From the headlines at Military.com:
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.
– Christian
This looks to be a bit of political theater on the part of Russia with little real military significance. Of course, the GBI deployment to Poland looks to be a bit of political theater with little real military significance (at least for the foreseeable future) on the part of the US, so it balances out.
Now, I’m not saying America hasn’t done anything to antagonize the Russians. Far from it. But I still think its funny that every time they do something antagonize us, or they respond and escalate the deterioration of diplomatic relations, they always blame it on us. The Russian government is just a bunch of hypocrites.
Good Evening Folks,
This appears to be Russia doing some provocative behavior for the sake of domestic politics. President Medvedev know that the economic melt down is going to hit the Russian “Joe the Plumber” soon, a military crisis that he can lay on provocation by the United States can divert public attention for the economic problems.
The intrusion into Georgia didn’t do the trick so he and Putin have to up the game a bit. Time is running out for Russia. Oil revenues have dropped, the cash stock pile from $140,00 a barrel oil will run out by Spring and the Russian people when not under a dictators thumb can be quite restless after the snow melts.
ALLONS,
Byron Skinner
I wonder what the US would to, or how the US would feel if the Ruskies put a missle base near US soil? Oh yeah they did try that.
The Russians have every reason to feel threatened by missiles and tracking stations planted firmly on its boarders.
Its history, and as far as hypocrites go, the US is no better then anyone else, they just think they are.
@Byron Skinner.… Please wake up after your hibernation. We all know now that Russia wasn’t the agressor in Georgia and that we have to thank Russia for protecting Osssetians against a second attempt of massive genocide from a fascistic Georgian government.
It is also quite clear now that the US has used NATO to deploy anti-russian governments into almost all former soviet-states. Something that undermines democracy totally. Now the US is closing the NATO belt around Russia by letting the Ukraine and Georgia with their two american puppets into NATO. In addition the US places missiles clearly not mend to protect against Iran alone in Poland. Something the majority of the Polish citizens strongly disagree on. But hey! They are in the EU (which can be called for USSR-2) and the EU is by now best known for not listening to their citizens. How many more reasons you want for Russia to defend themselves from a paranoid maniac called George W. Bush. Lets hope Obama is a bit more constructive in stead of destructive when it comes to the disgusting US foreign policy.
Seraphiel… what planet are you living on? Or is it Russia per-chance?
Since when was the EU anything like the USSR? I don’t recall feeling like I wasn’t allowed to draw pictures of people who weren’t smiling!
Sure there are controls and they are increasing… in possibly a bad way. But I am allowed to speak out about this matter! I can cast a free vote!
You said: “How many more reasons you want for Russia to defend themselves from a paranoid maniac called George W. Bush.“
Defend themselves against what may I ask?
US invading Russia… are you insane? If this is the general perception of the average Rooskie… it sounds a lot like paranoid Stalinist thought!
If you even want proof of the fact that the US doesn’t want to meddle with Russia… look at your own example with Georgia… the US stepped back and did nothing!!
Seraphiel a quick question… do you have any idea when Russia plans to improve on it’s OWN foreign policy by allowing people to vote for the right person a FREE election?
I have relations that live in Latvia (having family roots from there)… going back there, well, I don’t recall anyone liking any Russians! Neither to I recall anyone from countries that surround Russia really enjoying having them as their neighbour!
Last time I heard… Canada and America were happy… never heard too much of a squabble between them and Mexico…
sure the US aren’t great… but then again they are doing better than Russia! Shout some hatred against them for a change! Try to initiate change in Russia!… End the corruption, etc.
Oh right… you can’t really… there is no real free speech.
What no “we’re screwed because Obama will be President” comments? It must be because we still have faith in Bush being able to look into Putin’s eyes and see his soul.
Russia is posturing and sabre rattling now that they have an economy again thanks to oil. Yet another state sponsor of terrorism that we support with the almighty gas tank. Other than that, no big deal.
Georgia called the Russians bluff and took it up the chooch. I hope they learned their lesson.
DC2
Georgia called the Russians bluff and took it up the chooch. I hope they learned their lesson.
DC2
Posted by: DC2 Jennings at November 6, 2008 06:51 AM
DC2,
I like your sarcasm.
From a tactical standpoint, doesn’t it seem a little stupid for Russia to put missiles right next to the US *missile defense* radars and interceptors? As several people have already stated, this is a political move an nothing else. Russia just wants to make sure we know that they know what we’re doing… with me?
“The Russians have every reason to feel threatened by missiles and tracking stations planted firmly on its boarders.“
I always wondered why the bloody hype with planting DEFENSIVE missiles on a country next to Russia.
I would understand Russia’s paranoia if those missiles were OFFENSIVE tactical nuclear weapons.
I would understand too, if the US placed a defensive type of missile that could be replaced by an offensive type, used to strike.
But ladies and gentleman, what we really have here is 10 mere interceptors, completely useless crap against a nuclear strike by Russia, not only in quantity of missiles, but also in quality, as I seriously doubt they could shoot down an advanced Topol M, not even getting near it
I’ve wondered why Russia is worried about a token BMD system. The only answer I’ve got is that perhaps their missiles aren’t as effective as we might think.
Good Morning Seraphiel,
I’m not use to all this agreement here so bare with me. First of all I agree with you about George Bush, since I’m not an MD I will have to take your word on the medical diagnosis of our President.
Now regarding NATO as wrapping Russia with all those democracies, I find it hard to believe that NATO can exert that much influence over the for satellite countries of the former Soviet Union. I think you have what we call in the west a chicken before the egg problem. The democratic governments came first and then request to join NATO.
As for NATO if you have been watch events in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan of the past few years where NATO’s lack of any combat powers with out the United States should seem obvious. As stated in other posts the likely hood of the U.S. invading Russia or for that matter getting involved in any dispute with Russia in a third party country even for the Bush administration is remote.
The missile defense units in Poland was a rather stupid idea on the part of the Bushies and my guess was more for domestic political consumption. The system that is proposed would be useless against the SRBM’s, IRBM’s and cruise missiles that the Russians have in abundance. Other then for domestic political I fail to see any legitimate concern on the part of Russia on this issue. The current economic conditions in the United States will almost certainly dictate the cancelation of missile defense early in the coming Obama administration.
In short Seraphiel what Russia is doing is no more then a replay of the political theatre of the Cold War era. What the reality is, is that the United States is the only country in the world which has a full spectrum military strike ability in the world. The good news is that the United States has shown great restraint is using that ability even in Afghanistan and Iraq.
If Putin and Medvedev insist on going back to the old Soviet Days of using up to 27% of GNP for military,defense spending, I use GNP instead of the more common GDP in referring to Russia because the accounting of GNP applies better to Russia, thats Russia’s business even if it will lead to, well we all know how Russia solves domestic problems.
ALLONS,
Byron Skinner
I agree with blogger: BMD Time, Star Wars & Now we face COLD WAR 2.
(unless Cuba OKs Russian bombers in Cuba vs 1962 style missiles IRBMs.
Cold War 2.
Thanks for the obiligatory comment Wes.
DC2
What about the Iranian problem?
How come no offensie action has been taken against them, wheb arguably the threat of Iran’s nuclear programme is far more deadly to the West in the long term compaed to Iraq?
Is the reason for non-action:
1) Due to the unwillingness to over stretch US/coalition forces?
2) Risk of more negative public opinion for the Bush administration?
3) Fear of wider reprisals from the Islamic nations?
4) The apparantly increasing military capability of Iran (supported by Russian technology)to defend itself from cruise missile/air strikes?
5) The threat of destabilising the whole region and a retalition against US assets in the region as well as Israel?
Come on guys what do you think? A nuclear armed Iran will represent the biggest menace to the west that we have ever seen. Why have the west been so reluctant to intervene militarily?
What about the Iranian problem?
How come no offensive action has been taken against them, when arguably the threat of Iran’s nuclear programme is far more deadly to the West in the long term compared to Iraq?
Is the reason for non-action:
1) Due to the unwillingness to over stretch US/coalition forces?
2) Risk of more negative public opinion for the Bush administration?
3) Fear of wider reprisals from the Islamic nations?
4) The apparently increasing military capability of Iran (supported by Russian technology) to defend itself from cruise missile/air strikes?
5) The threat of destabilising the whole region and retaliation against US assets in the region as well as Israel?
Come on guys what do you think? A nuclear-armed Iran will represent the biggest menace to the west that we have ever seen. Why have the west been so reluctant to intervene militarily?