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Posted on 11/29/2011 9:27:10 AM PST by Cardhu
Russia has turned on a new incoming missile early warning system in its westernmost region in response to US plans for a missile shield in Europe.
President Dmitry Medvedev ordered the system to be activated on a visit to the radar unit in Kaliningrad, a Baltic region bordering EU countries.
The unit is equipped with the new Voronezh-DM radar system.
Mr Medvedev has warned Russian missiles could be deployed on the EU's borders if the shield is installed.
Washington wants an anti-missile shield ready by 2020, arguing that it is necessary to provide protection from the potential missile threat posed by countries like Iran.
Under President George W Bush, the US had initially intended to locate major parts of the shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, but Russia objected vigorously.
When Barack Obama took office in the White House, he scaled back the original ambitions.
"Nato's missile defence system [is] designed to defend against threats from outside Europe - not designed to alter balance of deterrence," Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a recent tweet.
Domestic context
In a statement carried by Russian news agencies, Mr Medvedev said: "I expect that this step will be seen by our partners as the first signal of the readiness of our country to make an adequate response to the threats which the missile shield poses for our strategic nuclear forces."
Russia has said it may deploy Iskander ballistic missile launchers in Kaliningrad Quoted by Interfax, he said: "If our signal is ignored... we will deploy other means of defence including the adoption of tough counter-measures and the deployment of a strike group."
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
All this for a so-called defensive shield again Iran. What are they smoking?
Medvedev may or may not know this but Iran has ballistic missiles capable of hitting all of Europe. Russia can be a partner in deploying a defensive anti-missile system designed to counter this threat or it can return to a Cold War confrontational posture in which no one’s interests are served.
There’s no denying that the Russians have ‘leverage’ in light of the severing of the NATO supply lines through Pakistan. I guess that’s all we need to know.
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Russia sold those missiles to Iran and helped them develop their nuclear program.
Methinks the Russians doth protest too much.
“The Americans are deploying scooter chairs! This is a direct violation of the 2003 Motorized Chair Treaty! In response, we shall deploy our new T-99 nuclear powered La-Z-Boy! It has missiles!”
“We are Colossus. We are Guardian. We are one!”
That’s right, Putie. Light-up those radar for no good reason right now.
Did the Russians not ever leave the base at Kaliningrad or are they leasing it now?
Big whoop, let them spend their money on a great big honking system.
photos should be reversed in that graphic because the word positions surely don’t fit as proper captions
The photo you are using is from a Russian WWII battle reenactment. The reenactors in the background wear WWII winter uniforms and carry the WWII-era military banners.
You are probably trying to say that Putin is a Communist and Russia is USSR. That’s fair enough; but using this particular pic to prove it is a tactic worthy of liberal media.
Obama is one gay looking dude.
Yeah, that'll fix it.
Agreed but I think we get the idea...
Yep. “All hat....no cattle.”
Reset Power.
That fine with me. We aren't going to be lobbing missiles at Russia.
Russia should be a lot more worried about incoming missiles from the south-south-west. If you don't know what I mean, look at a map: that's the Middle East.
Why does Medvedev/Putin ignore the fact that eventually Iran will turn on Russia? Have they forgotten Beslan? I am no Russia/Putin fan, but I do not wish on them another Beslan, or worse.
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