Russian Rattling the Saber

[Alan®]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,447204,00.html

MOSCOW — Russia will deploy missiles near NATO member Poland in response to U.S. missile defense plans, President Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday in his first state of the nation speech.

Medvedev also singled out the United States for criticism, casting Russia's war with Georgia in August and the global financial turmoil as consequences of aggressive, selfish U.S. policies.

He said he hoped the next U.S. administration would act to improve relations. In a separate telegram, he congratulated Barack Obama on his election victory and said he was hoping for "constructive dialogue" with the incoming U.S. president.

Medvedev also proposed increasing the Russian presidential term to six years from the current four, a major constitutional change that would further increase the power of the head of state and could deepen Western concern over democracy in Russia.

The president said the Iskander missiles will be deployed to Russia's Kaliningrad region, which lies between Poland and the ex-Soviet republic of Lithuania on the Baltic Sea, but did not say how many would be used. Equipment to electronically hamper the operation of prospective U.S. missile defense facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic will be deployed, he said.


He did not say whether the short-range Iskander missiles would be fitted with nuclear warheads and it was not clear exactly when the missiles would be deployed.

"Mechanisms must be created to block mistaken, egoistical and sometimes simply dangerous decisions of certain members of the international community," he said shortly after starting the 85-minute speech, making it clear he was referring to the United States.

The president said Georgia sparked the August war on its territory with what he called "barbaric aggression" against Russian-backed South Ossetia. The conflict "was, among other things, the result of the arrogant course of the American administration, which did not tolerate criticism and preferred unilateral decisions."

Medvedev also painted Russia as a country threatened by growing Western military might.

"From what we have seen in recent years, the creation of a missile defense system, the encirclement of Russia with military bases, the relentless expansion of NATO, we have gotten the clear impression that they are testing our strength," Medvedev said.

He announced deployment of the short-range missiles as a military response to U.S. plans to deploy missile-defense facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic — former Soviet satellites that are now NATO members.

Speaking just hours after Obama was declared the victor in the U.S. presidential election, Medvedev said he hoped the incoming administration will take steps to improve badly damaged U.S. ties with Russia. He suggested it is up to the U.S. — not the Kremlin — to seek to improve relations.

"I stress that we have no problem with the American people, no inborn anti-Americanism. And we hope that our partners, the U.S. administration, will make a choice in favor of full-fledged relations with Russia," Medvedev said.

Tension in Russian-American relations has been driven to a post-Cold War high by Moscow's war with U.S. ally Georgia.

On the financial crisis, Medvedev said overconfidence in American dominance after the collapse of the Soviet Union "led the U.S. authorities to major mistakes in the economic sphere." The administration ignored warnings and harmed itself and others by "blowing up a money bubble to stimulate its own growth," he said.

Medvedev said the president's tenure should be lengthened to six years to enable the government to more effectively implement reforms. He said the term of the parliament also should be extended by a year to five years, and that parliament's power must be increased by requiring the Cabinet to report to lawmakers regularly.

The proposals were Medvedev's first major initiative to amend the constitution since he was elected in March to succeed his longtime mentor Vladimir Putin.

Putin, who is now prime minister and has not ruled out a return to the Kremlin in the future, has favored increasing the presidential term.

[white24d]

This is another reason why Obama was a better choice. No other leaders want to sit down with McCain because of his ties to Bush, Lets hope that Barrack heals the wounds of international friends that bush poured salt into with his policies.

[Spektrewing386]

actually, its the USA thats rattling the saber.

I am agaisnt the idea of anytype of US controled military activity in Poland.

The whole Russia/Georgia thing was a media battle and it was clear who won the media battle even though evidence is coming out about how agressive Georgia was in starting the conflict.

Also a McCain administration would make this problem so much worse, glad its Obama and not McCain who would be doing the talking.

[BanginJimmy]

Obama will simply put his tail between his legs and all of our enemies, of which Russia is quickly becoming again, will rejoice.

[Spektrewing386]

LOL!!!
Russia is becoming an enemy BECAUSE of people like McCain and Bush. And for no fucking reason either! Why would they be an enemy? Can you think of any reasons? Dont say because of Georgia, because it was Georgia who started the was and was killing civilians. Because of Chechnya and Ingushetya? Maybe, but the US is not involved in that and most likley considers it a part of the 'war on terror'. Any other potential reasons as why to make a new enemy?
Im sorry but how is Obama "putting his tail between his legs"? Thats the stupidest thing I've ever heard. If McCain was president in October 1963 we would all be dead along with everyone in on both sides in Europe.
The missile sheild is useless anyway. A rogue state isnt going to send missiles across the sky. There are much easier and safer ways to get their deadly payload to their target and anybody who knows anything knows this. There is no reason for a missile shield besides the fact that it will allow America unrestricted control in another country where the entire population objects to it.

Just because you dont act hostile towards everyone doesnt mean your are a coward.

This whole thing is about American world power.
The only reason the cold war started was because America was physically untouched by WW2 and saw it as an opportunity to take power.

America wants to be the only superpower and objects to rising superpowers. Its like a disease in our heads, a power complex.

But seriously, do you think that not being a world asshole is cowardace? Do you punch every stranger in the face because they might be a threat to you on the way to school/work?

I want America to loose this power complex disease. Yes we can be involved in world affairs but we must loose this disease.

[BanginJimmy]

Russia is becoming an enemy agains because of their expansionist ambitions are starting to surface again. The communist sectors are also gaining strength in Russia. The Russian govt has alrady seized several million worth of assets from a couple of British companies that were exploring for oil in Siberia and other areas of Russia.


It has nothing to do with acting hostile, it has to do with saying you are going to do something then doing it. Unlike during the Clinton Admin where we had alot of strong words, but no actions, Bush actually followed up with his words.

I dont trust any of these other rising superpowers. Russia is expansionist, China needs to be expansionist to support itself and has such a long list of humaniterian gaffs that their strength is dangerous to everyone around them. What other rising superpower is there? France is nothing more than a speed bump for an invading army. The UK is starting to move so far to pacification that they are also falling from the power ranking.

We have been the asshole and the policeman depending on what country you ask. The UN has proven to be unable to acheive any goals without the US leading the way. Kewait and probably Saudi by now would be ruled by Sadaam without the US leading the way. The same holds true for Bosnia.

[Spektrewing386]

lol.

Explain how you think Russia is expansionist? And also explain how the USA isnt expansionist in the same context.


I love how we thrive on double standardism, yet fail to see it.


And explain how you disagree with the "its their oil" theory. (talking about the british thing). Its their fucking land why cant it be their oil? Same thing with the middleeast. Its their fucking land, their fucking oil.

Are you thinking on the "finders keepers" policy? So some British oil companies find oil in Siberia, does that mean its the Brits soul right to sell that oil and profit from that? NO, because the Brits should not be in other people's backyard looking for things to keep themselves.

Glad you're not running for president.

[BanginJimmy]

lol.

Explain how you think Russia is expansionist? And also explain how the USA isnt expansionist in the same context.


I love how we thrive on double standardism, yet fail to see it.

We have seen their expansionsm is Chechnya (SP?) and to a MUCH smaller degree in Georgia.

And explain how you disagree with the "its their oil" theory. (talking about the british thing). Its their fucking land why cant it be their oil? Same thing with the middleeast. Its their fucking land, their fucking oil.

Are you thinking on the "finders keepers" policy? So some British oil companies find oil in Siberia, does that mean its the Brits soul right to sell that oil and profit from that? NO, because the Brits should not be in other people's backyard looking for things to keep themselves.

The russians confiscated the drilling equipment and platforms that the British moved to the srilling sies along with most of the exploration equipment.

Glad you're not running for president.

trust me, if I ran for president, I would get less votes that Nixon. I like to say what I think and I really dont care if you like it or not. I will gladly listen to any other side of any arguement, but if I dont agee I will say so. Political correctness is one of the biggest problems in this country when speaking of everyday life and until it ends we will continue to have misunderstandings over nothing.

[Spektrewing386]

We have seen their expansionsm is Chechnya (SP?) and to a MUCH smaller degree in Georgia.

Chechnya has been part of Russia for quite a while, it was in the 18th century when they came under Russian rule. Apparently stuff like that was all the rage with Europe back then.

The russians confiscated the drilling equipment and platforms that the British moved to the srilling sies along with most of the exploration equipment.

The USA would have done the exact same thing and I don't blame them. I guess it was only way to stop them. But in USA we consider oil on our property ours, but oil overseas in other country's territory can be owned by some other country?? Thats stupid. Thats also one of the reasons why we installed a dictator in Iran in 1953, so we can take their oil and sell it as our own.

trust me, if I ran for president, I would get less votes that Nixon. I like to say what I think and I really dont care if you like it or not. I will gladly listen to any other side of any arguement, but if I dont agee I will say so. Political correctness is one of the biggest problems in this country when speaking of everyday life and until it ends we will continue to have misunderstandings over nothing.

ok. a true man speaking true words.
I do the same, I speak my mind. While our opinions may differ, we are the same in that we dont cater to the masses.