Posted on 03/07/2007 6:51:39 AM PST by Ooh-Ah
RUSSIA is to replace its military doctrine with a more hawkish version that boldly identifies NATO and the West as its greatest danger.
In a statement posted on its website, Russia's powerful Security Council said it no longer considered global terrorism to be its biggest danger. Instead, Russia was developing a new national security strategy that reflected changing "geo-political" realities, and the fact that rival military alliances were becoming "stronger" - "especially NATO".
"There have been changes in the character of the threat to the military security of Russia. More and more leading world states are seeking to upgrade their national armed forces. The configuration has changed," the council said.
Though the President, Vladimir Putin, ordered his generals to revise the military doctrine in June 2005, the blueprint reflects the sudden deterioration in relations with the West. In particular Russia has been incensed by the Bush Administration's plans to site two missile interceptor and radar bases in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Senior figures in the Russian military said on Tuesday that they were infuriated by what they regard as NATO's "relentless expansion" into "post-Soviet space" - the countries of former communist Eastern Europe and the Baltic. Russia felt increasingly "encircled" by hostile neighbours, they said.
Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, said that Washington had failed to explain why it wanted to site missile bases on Russia's doorstep. Mr Putin has ridiculed the US claim that the bases were designed to shoot down rogue missiles from Iran or North Korea, claiming their real target is Russia's nuclear arsenal.
It is not clear when Russia's new doctrine will be in place. But the council is likely to recommend a new strategy by the end of the year, military sources said. The doctrine follows a big increase in military expenditure announced last month.
Analysts said the new doctrine would be "much tougher" than the one adopted in 2000.
"It will be much harsher towards the US and NATO. The doctrine will reflect Russia's concerns about NATO enlargement and the ABM [anti-ballistic missile] system deployment close to Russia's borders," Sergei Kortunov, a former member of the council, and professor at Moscow's School of Economics, said. He added: "Russia is concerned about the US's creation of new arms systems. It is also worried about the dangers to Russia from the US and other Western countries, and their political role in the countries of the post-Soviet space."
The chairman of Russia's academy of military science, Mahmoud Garayev, said Russia could no longer afford to ignore the threat from NATO. Drugs and terrorism were an irrelevance, he said.
The doctrine comes as the Bush Administration has reportedly decided to step up its arguably erratic bilateral engagement with Moscow.
The New York Times has reported that the White House intends to "reach out more often and more intensively" to Russia, an acknowledgment in effect that it has not always consulted Russia on foreign policy and national security plans.
Guardian News & Media
Absolutely discussing isn’t it? This should have never of taken place and after Reagan's dealing with Bin Laden the Russians where warming up to us to. It is very sad.
Do you know why the Berlin wall came down?
Hint: It had to do with Bin Laden.
Remember Reagan’s speech about the evil empire? The Russians called Reagan on it and said, ‘hey you are the ones supported Bin Laden not us.’ Reagan agreed and stabbed Bin Laden in the back we killed a lot of his generals and almost killed Bin laden and the Russians warmed up to us after that and took down the wall.
All we had to do is continue with the relationship that Reagan started but, no we had to attack Serbia a Russian ally and on our side as well during the WWII.
”Russia is quickly returning to it's old ways and we cannot show weakness.”
Of course they are, we are still screwing with their ally in Kosovo. We have absolutely no business being there, other then to piss off the Russians.
”does Russia want to risk annihilation over Iran?”
Yes absolutely. If they can get China and India on their side to fight us they will do it in a heart beat. Remember: Iran is the spark not the reason.
Neither am I but we should be working with Russia hitting these terrorists.
I really do not get it. Why do we fight Russian allies even today and help the KLA which are Islamic extremists? We should be helping Russia not fighting to help Islamic extremist that are attacking Russian Allie.
There is no logic to this.
"Yes absolutely. If they can get China and India on their side to fight us they will do it in a heart beat. Remember: Iran is the spark not the reason."
Bingo.....It's not only Russia. It's the "Military Industrial Complex using Russia, the US, China et al...to get this thing moving. Kosovo and Iran are the sparks...
Mahmoud wants NATO and the USA out of Afghanistan. The taliban and the opium lords aren't Russia's enemy, NATO is.
"The taliban and the opium lords aren't Russia's enemy, NATO is."
If that's the case, then the Russian government is really stupid. The Taliban was virulently anti-Russian, even supporting Islamist Chechen rebels.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.