Posted on 02/24/2015 10:58:41 AM PST by McGruff
Ash Carter has quietly thrown down the gauntlet in a lingering dispute with Russia: If President Vladimir Putin continues to violate the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the U.S. could respond in kind.
“The range of options we should look at from the Defense Department could include active defenses to counter intermediate-range ground-launched cruise missiles; counter-force capabilities to prevent intermediate-range ground-launched cruise missile attacks; and countervailing strike capabilities to enhance U.S. or allied forces,” Carter told senators in little-noticed written answers to follow-up questions from his confirmation hearing.
The defense secretary’s bottom line: “U.S. responses must make clear to Russia that if it does not return to compliance, our responses will make them less secure than they are today.”
Obama administration officials believe Russia began testing what they call its illegal cruise missile as long ago as 2008, predating the current crisis in Europe over Moscow’s military incursion into Ukraine. And they have accused Russia of violating the 1987 INF treaty under which the U.S. and then-Soviet Union agreed to pull back land-based missiles deployed around Europe that many feared could escalate a crisis too quickly for either side to control.
Now, with Putin still pressing into Ukraine, some members of Congress are even more eager to push back on what they see as Russia’s violations of the INF treaty. And Carter’s endorsement of new “counter-force capabilities,” following his cautious support for arming Ukraine’s government against the Russian invaders, puts him on the hawkish side of the spectrum as President Barack Obama and his advisers weigh how to resolve the standoff.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
But your giving them to Iran...
We better toughen up if we want to prevent Putin getting so out of touch that he starts a major war.
Go Ted Cruz.
Ash Carter....
That name really has Putin shakin’ in his jackboots.
Geez.....
What would you prefer?
“Dr. Ashton B. Carter, PhD”?
What’s he going to do, sic some trannies on Putin?
LOL!
His first name is the same as the fagly actor named “Kutcher”.
His last name is the same as our worst surrender monkey president up until our current impostor.
What is Obama going to do, launch a nuclear strike?
He’s weak, and everyone knows it. Nobody will take a show of force seriously.
What is your point, that you can find trivial things to say on anything, even war issues and the reemergence of the evil empire?
Aside from kicking the pansies out of office here, bring back the Pershing II project from the 80s and put them into full production. The Russians complained about that one causing it to get dismantled under the INF.
Let us violate it on our own accord if they think they can skate around the INF.
Missiles should be deployed on the Baltic states and if Russia makes a sudden move we shoot!
A carrier group in the black sea with a couple of Virginia class subs would definitely raise some eyebrows there on who will be protecting the Ukraine.
Yes! He could invite Putin to the Faculty Club for a scholarly discussion over cognac of the various great-power models of international systems.
“PhD” That’s “piled higher & deeper”, I believe.
FWIW, most college & university presidents have double-surname monikers.
I’m sure they’re shaking in their valenki boots....
LOL...too true.
Although the new SecDef at least has what I would call a “real” doctorate, in that he studied physics, I believe.
Whoa! Putin is terrified (not)!
...and his wife is probably bedding Biden by now.
PhD...picture of Howdy Doody.
That’s what he and his fellow travelers were awarded.
He like too many others, with a mob mentality, wants to run, not walk into a wood chipper. Bunch of idiotic lemmings.
Meanwhile the terrorists have been discovered digging a tunnel to Canada's Pan Am games, and Mall America is treated.
Go figure, try it once.
The new Cold War has started. We need to realize it. We need to defeat them way we did the last time. Build up our conventional forces, tactical nuclear forces and strategic nuclear forces. Russia will then collapse again as they try to keep up with us. They can not match use because their economy is miniscule compared to The West.
If our allies will not step up and shoulder the economic burden of a robust military that is proportional to their economies tell them, “well bye” and suggest they start studying Russian.
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