Financial woes don't stop Russia funding new nuke weapon systems

UPI ^

[ponder life]

WASHINGTON, March 2 (UPI) -- Russia's critically weak finances won't slow its ambitious plans to modernize and upgrade its sea-, land- and air-based nuclear missiles, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's right-hand man announced Wednesday.

"The bulk of state defense orders in 2009 is allocated to the procurement of new weapons, (research and development) and modernization of existing arsenals, with priority given to the strategic nuclear triad, including the Strategic Missile Forces, the navy and strategic aviation," First Deputy Prime Minister and former Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told the State Duma, the main chamber of the Russian Parliament, in a speech, RIA Novosti reported.

[ponder life]

One has to wonder why the Russians are so ambitious in building so many nukes. I suppose its one way of ensuring a status as a super power despite the fact that their economy (and now their conventional military) is far from it.

[Pearls Before Swine]

One has to wonder why the US (and Obama) are so determined to not only cut the number of nukes we have, but also to continue to refuse to test the ones we have to be sure they are in working order.

[Trod Upon]

Because Obama is the muslim world’s manchurian candidate.

[ponder life]

...but also to continue to refuse to test the ones we have to be sure they are in working order.

I don't understand it either. A nuke can be tested safely by placing it a mile or more under ground.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Russia's critically weak finances won't slow its ambitious plans to modernize and upgrade its sea-, land- and air-based nuclear missiles, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's right-hand man announced Wednesday.

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.