Increasing Danger: Russia? The US?

[Bergermeister]

Putin has now announced that Russia will respond to Washington's proposed missile shield in Europe by aiming nukes at European cities.

Thoughts and discussion?

[@_@ Artman]

http://allhatnocattle.net/bush_drinking_lite.jpg

"Put your empties in the recycling bin imperialist pig!"

Is Bush drinking beer there?

[trumptman]

This is obviously just a way for Bush to stir up fear and consolidate power. His lackeys in the mainstream media are simply helping him fearmonger. That whole JFK fuel line bit is part of trying to raise his poll numbers as well.

Nick

[@_@ Artman]

http://www.claudiocaprara.it/mediamanager/sys.user/38949/Putin%20e%20la%20moglia%20Lyudmila%20osservano%20B ush.jpg

[MacRR]

hahaa...:lol:

[SDW2001]

http://www.claudiocaprara.it/mediamanager/sys.user/38949/Putin%20e%20la%20moglia%20Lyudmila%20osservano%20B ush.jpg

Dude...that's his personal NSA-interceptor dish. Or possibly a DirectTV receiver.

[Northgate]

This is obviously just a way for Bush to stir up fear and consolidate power. His lackeys in the mainstream media are simply helping him fearmonger. That whole JFK fuel line bit is part of trying to raise his poll numbers as well.

Nick

Well?

[@_@ Artman]

Because the ABM Treaty is a worthless piece of paper. And I guess who did that?...

The paradox of missile defense (http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/06/05/the_paradox_of_missile_defense/)

When George W. Bush came into office as president, he quickly denounced the ABM Treaty as a "relic" of the Cold War. (In doing this, he was largely dependent on the analysis of Paul D. Wolfowitz, whose public career began on the staff of the Committee to Maintain a Prudent Defense Policy, which was formed to oppose the ABM Treaty.) Because the United States was forbidden by the 1972 treaty to go forward with a Missile Defense System, Bush unilaterally "abrogated" the agreement in 2002. Not only did this action destroy the arms reduction process (immediately killing START II), it made inevitable the next round of arms escalation. Missile defense began as Ronald Reagan's Star Wars fantasy, but in Reagan's vision it was to be paired with steady progress toward nuclear abolition, an element that Bush simply dropped.

Of all the problems that are exacerbating US-Russian tensions today, none compares for destructiveness with Bush's misguided missile defense project. The irony, of course, is that this reigniting of the old tensions in the name of security leads to less security, not more. The tragedy is that it ignores the lesson that had already been so well learned four decades ago.

[southside grabowski]

Dude...that's his personal NSA-interceptor dish. Or possibly a DirectTV receiver.

The expressions on Putin and his wife are priceless. Notice that Laura just kept walking. She long ago learned to ignore George.

[iPoster]

http://i8.tinypic.com/4yg4711.jpg

Wait, this seems familiar somehow? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War)

[Gilsch]

WTF Putty Poo??? :D

[SDW2001]

http://i8.tinypic.com/4yg4711.jpg

Wait, this seems familiar somehow? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War)

So the question is...who is provoking more...Bush or Putin? I think that Putin wins that prize.

[@_@ Artman]

So the question is...who is provoking more...Bush or Putin? I think that Putin wins that prize.

No, not really. (http://mathaba.net/news/?x=555105) This link will take a little time to load. A very long press conference with the Put-meister. Intriguingly cunning politician.

"I draw your attention and that of your readers to the fact that, for the first time in history -- and I want to emphasize this -- there are elements of the U.S. nuclear capability on the European continent. It simply changes the whole configuration of international security." - Russian President Putin

He's basically saying, "You made the rules, we're playing by them (only better.)" We can say whatever we like about the belly-smooching Putin, but he's definitely a lot sharper than most of the knives in the drawer.

[SDW2001]

No, not really. (http://mathaba.net/news/?x=555105) This link will take a little time to load. A very long press conference with the Put-meister. Intriguingly cunning politician.



He's basically saying, "You made the rules, we're playing by them (only better.)" We can say whatever we like about the belly-smooching Putin, but he's definitely a lot sharper than most of the knives in the drawer.

Bullshit. Reagan put missiles in Europe. And Putin backed off today anyway.

That said, I'm not sold on US Missile Defense in Europe myself. I am completely in favor of missile defense though, just one centered around the US territores and nations that request the same defense.

I also reject the "defense paradox" as linked above. It's a semantics laden, black-is-white argument. We're not dealing with the Soviets anymore, as much as Putin might want to pretend that's how things are.

Finally, the conspiracy theorist in me (and he's there..I just don't let him out much) tells me that that we've actually had robust missile defense for years, and that the whole issue is actually a dog and pony show. A friend of mine who had at one time contacts within the military (nothing high level, more ground level-direct contact) once told me once of his active duty military buddies said that "everyhting you see on the news actually happened about six months ago." :lol: Makes one wonder.

[@_@ Artman]

Putin turns tables on Bush, suggests joint work (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10444345)

Putin: "Your claim is that missile shield in Central Europe is directed against Iran, not Russia?"

http://www.ihr.org/webpics/bush_moron.jpg"..."

Putin: "OK, then we offer you Russian radar site right on Iran's border. Let's build missile defense system there together. And it will protect the whole of Europe."

http://www.ihr.org/webpics/bush_moron.jpg"..."

Putin: "Will you take it?"

http://www.ihr.org/webpics/bush_moron.jpg"..."

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/c/ce/Vladimir_Putin_martial_arts.jpg