Putin strikes back

[medicinal]

MOSCOW, Russia (AP) -- Moscow could aim nuclear weapons at targets in Europe as part of "retaliatory steps" if Washington proceeds with building a missile defense system on the continent, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday.

Speaking to foreign reporters days before he travels to Germany for the annual summit with President Bush and the other Group of Eight leaders, Putin assailed the White House plan to place a radar system in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in neighboring Poland. Washington says the system is needed to counter a potential threat from Iran.

In an interview released Monday, Putin suggested that Russia may respond to the threat by aiming its nuclear weapons at Europe.

"If a part of the strategic nuclear potential of the United States appears in Europe and, in the opinion of our military specialists, will threaten us, then we will have to take appropriate steps in response. What kind of steps? We will have to have new targets in Europe," Putin said, according to a transcript released by the Kremlin. These could be targeted with "ballistic or cruise missiles or maybe a completely new system" he said.

On Monday, Iran's top security official called the U.S. plans for the missile defense shield a "joke," saying Tehran's missiles do not have the capability to reach Europe.

"Claims by U.S. officials that installing a missile defense system in Europe is aimed at confronting Iranian missiles and protecting Europe against Iran is the joke of the year," Ali Larijani told the state-run IRNA news agency.

"The range of Iran's missiles doesn't reach Europe at all," IRNA quoted Larijani as saying in Iran's first public reaction to the plans. Larijani is secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, the country's top security decision-making body.

Iran is known to possess a medium-range ballistic missile called the Shahab-3 that has a range of at least 800 miles, capable of striking Israel. In 2005, Iranian officials said they had improved the range of the Shahab-3 to 1,200 miles.

Although Western experts believe Iran is developing the Shahab-4 missile -- thought to have a range between 1,200 and 1,900 miles, which would enable it to hit much of Europe -- Iran has not confirmed such reports.

Iran initially acknowledged in 1999 it was developing the Shahab-4, but claimed it would be used only as a space launch vehicle for commercial satellites.

Putin told reporters that he hoped U.S. officials would change their minds regarding the missile plan, warning that Moscow was preparing a tit-for-tat response.

"If this doesn't happen, then we disclaim responsibility for our retaliatory steps, because it is not we who are the initiators of the new arms race, which is undoubtedly brewing in Europe," he said.

"The strategic balance in the world is being upset and in order to restore this balance without creating an anti-missile defense on our territory we will be creating a system of countering that anti-missile system, which is what we are doing now," Putin said.

Last week, Russia tested a new ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and a new cruise missile. While Western analysts said the system has probably been under development for several years, Putin has described the test as part of Moscow's response to the U.S. anti-missile plan.

Putin also suggested that in the absence of a real threat from Iranian and North Korean missiles, the U.S. plan could be an attempt to spoil Russia's relations with Europe.

Relations between Moscow and Washington have soured in the past year. The two former Cold War foes are at odds over Washington's missile plans, over Russia's conflicts with former Soviet nations -- including Ukraine, Georgia and Estonia -- and over U.S. concerns of democratic backsliding in Russia.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

medicinal Reviewed by medicinal on 06-04-2007. Putin strikes back MOSCOW, Russia (AP) -- Moscow could aim nuclear weapons at targets in Europe as part of "retaliatory steps" if Washington proceeds with building a missile defense system on the continent, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday. Speaking to foreign reporters days before he travels to Germany for the annual summit with President Bush and the other Group of Eight leaders, Putin assailed the White House plan to place a radar system in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Rating: 5

[Psycho4Bud]

I believe Psycho4Bud already Posted this

Kind of.......ya see me threads header was "Putin in nuclear threat against Europe". Makes Russia out to be the bad guys.......Meds is "Putin Strikes Back".....just a lil' different version that the left would feel to be a bit more politically correct. LOL

Really though....if he plans to point them missiles that direction it's actually for the best that we get in the defense system. THANK YOU BORIS!:thumbsup:

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[Psycho4Bud]

russia has every right to defend itself against the usa!
in fact y does america have any right to tell other countries what to do
or put missle defence systmes in other countries anyway

Polish PM says U.S. missile defense system helpful for Europe
People's Daily Online -- Polish PM says U.S. missile defense system helpful for Europe

Czech leader in favor of U.S. missile defense system; Russian general responds with threat
Czech leader in favor of U.S. missile defense system; Russian general responds with threat - International Herald Tribune

This is a DEFENSE system...not an offensive one so it holds no threat to Russia. As for America's right to tell others what to do; read the articles, both of these countries are for this. It's RUSSIA trying to tell them "what to do" but them days are over........THAT is the ONLY piss off that Putin has about the entire thing. Russia no longer has control of these countries and they are favoring the west.

Have a good one!:s4:

[medicinal]

This is a DEFENSE system...not an offensive one so it holds no threat to Russia. As for America's right to tell others what to do; read the articles, both of these countries are for this. It's RUSSIA trying to tell them "what to do" but them days are over........THAT is the ONLY piss off that Putin has about the entire thing. Russia no longer has control of these countries and they are favoring the west.

So, If Cuba said it wanted a missle defense system to protect it from the USA and Russia was willing to set them up, it would be OK with you? HaHaHaHoHoHoHeHeHe,~LOL, yeah right!

[Psycho4Bud]

This is a DEFENSE system...not an offensive one so it holds no threat to Russia. As for America's right to tell others what to do; read the articles, both of these countries are for this. It's RUSSIA trying to tell them "what to do" but them days are over........THAT is the ONLY piss off that Putin has about the entire thing. Russia no longer has control of these countries and they are favoring the west.

So, If Cuba said it wanted a missle defense system to protect it from the USA and Russia was willing to set them up, it would be OK with you? HaHaHaHoHoHoHeHeHe,~LOL, yeah right!

Well, what's good for the goose...........

I see NO harm in this type of defense system.

Have a good one!:s4:

[medicinal]

Well, what's good for the goose...........

I see NO harm in this type of defense system.

Have a good one!:s4:

I guess you missed the part where they said they sneaked in a couple a big boys, long range, nuclear tipped mothers! Yeah I'll bet up in the north country where a long range missle might reach, there might be some tightening of the sphincter. Don't worry, Russian subs have you covered.

[RamblerGambler]

Just goes to show, where would the world be if we aren't pointing our deadliest weapons at each other? Apparently some people really like the Cold War...

[fishman3811]

Just another example of how the Bush regime is hell bent on destablizing the world way to go fuck heads

[RamblerGambler]

Though electing a former KGB member president didn't help matters much

[fishman3811]

Putin is as crooked as they come,he is the worlds richest leader btw.He sure didnt get that wealth by being on the up and up.