Putin suggests new missile shield site
HEILIGENDAMM, Germany - Russian President Vladimir Putin, bitterly opposed to a U.S. missile shield in Eastern Europe, told President Bush on Thursday that Moscow would drop its objections if the system were located in Azerbaijan.
Putin told Bush he would not seek to retarget Russian missiles on Europe if the United States agreed to put the radar-based system in Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic bordering the Caspian Sea.
Bush's reaction to Putin's idea was: "Interesting proposal â?? we have to have our experts look at it," according to White House National Security Adviser Steve Hadley. Hadley was in their hourlong meeting on the sidelines of a summit of the world's eight major industrialized democracies â?? the leaders' first since the dispute erupted earlier this year.
Bush has proposed basing the radar in the Czech Republic and interceptor rockets in Poland, rousing Moscow's suspicions that a system built in its backyard had to be aimed at it. The U.S. insisted the shield was aimed at any potential nuclear threat from Iran, not Russia, but Moscow declared the explanation "insufficient" as recently as Wednesday night.
With the dispute flaring in recent days into Cold War-style rhetoric and threats from Moscow, Putin's proposal to put the system in Azerbaijan came as a surprise.
U.S. officials scrambled to react afterward, huddling hurriedly before trying to explain it to the press. Though outright acceptance of such an idea seemed unlikely, the White House clearly wanted to avoid further inflaming tensions with a needed ally by giving Putin's idea short shrift.
"I think President Putin wanted to de-escalate the tensions a little bit on this issue, and I think it was a useful thing that he did," Hadley told a few reporters.
Putin said the existing radar station, built during Soviet times, is rented by Russia under a continuing agreement between Russia and Azerbaijan.
He argued the benefits of his suggested substitute: An Azerbaijan-based system would cover all of Europe rather than just part of it, and destroyed missile debris would fall in the ocean rather than on land.
Putin suggests new missile shield site - Yahoo! News
Very interesting counter-proposal.....makes sense also as far as the debris is concerned.
Have a good one!:s4:
Putin suggests new missile shield site
So why is Putin talking about attacking Europe in the first place? I was under the impression that, officially, Russia and the west were no longer military opponents. Though recently I've come to lose a lot of trust in the Russian government, especially Putin. With all their massive arms deals with China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, I suspect Russia is already vicariously attacking the west with arab forces so as to not have to take responsibility itself. China, btw, has been knowingly selling tonnes of arms to Iran who has in turn been selling them to Hezbolla.
Putin suggests new missile shield site
Putin suggests new missile shield site
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zimzum
Hey, that would be cool too! A joint venture between two of the Superpowers to protect the region. A common adventure is good for creating a long lasting peace.
Have a good one!:s4:
Putin suggests new missile shield site
Quote:
Originally Posted by Psycho4Bud
A common adventure is good for creating a long lasting peace.
i wouldn't call it the basis for a long lasting peace, but at least it would ease some of the remaining cold war tensions for a while.
Putin suggests new missile shield site
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrdevious
So why is Putin talking about attacking Europe in the first place? I was under the impression that, officially, Russia and the west were no longer military opponents. Though recently I've come to lose a lot of trust in the Russian government, especially Putin. With all their massive arms deals with China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, I suspect Russia is already vicariously attacking the west with arab forces so as to not have to take responsibility itself. China, btw, has been knowingly selling tonnes of arms to Iran who has in turn been selling them to Hezbolla.
WW3 much? I don't think Russia is our best friend, but I don't think they're enemy either. They will never have the balls to attack us anyway.
Putin suggests new missile shield site
Quote:
Originally Posted by footpaul
WW3 much? I don't think Russia is our best friend, but I don't think they're enemy either. They will never have the balls to attack us anyway.
Maybe that's why they're arming our most likely enemies, to weaken the states to the point where they can win a war. Though more likely they could (try to) defeat the states economically like the US did to Russia through the cold war.
Putin suggests new missile shield site
Maybe that's why they're arming our most likely enemies, to weaken the states to the point where they can win a war. Though more likely they could (try to) defeat the states economically like the US did to Russia through the cold war.
More like China is doing to us right now!
Putin suggests new missile shield site
Russia and China both contribute to Iranian and Saudi military interests.
Putin suggests new missile shield site
"Russia and China both contribute to Iranian and Saudi military interests"
yeah, and Russia and China both have seats on the security council....does this disturb anyone else, or is it just me?
