Maybe cunning_fish, but further the article continues:
“...Other measures to counter the European missile defense system will be drawn up and implemented as necessary. Furthermore, if the situation continues to develop not in Russia’s favor we reserve the right to discontinue further disarmament and arms control measures. Besides, given the intrinsic link between strategic offensive and defensive arms, conditions for our withdrawal from the New START Treaty could also arise.” That said, he concludes that Russia is still open to dialog. However, if Obama merely intends to bomb any nation at will, we are very much concerned that everything Medvedev has just threatened will be enacted. And exponentially more so when Putin comes back in charge. One thing is certain - Russia is not North Korea, and taking this speech for more empty jawboning is probably not the wisest option...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Maybe cunning_fish, but further the article continues:
“...Other measures to counter the European missile defense system will be drawn up and implemented as necessary. Furthermore, if the situation continues to develop not in Russia’s favor we reserve the right to discontinue further disarmament and arms control measures. Besides, given the intrinsic link between strategic offensive and defensive arms, conditions for our withdrawal from the New START Treaty could also arise.” That said, he concludes that Russia is still open to dialog. However, if Obama merely intends to bomb any nation at will, we are very much concerned that everything Medvedev has just threatened will be enacted. And exponentially more so when Putin comes back in charge. One thing is certain - Russia is not North Korea, and taking this speech for more empty jawboning is probably not the wisest option...>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Well, he didn’t promise a ‘sea of fire’.
Key words are ‘still open to dialog’.
Earlier Putin was almost impeached as he allowed US troops in Central Asia after 9/11 and Bush started on AMD shortly after.
Medvedev is afraid of the same situation and playing hardliner in frond of domestic rednecks to block communist and far-right rhetoric linking ‘reset’ and AMD deployment.
And they have election soon.