Russian President Vladimir Putin has suspended the application of a key Cold War arms control treaty.

Mr Putin signed a decree citing "exceptional circumstances" affecting security as the reason for the move.

Russia has been angered by US plans to base parts of a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

The 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE) limits the number of heavy weapons deployed between the Atlantic Ocean and the Urals mountains.

'Cornerstone'

The Russian suspension will become effective 150 days after other parties to the treaty have been notified, President Putin's decree says.

The suspension is not a full-scale withdrawal - but it means that Russia will no longer permit inspections or exchange data on its deployments.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6898690.stm
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Another smart move towards world peace.

Fuck Putin, if he can't figure out how to control his buddies from Iran and their Nuclear ambitions, he should expect the U.S. to fulfill it's treaty obligations to NATO and the E.U., and if he wants to get into another spending race he should refer back to when he was in the KGB, the Russians still don't have the infrastructure to deliver their good if their economy came under pressure again.

Fuck Putin.
Heh, I sense a bit of anger.

Russia needs to defend itself, the bases installed in poland and Czech Republic is a hazard and can be used to launch a major strike on Russia.

I agree with Putin dropping the treaty and it is time for Russia to install its own bases in Cuba and Venezuela...backed up by some Iran-like foolish explanation.

russia supports iran nuclear ambitions. putin is a "former" KGB, he wants to see russia becomes a global power again. i dont trust him at all.

russia supports iran nuclear ambitions. putin is a "former" KGB, he wants to see russia becomes a global power again. i dont trust him at all.

like Britain doesn't want to become global power and like US doesn't want to become global power.

As Russia numerously stated it supports Iran nuclear non-military ambitions.

like Britain doesn't want to become global power and like US doesn't want to become global power.

As Russia numerously stated it supports Iran nuclear non-military ambitions.
Do you think Russia will just up and withdraw its support for Iran's nuclear ambitions should they find out that Iran is making centrifuges for military grade nuclear weapons?

like Britain doesn't want to become global power and like US doesn't want to become global power.

As Russia numerously stated it supports Iran nuclear non-military ambitions.

yeah, non-military huh. why such a rich oil\gas state needs nuclear capability?

http://www.iranalert.org/ahmadinejad5.jpg

Do you think Russia will just up and withdraw its support for Iran's nuclear ambitions should they find out that Iran is making centrifuges for military grade nuclear weapons?

perhaps.

perhaps.

Then Russia would have a newfound respect from me should that happen and should Russia withdraw their support because of it.
But I'm still skeptical about Iran to begin with on their nuclear ambitions, especially when Russia offered to enrich their uranium for them back a few years ago and Iran said 'no'.

yeah, non-military huh. why such a rich oil\gas state needs nuclear capability?

Because they have what, one fuel-processing plant? Same reason why everyone else wants, or already has, nuclear reactors.

Either way though, with all the imperialism going on, it'd be stupid for countries not to have nukes to defend themselves. When you have nukes, nobody messes with ya. Look what happened with the oh-so-threatening North Korea and what we didn't do to them.

- N

woot?! wootttt!!! woot!

Russia needs to defend itself, the bases installed in poland and Czech Republic is a hazard and can be used to launch a major strike on Russia.

Well, with Russian's history of invading those countries and subjugating them, is it any wonder they want the USA there protecting them from an unstable-- and potentially re-emerging wannbe empire? How long is it until yet another Vladamir Zhirinovski runs for election in Russia and finally wins? We may not have to wait to get an imperialistic dictator in Russia-- Putin's doing a fine job of it himself.

Besides-- judging from the bang-up job the USA is doing in Iraq and the American public's inability to handle any prolonged conflict... how much dammage do you REALLY think these bases could do to Russia? Poland and the Czech Republic are free and independent countries who can make whatever alliances and treaties they want. The wishes and regards of the Russians mean nothing when it comes to their own internal desires. At the end of the day, those two countries have far more to worry about from Russia and Iran than the Russians do from the USA.

~String

Besides-- judging from the bang-up job the USA is doing in Iraq and the American public's inability to handle any prolonged conflict... how much dammage do you REALLY think these bases could do to Russia? Poland and the Czech Republic are free and independent countries who can make whatever alliances and treaties they want. The wishes and regards of the Russians mean nothing when it comes to their own internal desires. At the end of the day, those two countries have far more to worry about from Russia and Iran than the Russians do from the USA.

~String

no damage at all, the rockets will be intercepted by the newly made Russian rocket bases in the Kaliningrad region, as well as mainland Russia.

http://www.defencetalk.com/news/publish/missiles/Russia_threatens_European_rocket_deployment1600125 93.php

no damage at all, the rockets will be intercepted by the newly made Russian rocket bases in the Kaliningrad region, as well as mainland Russia.
They probably wouldn't intercept a fleet of B2s carrying some most likely quite potent nukes themselves though. The B2s could also be carrying a conventional payload and be accompanied by a gang of F-117s to knock out those rocket bases to our rockets wouldn't be intercepted.
:D

They probably wouldn't intercept a fleet of B2s carrying some most likely quite potent nukes themselves though. The B2s could also be carrying a conventional payload and be accompanied by a gang of F-117s to knock out those rocket bases to our rockets wouldn't be intercepted.
:D

how foolish it is to underestimate your enemy.

how foolish it is to underestimate your enemy.

True. But then: (a) the USA and Russia are hardly enemies, (b) why would we ever invade since it would never be supported by the American public and would undoubtedly cost both countries their mutual existence and (c) Russia is the least of America's worries.

~String

True. But then: (a) the USA and Russia are hardly enemies, (b) why would we ever invade since it would never be supported by the American public and would undoubtedly cost both countries their mutual existence and (c) Russia is the least of America's worries.

~String

... well putting rocket bases that close to Russia and just proving it as a way to defend against Iran, is kinda over a limit here.

Russian feathers ruffled

More like, "Russian pubic hairs introduced to shoe leather". :D

Putin's a gangster running a gangster state, with thinly veiled fascist tendencies (see the NYT's "Youth group's created by Kremlin to serve Putin's cause in the streets" story).

His missile defense outrage is a tantrum thrown for the sole purpose of increasing his own power and trying to rejuvenate an ailing nation with the tried and tested "Western threat." The US has offered Putin to share in the missile defense technology and offered to make him a partner in the deployment. He refused both offers, presumably because he still thinks to dogma of mutually assured destruction is still in effect and that nothing should be done to upset the possibility the the Russia and the West can wipe each other out, a line of thinking and appreciation of reality that ended about 10 years ago...

Russia needs to defend itself, the bases installed in poland and Czech Republic is a hazard and can be used to launch a major strike on Russia.
Bullpucky.

A fistful of stealthy SSBNs in the North Atlantic, Arctic Ocean, and Pacific are all that's needed for a major strike on Mother Russia.

Poland and the CR are a minor major distraction for the easily distracted.

It is they whom Russia seeks to employ in its major rhetorical defense.

Funny to watch the parade already starting to re-form. :)

Ah. Another of those pesky hyphens. Maybe they're compelling, maybe they're not.

Another suggestively secretive, pointed innuendo.

:D

I don't consider this to be too much of a shock or too terrible of a thing to happen. Russia is clearly just flexing their geopolitical muscles in yet another sphere of influence they don't want the U.S. becoming prominent in.

Since 9/11, the United States has (whether they like it or not) become the chief protectorate of Central Asia essentially in exchange for the use of bases (geographically this is a "trench" region for the War on Terror -- think Tajikistan's 750 mile border with Afghanistan). The natural resources in this area are vast and Russia cannot be happy about playing second fiddle in the post-Soviet space it once controlled. I can only imagine they have similar feelings about the U.S. moving in on yet another door step.

... well putting rocket bases that close to Russia and just proving it as a way to defend against Iran, is kinda over a limit here.

Except that they are there at the request of NATO's newest members, and they AMAZINLY aren't on any Russian soil, so I don't get what they are whining about, except that it gives Putin more ammunition to rant on TV about how "the Yankees are coming... the Yankees are coming!"

~String