Posted on 10/18/2007 1:52:09 PM PDT by blam
Putin touts new nuclear weapons against US
By Adrian Blomfield in Moscow
Last Updated: 8:59pm BST 18/10/2007
President Vladimir Putin has announced plans to build a new generation of nuclear weapons after accusing the United States of harbouring an "erotic" desire to invade Russia and steal its natural resources.
Delivering one of his most belligerent anti-Western tirades, Mr Putin also suggested that America and its allies had concocted a fake assassination plot to prevent him from visiting Iran this week.
Casting himself as a pugnacious but benign defender of national sovereignty, the president told his people during a live television phone-in that only Russia's military prowess had prevented the country from suffering Iraq's fate.
But he delivered a relatively conciliatory message on America's plans to station a missile defence shield in Europe - proposals which Russia hotly opposes.
The subject of Western plots was first raised by Alexander, a mechanic in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk. Was it right, Alexander wanted to know, that certain American politicians considered Russia's refusal to share its natural resources "unfair" — claims he bizarrely attributed to Madeleine Albright, the former US secretary of state.
"I know that such ideas are brewing in the heads of some politicians," Mr Putin replied. "I think it is a sort of political eroticism which maybe gives some pleasure but will hardly lead anywhere.
"The best examples of that are the events in Iraq, a small country that could hardly defend itself but which possesses massive oil reserves. Thank God Russia is not Iraq.
"It is strong enough to protect its interests within the national territory and, by the way, in other regions of the world. What we are doing to increase our defence capability is the correct choice and we will continue to do that."
On the subject of missile defence, however, Mr Putin was more measured. "The latest contacts with our American colleagues show that they have indeed given some thought to the proposals we made and they are looking for a solution to the problems and for ways to ease our concerns," he said.
Nearly eight years into his presidency, Mr Putin has grown steadily more assured and nationalistic in his public performances and the annual phone-in is clearly an event in which he revels.
As questioners fretted about Western machinations and Russia's uncertain future when Mr Putin steps down next Spring, the president was always on hand, like a cross between an emperor and a deity, to grant petitions, answer prayers and dispense advice and encouragement.
Not once was an unsettling or controversial question asked — a fact that drew scorn from the Kremlin's dwindling band of critics. "It was unbearably boring and openly narcissistic," said Yevgeny Kiselyov, a political commentator.
"It was all staged from beginning to end. If he is a president and not the Tsar, why don't we hear the opinion of those who don't vote for him?"
Russia's already rapid rearmament would be stepped up even further, Mr Putin promised. Ambitious plans to bolster the country's nuclear arsenal — as well as its conventional military hardware — were well underway.
They include new missile systems, modernised nuclear bombers and submarines. "We have plans that are not only great, but grandiose," he boasted.
To drive home this message, the broadcast was interrupted to show a test launch of Russia's newest intercontinental ballistic missile.
"The anti-western rhetoric is aimed at voters, philistines who like to believe that Russia is surrounded by enemies intent on keeping the country on its knees," Mr Kiselyov said.
"For them, Putin is the only man who can defend us from these vicious enemies."
I just remember the really uneasy feeling I had when I heard Pres Bush remark several years ago something to the effect “ I have looked into this man’s eyes and seen his soul and he is a good man”. Putin was KGB and they don’t change the stripes that easily. I felt then Putin was not to be trusted. He is proving it now. He has ideas of grandure as a dictator of Russia.
Putin must go to bed every night sucking his thumb.
Think Syria. And Iran. Everything they are getting, they’re getting from Russia. They think they are in control of their destiny. They need to look at their supplier. There will be a payment due, sooner or later. He is their landlord. They just don’t realize it yet.
“Think Syria. And Iran. Everything they are getting, they’re getting from Russia. They think they are in control of their destiny. They need to look at their supplier. There will be a payment due, sooner or later. He is their landlord. They just don’t realize it yet.”
Putin and Russia had best pay attention when their latest AAA and SAM technologies are completely outclassed by the US military in Iran. Just as they were in Iraq.
Putin and his various ‘axis of evil’ cronies are pretty good at PR, but much worse at winning wars. I hope Russia doesn’t get too much of a swelled head and starts something it can’t finish.
I also hope the various airheads calling for ‘a world without nuclear weapons’ wake up and smell the uranium hexafluoride.
This is really very sad. There is no reason why the US and Russia couldn’t be at the very least allies in the war on terror. We are fighting the same bad guys.
Vlad better realign his priorities. Instead of trying to claim every unclaimed inch of ground on the planet, he ought to be trying to figure out how to use the land he don't know what to do with now.
Nice to see that hardcore communists all over the world can still count on the Kremlin to give them their talking points and marching orders.
No--he has always BEEN unhinged. He is ex-KGB, which is like saying ex-Marine--you know, once a Marine, always a Marine. And I believe one of the qualifications for being KGB was being unhinged.
vaudine
Hey, there are a lot of extremely cute Russians that are worth lusting after
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.