yes it's the dreaded DOOMSDAYWEAPON... and now there will be a DoomsDayWeapon GAP!!!
Posted on 10/18/2007 3:57:26 PM PDT by BradtotheBone
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday chastised the United States over its policy in Iraq and Iran, and announced "grandiose" military plans, including development of a new nuclear weapon. Putin, who is to step down at the end of his second term next year, also said he wanted the ruling United Russia party to preserve his policies after December parliamentary elections, confirming that he wants to retain major political influence after leaving office.
In a nationally broadcast link-up with ordinary Russians across the country, Putin called the US intervention in Iraq a "dead end" and called on Washington to set a deadline for the withdrawal of troops.
Putin suggested that Iraq had been invaded because of its oil wealth and assured one caller that energy-rich Russia could not suffer the same fate. To think so, he said, was "political erotica."
The White House quickly rebuffed Putin's comments, insisting there was a "good trend" in Iraq.
The hawkish Russian leader also swiped at Washington's tough stand on Iran's nuclear power programme, saying Moscow's insistence on negotiations was better than "threats, sanctions or even force."
In a video link-up with servicemen at the Plesetsk nuclear missile base, Putin said that Russia would build another nuclear submarine next year and was also planning a "completely new" atomic weapon.
"We have grandiose plans and they are absolutely realistic," Putin said, speaking hours after the military announced the successful test firing of a Topol intercontinental ballistic missile.
Putin's sixth phone-in during eight years in power came in for particular scrutiny for clues to Putin's future political career after December parliamentary and March presidential elections.
Putin, 55, has left the world guessing about what he will do after the March election, in which he is barred by the constitution from seeking a third consecutive term.
The former KGB officer who came to power in 2000 repeated that he will step down, saying "there will be another person here in the Kremlin in 2008."
He confirmed that he would campaign for the United Russia party in the parliamentary election, saying this party's victory would ensure that his policies over the last eight years continued.
"Imagine that people come to power who do not agree with these decisions, it would be easy to reverse them.... It is therefore extremely important that parliament is effective," Putin said.
Putin has previously said he is considering taking up the prime minister's post after leaving the Kremlin, but he appeared to scotch speculation that he wants constitutional changes transfering power from the Kremlin to the government.
He said he was "against cutting the powers of the president of Russia," Interfax said.
On the economy, Putin trumpeted economic growth of 7.7 percent, but conceded that the government was so far unable to control inflation of 8.5 percent and rising beyond "the planned parameters."
There has been a more than doubling of foreign investment, 13.4 percent increase in incomes, and 5.1 percent increase in pensions, he said, while gold and foreign currency reserves are at record levels.
Putin also claimed credit for a slowdown in the country's dramatic population plunge, saying that government benefits to families were having an effect.
Although Putin says he will step down next year, he remains by far the dominant political force in a country where there is almost no outspoken opposition.
Adding to the mystery, no major politician has yet expressed interest in seeking the presidency, while polls indicate the parliamentary election will give Putin's United Russia party an overwhelming majority.
Speculation is mounting that Putin will seek to remain in control even after quitting the presidency. Or he may return to the Kremlin for a third term after a break -- something the constitution does not bar.
Later Thursday Putin was to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Moscow for talks expected to focus on Iran's Russian-backed nuclear programme.
Putin was in Tehran on Tuesday, the first visit to Iran by a Kremlin leader since World War II.
Interesting times.
What’s next, Tsar Bomba II?
Was that before or after Bush looked into Putin's eyes and saw the soul of a man he could work with?
Putin is delusional if he thinks we would WANT to invade Russia for it's "riches".
Can you imagine the economic drain that would be?
PUTIN, we want to be partners in freedom. You are the one who wants to be OUR adversary.
“Interesting times.”
Indeed they are. I have to wonder if (given the fact that so many of our factories are now closed, our jobs gone overseas, our middle class dwindling, our money loosing value by the day, our military handcuffed by an administration in thrall to TROP and our borders wide open to peons from the south, the new serf class for the super rich international capitalists who seem to call the shots in this country) we have the will or the financial or industrial capacity to take the Russians on again and beat them like we did 20 years ago.
I have never doubted this country until the past couple of years. Now I just don’t know.
Putin is insane. The Russian people should take him out as soon as possible.
yes it's the dreaded DOOMSDAYWEAPON... and now there will be a DoomsDayWeapon GAP!!!
Now as a counter, how does one classify Pelosi?
Joining the axis of evil?
But before putting all those Rubles into new weapons, perhaps they might want to try and get the bugs out of the radar systems they are selling that seem to be all the rage around the world (well, at least in Syria and Iran).
I have read that nuclear weapon design in the US and Russia is considered to be a very mature science, with little to be improved on other than details.
Got to wonder what "completely new" is all about, or is it just hyperbole about some new delivery system?
Todd, could you help me out with the manufacturing gloom and doom in #8...these “we ain’t got no mfg” posts are wearin me out!
Cold War 2 has begun. What’s his new ‘atomic’ weapon? The MX missle 2? We should build powerful moon lasers on the moon to vaporize anything down to 2 miles deep. Do ya think they would be mouthing off then if we had this? Nope, I doubt it. Too bad that reality is probably two or three decades away...
Democratic controlled Congress: ‘All we can say is, give peace a chance’. They were college kids all holding hands singing it in the late sixties. Now they control the House.
Putin is trying to do his best to support the Democrats by blaming the Bush Administration for starting a new arms race. Putin is aware that most media outlets will do their best to convey the message in that manner. Putin is hoping for another Carter type administration to try and close the gap between Russia and the U.S.
Putin Pelosi has previously said (s)he is considering taking up the prime minister's post after leaving the Kremlin, but (s)he appeared to scotch speculation that (s)he wants constitutional changes transfering power from the Kremlin to the government.
"Imagine that people come to power who do not agree with these decisions, it would be easy to reverse them.... It is therefore extremely important that parliament is effective," Putin Pelosi said.
(S)he said (s)he was "against cutting the powers of the president of Russia the USA," Interfax said.
Putin what are you thinking? who are you fighting in chechnya? the same muslim terror we are dealing with in iraq and iran!
And Israel is the home to so many russians who still go back and forth to russia. they are threatened by your policies
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