Posted on 05/10/2006 10:51:32 AM PDT by lizol
Russia needs to be strong against 'fortress' US: Putin
MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia faces a growing arms race against a "fortress" United States which cares more about its own interests than democracy or human rights, President Vladimir Putin said in his annual state of the nation speech.
In a wide-ranging, nationally televised address to both houses of parliament on Wednesday, Putin spent most time on domestic issues, particularly the rapid decline of the country's population, which the Russian leader said is losing 700,000 people a year.
But his most biting comments targeted the United States, which has become increasingly critical of Russia's human rights records, with Vice President Dick Cheney claiming last week that "opponents of democracy" were seeking to roll back post-Soviet gains.
Putin warned that it was "premature to speak of the end of the arms race. It is in reality rising to a new technological level."
He said that Russia was forced to react when the United States was spending 25 times more on defence.
"In the defence sphere, this is called 'their house is their fortress.' Well done! But it means that we must build our house strongly, reliably, because we see what's going on in the world."
Putin -- who in July hosts US President George W. Bush and other leaders of the Group of Eight at a Saint Petersburg summit -- swiped at US complaints that his seven-year rule has undercut Russian democracy.
"Where does the whole pathos about the need to struggle for democracy and human rights disappear to, when the talk is about ensuring one's own interests?" he demanded. "Then it seems everything is possible. There are no limits at all."
He then borrowed a Russian saying to illustrate the United States' alleged double standards. "As the saying goes, comrade wolf knows who to eat and he eats without listening to others."
Putin also laid out a vision of a Russia switching from an ageing and uncompetitive Soviet-era infrastructure to an economy centred on high-tech areas such as nanotechnology, nuclear power and the space industry.
"In conditions of fierce international competition, the country's economic development must be based, essentially, on its scientific and technological advantages," he said.
"Unfortunately, one has to face that the majority of the technical equipment used in the national economy is not years behind the top level, but decades."
Just as important, he said, was ridding the country of "one of the most serious obstacles on the road to our development: corruption."
Putin said that modernisation of Russia's huge but inefficient armed forces was vital to global stability.
"Key responsibility for standing up against threats, for guaranteeing global stability, will lie with the world's leading powers possessing nuclear weapons and powerful military-political influence," he said.
The mostly conscript army must fill two-thirds of its ranks with professionals by 2008, he said.
But, according to Putin, Russia continues to face gigantic problems in the wake of the Soviet collapse in 1991, chief among them the steadily worsening demographic situation.
"The most serious problem in modern Russia is demography," Putin said, stating that the population of just under 143 million people was falling by an average of about 700,000 a year.
He outlined a raft of measures such as increased social benefits for mothers and incentives to have more children.
Seeking to reassure Western markets over Russia's reliability as an energy supplier, Putin said "we must do everything not only for our domestic development, but also to fully meet our obligations before our traditional partners."
But he was adamant over Russia's rights to look after its own interests, saying that Russia would join the World Trade Organisation only on its own terms.
"Russia's membership in the WTO should not be a subject of bargaining," he said, claiming that discussions over Russia's entry were being linked to "issues that have nothing to do with the economy."
"We see negotiations on entering the World Trade Organization only on terms that support Russia's economic interests."
"It is obvious that the economy of the Russian Federation is today more open than the economies of many members of this organization."
"Comrade Putin shows that he is the real enemy. Russia is the real power behind the axis of evil."
Hear, hear!
And his flag
LMAO
"Sounds like that internally Russia is in heap big trouble. This always seems to be the case when a country's leader plays the "Remember Stalingrad!" card.
You know, get the people worked up over, and focused on, some large, vague external "enemy", every bump in the night, every stranger on a bicycle. All so their minds won't be on how bad things are in the homeland."
You've picked out the real issue here. It's deflection of internal problems. Having read the speech in its original language, I don't think there is any way shape or form that he will be able to accomplish even half of what he's laid out.
Having said that, the news article has misstated a lot of what Putin actually said. Perhaps to make it sound more ominous than it was? Who knows.
The Russians would be better off building their own "Krepost" (fortress) by ensuring their people are able to live in a economically stable country with safe public facilities, a modern infrastructure, and an Armed Forces that can garauntee that the main "killer" of their soldiers won't be their fellow soldiers. Nothing he said in the speech gave me any hope that they'll make any inroads on these issues.
Instead, this will be a huge way for a lot of corrupt guys to steal $$$$ from the programs they've identified for funding.
Nonetheless should make for an interesting G-8 meeting.
Actually Putin shows he's in trouble at home. That speech was not really for us. That was for his generals and hardliners who have been grumbling about Russia's lack of prestige in the world and how the US has been able to "creep up to their borders." I don't think all is well in the house of Putin. But before you start cheering, take a long hard thought about what could come after him.
Remove the social safety net and make Russia a free country, and people might actually want to have children and continue living there, Vlad, you asthma-hound chihuahua, you.
very catholic of you lizol. you know you'll answer in purgatory for your treatment of others not simply other you like.
Russia does not equal the US and never will. ==
Thta is the problem. To be a "ass-licker" Russia cann't either. America has the lot of "ass-lickers" without Russia.
Comrade Putin shows that he is the real enemy. Russia is the real power behind the axis of evil.===
You are crazy:).
Russia just wants to be left alone from american "ass-lickers" and Dick Cheney.
Putin is an ayatollah ass-licker and a Chavez chump. Putrid putin needs to pay for the commie crimes of the KGB and Cheka. Death to the murdering scum Putin!
And what administration hasn't been asslicking the KLA(American soldiers still backing them in Kosovo)? Saudi Arabia(still refusing to do anything about their obviously complicity in terror)? Turkey(won't call obvious genocide exactly that so that Christians canseek restitution from insurance companies for their loved ones)?
Russia aside TJ you know darn well America need to stand up to these islamists as well, not just Iran.
My dear american friends. They let's bomb(nuke) Russia while it is weak.
And problem of world will pass away
More hate from the Poles.
Never got over what Russia did to False Dmitri did you...
hate?????? oh no! this is just pragmatism ;)
Putrid putin needs to pay for the commie crimes of the KGB and Cheka. Death to the murdering scum Putin!==
Putin was in "CIA" department of KGB. Nothing to do with political police. KGB included even the border guards and secure goverment communication department. Only ONE of 10+ departments was political police. The 5th department. Putin served not there.
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