Posted on 07/25/2007 2:08:48 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Russia must strengthen its military and step up spying on the west in response to US plans to site parts of a missile defence shield in eastern Europe, President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday.
Addressing newly-promoted military and security officers, Mr Putin said new US military bases in eastern Europe and the failure of Nato countries to ratify an updated version of a Cold War treaty capping levels of conventional forces in Europe were threats to Russian security.
“One of our absolute priorities is an all-round strengthening of the armed forces,” Mr Putin told the Kremlin gathering. He listed not just terrorism but US military plans among “global threats” to be tackled.
“Both the situation in the world and internal political interests demand that Russia’s foreign intelligence service constantly increases its resources, above all in the field of information and analytical support for the country’s leadership,” Mr Putin added.
The president has spoken often of the need to strengthen Russia’s military and intelligence capabilities after years of underinvestment.
But his comments marked the clearest link yet between issues such as the US missile defence plans and the need to strengthen espionage activities.
Both the US and the UK have reported increased Russian spying.
Mr Putin’s remarks also showed he was determined to maintain pressure over the missile shield plans in spite of making recent offers to substitute a planned US radar station in the Czech Republic with use of a Soviet-built radar in Azerbaijan, or a new radar in southern Russia.
“There has so far been no response to our proposed alternative plans for defence against these hypothetical – I want to underline, hypothetical – missile threats,” Mr Putin noted.
Russia disputes US claims that the missile shield is designed to guard against future threats from rogue states such as Iran.
Relations between Russia and the west have reached their lowest since the collapse of the Soviet Union, with tit-for-tat expulsions of Russian and British diplomats last week triggered by the continuing dispute over last year’s poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko.
Foreign-based analysts said defence and security budgets had already been raised during Mr Putin’s presidency and plans were in place for further increases.
However, they said that by publicly linking these increases to perceived threats from the west, Mr Putin was raising political tensions at home and abroad.
Oksana Antonenko, a senior fellow at the London-based Institute for International Strategic Studies, said: “Some people will think he is acting to boost his domestic popularity before [the presidential election of] 2008. Other people will say he is speaking like this to boost Russia’s power in the world through rhetoric. It suits him to focus attention on these issues.”
Putin, you are a fool.
Putin you are a k.g.b. fool.
When is this J. O.’s term up?
Ping.
Putin continues the old Russian cultural thing.
I don't think Putin will every step down voluntarily.
You mean when is this J.O. putting forth an amendment or resolution eliminating term limitations due to the “IMMEDIATE THREAT” posed by the West...
Putin is running the necessary enemy from the petty tyrant’s handbook... His hold of near absolute power in Russia...has corrupted him, absolutely.
Cold War 2 and the WOT...the fight for freedom from oppression knows no end in this world.
In Hoc!
Gear up, we’re in this for the long haul.
Chavez, Putin. Chavez, Putin. Whatever. It’s like having drunk trailer trash neighbors. Always entertaining.
Russia must strengthen its military and step up spying on the west
Bring it on, Vlad. But remember we'll always been several steps ahead. ....just like the old days.
Merely domestic politicking....and a lot to do about $$$.
But but but, Mr. Bush looked into his soul.....:)
Putin would do better to keep his eyes on the Chinese. They will eat him for lunch one of these days.
Maybe so but none of MY trailer trash neighbors had ICBMs tipped with nukes.
Maybe so but none of MY trailer trash neighbors had ICBMs tipped with nukes.
Let's paint the water tower like one!
locked, cocked, and ready to rock... :-)
Since Putin is in his second term, he cannot run.
I think he’ll try to change that.
Old KGB men are a dime a dozen in Russia. Looks like nothing really has changed since that meeting in Iceland with the Gipper. They really have a problem with building a defensive shield against nuclear missiles. Apparently, they do not feel they have a significant infrastructure that needs protection from loose ballistic nukes. Must be that Tatar DNA some of them have. Why build and protect infrastructure when you can conquer and pillage that of your neighbors.
But that doesn’t necessarily remove him from the stage. Other possibilities remain. He might be more creative.
1) The constitution is amended to provide for a Vice-President, and guess who runs on a ticket with his preferred successor? Time is running out for that scenario though.
2) He becomes Prime Minister. Downside on that is that the President hires and fires the Prime Minister. Does he really want to serve at the pleasure of another, even his hand-picked successor?
3) He stands for election to the Federation Council as a Senator.
4) The Constitution is amended to make all former Presidents ex officio Senator-at-large with a vote and everything. Since he will be the only living former President...
5) He may be more creative than I am and come up with something else.
Each of these possibilities is a step down for him, of course. It depends on whether he keeps his promise to serve only two terms. If you don't think he will keep his promise, well, we'll find out in 9 months or so.
No matter what happens, I don’t think he’s going out of politics entirely.
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