10 00:34 |