HURRAH!..for mr putin

[lightoftruth]

Its good to see that at least one country is willing to stand up for itself against the global bully that is american!

If the americans truly wanted missile defense they would build it in there own country...hosting it in eastern Europe is just an attempt to gain a military stranglehold on Europe.

I say Mr Putin is entirely justified in his decision..and three cheers to him!

[Gromit]

It is probably safest to agree with everything Mr Putin says otherwise a big dollop of Polonium 210 could be coming your way.

[Joe_the_Lion]

lightoftruth,

I believe you are 17 or 18 years old. Therefore although you are well read, you clearly cannot remember the cold war and arms race before the dissolve of the former USSR.

If you were in the know, it was a scarey time. The fear that some mad commie fascist (if that is not an oxymoron!!) had a thousand nuclear warheads aimed at London, was not a peaceful time.

Russia was, and still is, a highly unstable country. Certainly more approachable than any Axis of Evil nation, but still very volatile and quite mad. Chechyna wasn't a million years ago, nor was their genocidal attack of Afghanistan.

We (Using UK and USA as one!) can not bow to fellow Ruskies. We can not be dictated or threatened by unstable commie peasants.

Don't get me wrong, I want Russia as an ally. If it wasn't for them we would be speaking German now, and geographically they are ideal in a northern front to the evil middle east. But I wouldn't trust this Putin guy one iota.

We must stand our ground.

[Clanad]

In addition to Joe_the_Lion's input, I think, as an American, that most of the threat of nuclear attack originates in the entirely unpredictable middle east (read Iran). Right now, central and even parts of northern and western Europe can be in striking distance of missiles launched from that area. It's not particularly Russia tha tposes the threat but they are certainly complicit in possibly being the source of nuclear warheads the Iranians are unquestionably seeking. Therefore, in this scenario, it's not the U.S. that's at risk, but Europe, and it's Europe that stands to benefit (as in years gone by) from the U.S.'s umbrella...
As mentioned on another thread, overlooked is the fact that Bush has consistently offered to Putin the opportunity to particiapte in the technology thereby allowing Russia to protect itself as well. Putin has declined. In my opinion his actions (Putin's) speak volumes about his intent to maintain relations with Iran, primarily to assure a continued supply of cheap oil, but also insuring Iran sees Russia as a needed ally...

[beryllium]

Politics.
It's all down to money.
and then? being held to ransome in whatever form it so shall take.......

[kwicky]

They must be so thick in the White House not to have been aware that the siting of missiles so close to Russia would have. Or maybe they are not thick but the act was deliberate to cause confrontation with Russia. But why? A possible reason is Russia's influence throughout the middle east, its new found oil and gas riches enabling them to have control over Europe and beyond. Until recently the USA had market dominance throughout the world but are losing out to both China and Russia. Bush's phrase during the Iraq war 'you are either wirth us or against us' still rings clear and I feel this statement has expanded to cover the economic field.

[honest_joe]

The Evil Satan (not my words) has received such bad press over the past few years because of Iraq what better way of stirring up ferment between neighbouring European countries by feeding on the past cold war fears.

[horselady]

I remember the fears, especially in 1962 with the Cuban missile crisis, I was only young and can distinctly recall a day when for some reason the old air raid sirens near us were tested. I was out with my friend and ran home as fast as I could, convinced a missile was about to land on me!

[Theland]

Iran is buying missiles from North Korea, with a range of 3,500 to 4,000 kms, and will be able to arm them with their own nuclear warheads, or Russian supplied warheads.
So should we be worried? You betcha!
Missile defences need to be as clost to a potential aggressor as possible to be effective, hence the USA desire to locate them in eastern Europe.
Don't you understand? Iran is ruled by a collection of madmen, who see war and chaos as a necessary step to ushering in world domination by Islam, and the return of their 12th Imam. That's their religion. They see it as their religious duty to help to annhialate Israel, and Israels allies if they stand in the way.
Yor nick, light of truth is a misnomer.

[kwicky]

Theland why dont the yanks install the defensive missile systems in Israel as they would likely to be first strike from Iran? And I don't mean the patriot missiles!

[Theland]

Probably already have something there, but I imagine the eastern European option is the best for stratiegic purposes. But very good point though.