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NATO shield spawning arms race - Russia military chief
Published: 07 December, 2011, 15:02
Edited: 07 December, 2011, 23:03
TAGS: Arms, Military, NATO, Russia, Politics, Europe, Kevin Owen
Russia’s Chief of General Staff says Moscow is being pushed into a new arms race, although it has repeatedly stressed that it does not want this.
In his speech at an annual meeting with foreign military representatives on Wednesday, General Nikolai Makarov noted that at last year’s NATO-Russia summit in Lisbon, President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia could take part in Europe’s own missile defense system, but this suggestion was rejected. Moscow then offered another option – if NATO countries wanted to build their own defense system, they could simply ensure that Russia falls outside its effective radius, and the effective radius of similar Russian weapons would then remain within the country’s borders. The second plan was also rejected, Russia’s military chief said at the Moscow meeting.
“We are ready for other options, but no one is suggesting anything. We hear nothing but empty statements that the missile defense systems in Europe are of no danger to Russia’s strategic nuclear forces,” Makarov stressed.
The general noted that a number of analysts in the US and Europe have proved that the existing components of European missile defense are already affecting Russia’s nuclear potential. He also stressed that European countries must be more active in discussing the problem. “Missile defense creation in Europe can complicate our relations. The Russian President, Defense Minister and myself, as Chief of General Staff have held talks with our colleagues in most European countries. Many of them said that we should decide this issue with the US, but we are talking about Europe. Why are they separating Europe and Russia? Who needs that? We are ready to cooperate, to build missile defense together. Why are they not answering our requests? Someone must be benefitting from this,” Makarov said.
The chief of staff also noted that his country has had to act in response to the foreign moves on missile defense. “The actions defined by the President’s statements are already being realized,” Makarov said.
“But we do not need this, and we are saying it again. Instead of trust, we are getting suspicion and mistrust in return. Europe will not benefit from this,” he added.
The Russian general also said that the assurances that the defense shield is just a remote prospect for 2018 – 2020 do not stand up to criticism. “We see at what rate the missile defense is being introduced in Europe and we see that the directions are different – not against the Southern threat, as it had been declared. It puts us on alert. Naturally, we must take measures now and not in 2018 in order not to find ourselves in a losing situation,” General Makarov said.
Mark Avrum Gubrud, a social activist from the University of North Carolina, believes the US plans may trigger a new arms race that could extend into space, but will still be ineffective at protecting the United States and its allies. “The system won’t provide any measure of protection against weapons in Iran or North Korea that don’t exist yet” he told RT. “They might in the future, but if they do they’ll be able to defeat this system. Russia can defeat it too, but in the meantime it’s raising questions about what the US long-term intentions are and where they may be headed in the future… If the United States continues to go down this path, the world is headed for trouble.” He believes the system could actually be a precursor to a larger-scale, more robust deployment of weapons – possibly including nuclear – to take out unwanted satellites in space.
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I support Russian efforts to attempt to bring peace to the world. I think Nato or the Europeans in General is against American agenda too. I also think that when push comes to shove most of Europe will be against America but not all. I have lived in America and have personally shared the resentments that Americans adhere to when it comes to foreign countries and policies. Americans don't like anything that is non-American. Therefore every other country practically around the world is subject to the Dictatorships of America. I may be killed or put in prison for fending up for Russia even though I am not from there nor am I a Russian.
I have felt the lies told by American government even by my own citizens of this country. I also may be tortured by Americans. They do that to traitors like me. I am a traitor as such. I am not saying that Russia is 100% perfect by any means. I do not live there; but I know how it is over here in U.S.A. but we will see what God will win. The U.S.A. money God, "IN GOD WE TRUST" with George Washington on the front. It violates commandments of the Bible. Thou shalt not have any other Gods before me. Also, You shalt not make any engraven images of the Lord your God. Also in the new Testament states, "you cannot serve two masters; either you will hate the one and love the other or you will detest the one and embrace the other. You cannot serve both GOD and MONEY."
Hope this helps with the battle Russia. Thank-You. An American that rebels against his own country to bring about reform by whatever means necessary.
Russia wants worldpeace and worldfreedom,but agressor USA and Nato hates to see this so they not only station their agression missle shield aginst russia no they«the pentagon«devloped a computer program «tactical simulation «RUSSIA« in which the USA«NATO are simulating attacks against RUSSIA and its people,simulating how they can kill RUSSIANS and destroy RUSSIA.This is also one of the reasons why HILLARY CLINTONS payed agents try to SABOTAGE «RUSSIAN «FREE«ELECTIONS,because UNITED RUSSIA PARTY and beloved VLADIMIR PUTIN are the «ONLY«ones able to defend MOTHER RUSSIA against all enemys and serve mother RUSSIA by all means.UNITE BRAVE RUSSIANS against all enemys of your HOMELAND,UNITE RUSSIA against all enemys.Long live mother RUSSIA,Vladimir PUTIN, UNITED RUSSIA PARTY. comrade,freedomfighter,Zsolt Sass
If you look at the history of human..Europe and USA has always been the aggressors. They enslaved the African .. massacred the Native Indian. Even till this very day Africa is still ravage by war and problems because of Europe and America intervention.
The crimes that America committed is beyond evil..they are responsible of killing million of people for the last 200 years. Simply because countries refused to follow American interests. USA alone is responsible for killing 3 million people in my country. So if you can imagine folks how many countries in the world has USA go to war so far.
You American will never understand war.. because you dont know what is like to live in war torn country. You dont know how it's like to see your mother, sister, and brother, dying in front of you.. to see their lifeless body and eyes staring at you in eternity .. One minute they are there smiling and eating with you, and the next second they're gone blowing to pieces. You American will never understand that so your view of this world is different than the rest of us ( world). For more than a few centuries you enslaved the people for your own benefit, so that you can build the bombs, missiles to killed and suppress us, to do whatever pleases you. You grow up into this culture that only view war through television and games and get brainwashed so badly that you so strongly believe that whatever your government is doing is right and you must die to defend it, yet little did you know that the world hate you and when they fight against your interest and beliefs you have nothing better than to bomb them and changed your story so that you are a good guy to save the world. But the people like me and the people that have the same common and been through hell like me will continue to support countries like Russia and China because even though they might not be the best country in the world, but their people have a heart, something that most American and especially the American government will never have one.