Posted on 02/16/2008 6:13:51 AM PST by em2vn
Russia may have to retarget some of its rockets at the missile defenses that the U.S. is planning to deploy in Central Europe, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
"Our experts believe the system threatens our national security," Putin said at his final annual news conference in the Kremlin echoing comments he made on Tuesday. "If it appears, we will be forced to respond appropriately - we will have to retarget part of our systems against those missiles."
He also said Russia could be forced to redirect its missiles at Ukraine if NATO bases are deployed in the country.
"We will be compelled to aim our missiles at facilities that we consider a threat to our national security, and I am putting this plainly now so that the blame for this is not shifted later," Putin said.
(Excerpt) Read more at en.rian.ru ...
I always thought you aimed for the unprotected area, but I ain't no Russian Strongman.
Why have a military alliance without a military alliance?
I dunno...Putin’s doin’ an awful lot of chest-thumpin’, and doin’ it awful loud.
I love it, not too long ago he could simply say he would aim his missiles at their cities, doesn’t quite have the impact when all he can do is aim it at a shield.
We don't have any NATO bases on our soil do we?
We are not on the front line and I am not aware of any US law that would forbid it.
yes, we do. we have quite a few training bases.
if all goes according to plan...
Gee, I wonder if we have thought of targetting Russian missiles?
Every time Putin opens his mouth he reminds Europe that Russia has much more in common with Tehran than it does with Paris.
He also said Russia could be forced to redirect its missiles at Ukraine if NATO bases are deployed in the country.
He has been bullying for years. He is still P***ed that Yanakovich didn’t become president. Yanakovich would have forced Ukrtaine into a lame-o union with Kazakstan, Uzbekistan and Russia. In reality however, he wants to rejoin the Soviet Union.
Well, good!
If they fire on the missile shield, that would be a pretty good indicator that its time for us to fire our ICBM’s and SLBM’s at their heartland.
The moment our sensors pick up signs of a Russian attack on our defensive missile emplacements, we shall retaliate by leaving Moscow a smoldering ruins and their Navy will become new fishing reefs.
I have a dream too...
LLS
He's sending a message: if you allow American anti-missile defenses on your soil, I will target you. You don't want to have nukes aimed at you, don't allow US anti-missile defenses on your soil
The Soviet Union always used to say that an America defensive missile shield was a “threat” to world peace, and the peacenik idiots always ate that up—hook, line, and sinker.
How a defensive missile shield can be a “threat” is unclear to a logical mind, but it worked back then, and presumably Putin figures it will work now.
The peaceniks will soon be marching in the streets of Berkeley in support of the Soviet Union, er, Russia, er . . . .
He sees the missile shield as a threat to his ability to wring concessions from Europe. By aiming his missiles at the missile shield, he’s threatening to test it. It’s a Cold War showdown.
After mulling this article over for a while, it occurs to me that the last time I heard something like this from a Soviet leader it was in response to Reagan’s decision to deploy Pershings in Europe, and SDI. That desperate bluster marked the demise of the Soviet’s power. This sounds similar.
Yes, but if the Euroweenies recognize Kosovo independence, we may soon see more than just "chest-thumpin'".
History repeats iteslf, first as tragedy then as farce...again and again and again and again.
No. We allow NATO forces to train on U.S. bases, and no foreign troops are permanently stationed here. In Germany, there are U.S. bases. You won't find a single European soldier standing guard at a base entrance within the United States.
Nor are there any permanent NATO bases in Slovakia or many other NATO countries either.
The point is that its a collective alliance that does not require the forward deployment of alliance forces. During the Cold War it made a lot of sense to have major forces in place, but I doubt NATO would set up a permanent alliance presence in Ukraine under in the current environment. Electronic observation posts would likely pop up though.
Indeed. Yet, we aren't moving our bases into the new frontlines, e.g. Poland, Slovakia.
It is unlikely that we would move major forces into place in Ukraine under in the current environment.
LLS
How a defensive missile shield can be a “threat” is unclear to a logical mind, ==
Very simple. It is threat because it gives way for the american first strike. If America strikes Russia first then the few left russian missiles could be shot down by ABM interceptors.
I don’t think that assessment is realistic. A missile shield can stop a few missiles, but it can’t stop thousands of them.
I don’t know the current numbers, but Russia had something like 10,000 mirved ICBMs back when the wall fell, and I believe they are continuing to maintain most of their arsenal.
In other words, I believe the technology supports what America has always said about the missile defense shield. It might—or might not—protect us against a rogue nation like North Korea or Iran, that had maybe a dozen nuclear missiles. It wouldn’t offer any protection against 10,000 or a 100,000. It’s doubtful that it would protect us against China, and it certainly wouldn’t protect us against Russian. You still have MADD.
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