[SeasideSparrow]

Lots of people think Russia is no longer a threat to the US. In my mind Russia wouldn't be doing this unless she plans on using it against us one day. Like you said, this is the BIG guns and definite overkill for a group of terrorists.

[El Gran Salseron]

I tend to think that both Russia and the USA had better start watching China more closely, not each other.

[Pearls Before Swine]

In my mind Russia wouldn't be doing this unless she plans on using it against us one day.

... or China. They might have to defend Siberia sometime in the next generation.

Arms experts: How many warheads on a US MIRV?

[crushelits]

Yellow people are the REAL THREAT.

CHINA

[FrankRepublican]

We wasted $30 billion on that stupid space station with the Russkis while illegals flood in and Al Qeada was renting cars and planning 9-11.

Putin should worry about the IslamoFacists who shot 350 Russian children in the back at a Christian school.

[jb6]

How about for a nation of 1.6 billion that claims half of Russia and whom our Free Trade nightmare is building into a world superpower? By the way, they fear that with a US missile shield, the US will attack Russia. And why not, Hitlery has a pretty good chance of being elected.

[Magnum44]

Two schools of thought here:

1) Russia, aka former USSR, has since WWII relied on its strategic rocket forces (read nuclear) for its homeland defense. In many ways its an archaic philosophy, particular in light of the WOT we both are waging. But their strategic rocket forces really are the most powerful arm of their armed forces, and like all govt bureaucracies, the have and want to hold on to power, funds, and influence. That they are putting huge sums of money here reflects, not priorities as we would see them, but power and influence struggles within their own military.

2) You do have to admit that most of the old strategic rocket forces they have are in a sad state, and to be an effective deterrent, need an upgrade. So it makes sense to make improvements when you upgrade. I think the talk of radical upgrade is mostly hot air to placate those who would divert development funds elsewhere.

As usual, I am merely putting this in perspective, not taking their side.

[Polybius]

Lots of people think Russia is no longer a threat to the US. In my mind Russia wouldn't be doing this unless she plans on using it against us one day.

......or wants to ensure that Red China does not look hungrily at Russia's under-populated territory.