FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog

Russian President Vladimir Putin(R) speaks with his US President George W. Bush during a 2006 working session of G8 leaders in Strelna outside St Petersburg. Bush reached out to Russia Friday to soothe concerns over a planned US missile defense program that has cranked tension between the allies and fears of a Cold War-style arms race.

CNN: Bush talks tough on missile defense as summit nears

President Bush defended his plan to build a missile defense system in Russia’s backyard, even though it has sparked fresh tensions in the already frayed Washington-Moscow relationship.

Russia has reacted to the new system by unleashing several rounds of harsh rhetoric against the United States. Bush suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to get over it.

Russia’s Vladimir Putin, an old guard former KGB operative is WRONG and besides beat his gums can do what?

Russia has been uncooperative with curtailing Iran’s nuclear program and nuclear proliferation in general. Russia has been bolstering Iran’s air defense capabilities.

China has been increasing their military, especially their navy.

So, will Russia align with Iran and China to exert hegemony over the Middle East and Asia?

Possibly

The Quotes:

“The Cold War is over,” Bush told reporters in an interview that previewed an eight-day trip to Europe next week. “We’re now into the 21st century, where we need to deal with the true threats, which are threats of radical extremists who will kill to advance an ideology, and the threats of proliferation.”

Watch for more posturing at the G-8 summit beginning this coming Wednesday.

Previous:

Missile Defense Watch: Russia’s Putin Blames America for New Arms Race

Missile Defense Watch: Russia Tests New ICBM - RS-24

Missile Defense Watch: Ground-based Midcourse Defense System Test - Postponed Until Summer

Missile Defense Watch: Ground-based Midcourse Defense System To Be Tested Thursday

Missile Defense Watch: USA and Israel in $205 Million Missile Defense Deal

Missile Defense Watch: Successful Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense “Hit to Kill” Intercept Flight Test

Missile Defense Watch: Russia and USA Clash Over European Missile Shield

Missile Defense Watch: THAAD Missile Defense Test is Successful

Missile Defense Watch: United States Missile Defense Operational Within a Year

The Missile Defense Archive

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin anwers questions during a joint news conference with Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker after a meeting at the Senningen Castle in Luxembourg in this May 24, 2007 file photo. Putin said on Thursday Russia’s test firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile on Tuesday was in response to U.S. steps that have upset the strategic balance.

Reuters: Putin says missile test response to U.S. moves

Russia’s test firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile on Tuesday was in response to U.S. steps that have sparked an arms race and undermined world security, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

An RS-20 booster blasts off from the launching pad in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, in April 2007. Russia has said it has successfully tested a new-generation intercontinental ballistic missile, firing it 6,000 kilometres across the country, news agencies reported. The new RS-24 was designed to replace the RS-18 and RS-20 rockets.
The Quotes:

“Our American partners have left the ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) Treaty. We have warned them then that we will come out with a response to maintain the strategic balance in the world,” Putin told a news conference.

“We conducted a test of a new strategic ballistic missile with multiple warheads, and of a new cruise missile, and will continue to improve our resources.”

“We are not the initiators of this new round of the arms race,” said Putin. “(Our partners) are stuffing eastern Europe with new weapons. A new base in Bulgaria, another in Romania, a site in Poland, radar in the Czech Republic . . . what are we supposed to do? We cannot just observe all this.”

Crocodile tears from a former, known KGB agent, now the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. The Russians were going to upgrade their aging and outdated ICBM missile force anyway. So, who is Putin trying to fool?

It sounds to me that he is taking a page out of Ahmadinejad’s media playbook.

The ICBM test proves NOTHING about United States Missile Defense. The system has been under development for over twenty years and is being deployed currently as testing continues. The system will be able to adapt to any technology the Russians devise.

However, Missile Defense does make Russia nervous. Remember the REYKJAVIK, ICELAND summit between Reagan and Gorbachev?

The Soviets wanted America to bargain away SDI, Missile Defense.

So, what does this posturing by Putin mean?

The timing is interesting, considering the G-8 meets next week in Germany.

Also, Russia has not been allied with the United States in halting Iran’s uranium enrichment program and in fact has supported their nuclear program as well as their air defense capability.

Putin announced a few weeks ago that he would step down next year and perhaps this posturing is his legacy or payback to his military and KGB supporters in the government.

But, whatever the motives and machinations of the former Soviet KGB agent, the United States foreign policy and missile defense continues to be governed by the Reagan Policy of

Peace through Strength

“I think both presidents need this summit because before their terms expire they would like to register some positive moments in the bilateral relations to lay the foundation for future contacts,” said Andrei Kortunov, president of the New Eurasia Foundation, a Moscow-based think tank.

“Both leaders are already probably thinking about how they will go down in history, including the way they built relations between the two countries.”

Look for a serious of negotiations to result.

However, the Russia election cycle will begin this Fall and the American one has already begun.

The United States will proceed with their missile defense deployment.

Previous:

Missile Defense Watch: Russia Tests New ICBM - RS-24

Missile Defense Watch: Ground-based Midcourse Defense System Test - Postponed Until Summer

Missile Defense Watch: Ground-based Midcourse Defense System To Be Tested Thursday

Missile Defense Watch: USA and Israel in $205 Million Missile Defense Deal

Missile Defense Watch: Successful Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense “Hit to Kill” Intercept Flight Test

Missile Defense Watch: Russia and USA Clash Over European Missile Shield

Missile Defense Watch: THAAD Missile Defense Test is Successful

Missile Defense Watch: United States Missile Defense Operational Within a Year

The Missile Defense Archive

Defense Secretary Robert Gates (L) smiles during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow’s Kremlin April 23, 2007.

US, Russia clash over missile shield for Europe

Russia rebuffed Monday an attempt by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates to soften opposition to Washington’s plan for a missile defence shield in Europe, saying it threatens global security.

Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov told Gates in Moscow that the planned system “is a seriously destabilizing factor that can have a significant influence on regional and global security.”

Gates, who also met with President Vladimir Putin, came to Moscow reiterating Pentagon reassurances that the anti-missile shield would not be aimed at Russia and also holding out offers of cooperation.

“In my talks with the Russian leaders we’ll reiterate that the United States is willing to explore cooperation with Russia across the full spectrum of missile defence activities,” he said.

Gates told Serdyukov that he wanted “to see how we can more positively develop our military-to-military relationship.”

However, there was little sign of progress in easing Moscow’s opposition.

“I would like to underline the point that the Russian position with respect to this issue remains unchanged,” Serdyukov said.

This will be the beginning of years of negotiations between the United States and Russia - Cold War style.

TRUST BUT VERIFY.

But, didn’t President Reagan say that America would share the missile defense technology with the Soviets so that nuclear stockpiles could be MUTUALLY reduced?

Previous:

Missile Defense Watch: THAAD Missile Defense Test is Successful

Missile Defense Watch: United States Missile Defense Operational Within a Year

China Watch: China Uses Ballistic Missile to Destroy a Satellite in Space

Missile Defense Watch: United States Considering Deployment of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missiles in Japan

Missile Defense Watch: U.S. Missile Defense Agency Rolls Out the Airborne Laser (ABL) Aircraft

Missile Defense Watch: The LEFT’S Revisionist History on Missile Defense

Missile Defense Watch: United States Launches Successful Anti-missile Test from Vandenberg Air Force Base

Missile Defense Watch: Reagan’s Vision

Missile Defense Watch: Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld Tours Alaska Missile Defense Center

Missile Defense Watch: United States and Israel Collaborating on Missile Defense

Missile Defense Watch: “Concept of Operations” To Be Done by Fall

New York Times: Russia Gives Iran Ultimatum on Enrichment

Russia has informed Iran that it will withhold nuclear fuel for Iran’s nearly completed Bushehr power plant unless Iran suspends its uranium enrichment as demanded by the United Nations Security Council, European, American and Iranian officials said.

The ultimatum was delivered in Moscow last week by Igor Ivanov, Russia’s Security Council Secretary, to Ali Hosseini Tash, Iran’s deputy chief nuclear negotiator, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because a confidential diplomatic exchange between two governments was involved.

For years, President Bush has been pressing President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to cut off help to Iran on the nuclear reactor, which is Tehran’s first serious effort to produce nuclear energy and has been highly profitable for Russia. But Mr. Putin has resisted.

Recently, however, Moscow and Tehran have been engaged in a public argument about whether Iran has paid its bills, in a dispute that may explain Russia’s apparent shift. The ultimatum may also reflect Moscow’s increasing displeasure and frustration with Iran over its refusal to stop enriching uranium at its vast facility at Natanz.

Well, Flap supposes Russia is pissed because Iran is stalling on paying them. Did the Iranian Mullahs really think they could stonewall the Kremilin? Or STIFF them?

Or are the Russians thinkng of their OWN self-interest?

Either by providing Iran with reactor grade (non-nuclear weapons grade) enriched uranium processed in Russia and make some money along with quick-starting a new Russian business enterprise or shutting down any chance of a nuclear weapons laden Iran.

Whatever the rationale, this “bargaining chip” may forestall an Israeli and/or American military strike on Iran.

And what will Iran do?

The Bushehr nuclear reactor in southern Iran

Previous:

Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Faces Off With United Nations

Iran Nuclear Watch: New Iran Nuclear Sanctions Headed to United Nations

Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia Postpones Nuclear Plant Launch Over Payments

Cox & Forkum: Runaway

Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad - Iran Won’t End Nuke Program

Iran Nuclear Watch: IAEA - Iran Has Expanded Uranium Enrichment

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Refuses to Halt United Nations Demand to Halt Uranium Enrichment

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Attack Plans Revealed

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will NOT Suspend Uranium Enrichment

Iran Nuclear Watch: Too Late to Halt Iran’s Nuclear Bomb?

The Iran Nuclear Files

The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.

BBC: Russia poisoning inquiry widens

Russia is investigating the attempted murder of a contact of the former KGB agent, Alexander Litvinenko, who died in London last month.

Dmitry Kovtun met Mr Litvinenko hours before he fell ill from the radioactive poison that eventually killed him.

Reports that Mr Kovtun is in a critical condition have sparked speculation he too may have been poisoned. A lawyer linked to him denies he is unwell.

The Russian investigation is being run parallel to a British murder inquiry.

The UK’s minister for communities and local government, Ruth Kelly, said on the BBC’s Question Time programme on Thursday that she expects Russia “to co-operate fully” with the British investigation.

A funeral service for Mr Litvinenko was held at a central London mosque on Thursday.

The former spy, a vocal critic of the Kremlin, had issued a statement on his deathbed accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of ordering his poisoning.

Charles Krauthammer: That Murder in London

The poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko, renegade Russian spy and fierce critic of Vladimir Putin’s government, is everywhere being called a mystery. There is dark speculation about unnamed “rogue elements” either in the Russian secret services or among ultranationalists acting independently of the government. There are whispers about the indeterminacy of things in the shadowy netherworld of Russian exile politics, crime and espionage.

Well, you can believe in indeterminacy. Or you can believe the testimony delivered on the only reliable lie detector ever invented — the deathbed — by the victim himself. Litvinenko directly accused Putin of killing him.

Putin and his agents did it.

Old Cold Warriors NEVER die……..

Linked to OTB.