Putin: NATO flexing muscles at border

[Mike Baker]

LINK

MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin accused NATO of "muscle-flexing" near Russia's frontiers Tuesday and promised that Moscow would suspend its obligations under a key European arms treaty.

Putin's angry statement came amid tensions between Russia and the West, and it reflected the increasingly assertive posture taken by the Kremlin ahead of Dec. 2 parliamentary elections.

"In violation of previous agreements, military resources of NATO members are being built up next to our borders," Putin told a meeting of military officials. "Of course, we cannot allow ourselves to remain indifferent to this obvious muscle-flexing."

 

[Dissident]

Say again, over.

I'm not in the know, so I will first ask, is NATO doing any such thing?

 

[Timmy!]

Say again, over.

I'm not in the know, so I will first ask, is NATO doing any such thing?

Not the last time I check. Did someone dust off CFB Lahr?

 

[aesop081]

Putin has already forgotten that a few months ago, he was flexing HIS military muscle at the UK, The USA and Canada........

Pot, kettle, black.....

 

[midget-boyd91]

Geez, NATO's having enough trouble flexing muscles and massing in Afghanistan. And now NATO is supposed to mass on the Russian border too?? My oh my, there sure is a lot expected of the alliance these days.

 

[George Wallace]

Let's see.

All his Satellite States that he hoped to fight in and keep NATO out of his homeland are all trying to join the EU and become members of NATO.

I supposed NATO Troops on exchange Trg in Poland, the Ukraine, Romania, etc. would seem like NATO is closing in on him.

 

[Bane]

http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20071101faessay86603/dimitri-k-simes/losing-russia.html

 

[JAWS228]

I supposed NATO Troops on exchange Trg in Poland, the Ukraine, Romania, etc. would seem like NATO is closing in on him.

I would think that the planned construction of permanent military sites (missile defence shield) in the eastern bloc countries would also give him that idea; however it is a far cry from "flexing military muscle" IMHO.

Or it could just be more chest-thumping for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

 

[Kirkhill]

He and his buddies had 60 years to make nice with the neighbours.  You would think that in that time they have might have made some friends so they didn't have to be so nervous. 

I am reminded of the saying "Be careful whose fingers you step on as you go up the ladder. You are likely to meet them on the way back down."

Having said that I think electioneering, and personal survival, has a lot to do with this.

 

[Mike Baker]

Another Link

MOSCOW, Russia (AP) -- President Vladimir Putin harshly assailed his opponents and accused the West of meddling in Russian politics, telling a parliamentary campaign rally Wednesday that opponents at home and abroad want to weaken the country.

Putin's strongly worded attack on his critics came as he seeks to secure a high turnout and strong support for the dominant main pro-Kremlin party in parliamentary elections Dec 2. Putin is leading United Russia's ticket in what is widely seen a maneuver to retain a grip on power after he steps down next spring.

"Those who confront us need a weak and ill state. They want to have a divided society, in order to do their deeds behind its back," Putin warned, saying a strong United Russia majority in parliament is needed to preserve his course.

Addressing thousands of backers in an event that mixed the flavors of a U.S. political convention and a Soviet-era Communist Party congress, he painted a grim picture of the turmoil in the 1990s in Russia and suggested that his Western-backed political foes were bent on turning the clock back.

 

[geo]

If I recall, the republic of Georgia struck a number of deals with NATO.
Russia would like Georgia back......

Any NATO presence in Georgia could be seen as a challenge to Putin

 

[George Wallace]

Wonder if he will someday come to the conclusion "If you can't beat them; join them."?

 

[geo]

With all the western European countries on the hook to Russia for their Oil supplies, why would Putin want to flex his own muscles.... Have Gazprom flex it's sphincter muscle and shut down oil export for a day or two ...

We haven,t heard the last from Putin, Russia AND Gazprom.

 

[Bane]

Much of Putin's consternation is the result of US intransigence. I think a change of president(s) has the potential to improve the relationship vis-a-vis the US at least. 
That said, as others have either stated or alluded to, it is critical to keep in mind the domestic forces acting here.  Being on the outside it easy to see everything throught ye olde International Relations Goggles --->  8)

 

[Kirkhill]

Methinks someone's International Relations Goggles come with Bush Polarizing Filters. 

 

[Bane]

I like to keep harmful debris out of my eyes.  ;D

On a slightly more serious note; Bush policies draw heat internationally, even 'W' himself would likely agree with this on some level.  I'm not making a judgement on them, though I do have an opinion, his polices have aggrevated many.  Putin is also no angel. New leaders with a different attitudes and ideas can change things, and next year both nations will have new leaders nominally.

 

[kilekaldar]

Smells like the Russian leadership smells weakness and dissent in NATO and are trying to exploit it.
Let's face it, the Americans are heavily commited in Iraq and draining them militarily and economically. NATO has proen less then commited and united in the it's first real war in Afghanistan. Perhaps the Russian leaders feel for the first time in a long time that they can press west and not have anyone push back.

Wonder if they'll to invade a former Sorviet SSR in the region just to intimidate the others?

 

[JBoyd]

Wonder if they'll to invade a former Sorviet SSR in the region just to intimidate the others?

well considering the recent attempted coup in Georgia that seemed to originate somewhere with some people in Moscow.... I wouldnt say that it is outside the realm of possiblities.

 

[Flip]

Perhaps the Russian leaders feel for the first time in a long time that they can press west and not have anyone push back.

I think it has more to do with the home audience.
Give the west a hard time = become a political rock star.

Create an fictitious threat and rule Russia for life.

If 40k NATO troops can succeed if Afghanistan where 300k Soviet failed......
well just lets say the Russians are a little tired of not feeling good about
themselves.
(never mind that what NATO is doing is completely different)
( I'm sure the distiction is invisible to Russians)

As usual just seeing if this sticks to the wall...... ;D

 

[Kirkhill]

Not impossible that the Russians could be feeling surrounded.

Japan shoots down its first ballistic missile
By Isambard Wilkinson
Last Updated: 3:06am GMT 19/12/2007

Daily Telegraph Link

Japan has shot down a ballistic missile for the first time, signalling an escalation in Asia’s regional arms race.

A Japanese warship stationed off Hawaii launched a US-developed interceptor missile to destroy a test missile fired from onshore.....

Russia threatens to target US missile shield
By Harry de Quetteville and Isambard Wilkinson
Last Updated: 3:05am GMT 19/12/2007

Daily Telegraph Link

Russia has threatened to target two proposed American bases in Europe with its nuclear missiles if the Pentagon pressed ahead with its plans for a missile defence shield.

In an escalation of the Cold War-style threats favoured by President Vladimir Putin, the general in charge of Russia's ballistic arsenal said that he could target the bases in Poland and the Czech Republic that will host the missile-interceptor shield if America insists on building them.

"I do not exclude the missile-defence shield sites in Poland and the Czech Republic being chosen as targets for some of our intercontinental ballistic missiles," said Gen Nikolai Solovtsov.

America insists that its new shield will carry only a few missiles, designed to intercept warheads fired from rogue states, such as Iran.

But Gen Solovtsov dismissed that concept as a lie, claiming that America was determined to surround Russia with its military might....

Interesting that China is a lot more accepting of Japan's capabilities - Perhaps they are more concerned about N. Korea.