Putin Rejects Western Criticism

Russian Leader Also Denounces U.S. Missile Deployment In Eastern Europe During Annual News Conference

(AP)  "Our military experts don't believe that the missile defense systems to be deployed in eastern Europe are intended to counter the threat from Iran or some terrorists," Putin said, adding that Tehran currently does not have missiles capable of reaching Europe.

"We consider such claims unfounded, and, naturally, that directly concerns us and will cause a relevant reaction. That reaction will be asymmetrical, but it will be highly efficient," Putin said.

Putin said that Russia's latest Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missiles were capable of penetrating missile defenses and added that more-effective weapons systems are being developed.

"We will have next-generation systems immune to any prospective missile defense," Putin said. While missile defense systems under development will only be capable of tackling ballistic missiles, he said, the new weapons will be capable of changing the altitude and direction of their flight on their way to target.

"Missile defense systems are helpless against that," Putin said.

Putin's second term ends in 2008, and the Russian constitution limits presidents to two terms in succession. Russian politics is dominated by talk of his successor.

The Kremlin is widely believed to be grooming two protégés: First Deputy Prime Minster Dmitry Medvedev and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov. Open support from Putin — who enjoys enormous popularity — for either man would virtually ensure his election.

But Putin remained coy yesterday about whom he will support.

"There will not be a successor, there will be candidates for the presidency," Putin said, adding that the government must ensure a democratic campaign.

"I reserve the right to express my preference, but this will be done only in the pre-election period," Putin said.

At the start of the news conference, the Russian president praised his nation's remarkable economic comeback since the desperate days of the 1990s — the gross domestic product, he said, grew at least 6.7 percent last year. And there is increased spending on education and public health. But he acknowledged the government has much to do to narrow the gap between rich and poor.

"We still have to do very much in the social sphere, including resolving one of the main tasks that we have in this area — that is, reducing the gap between highly paid groups of the population and the citizens of our country who still live very, very humbly," Putin said in his opening statement, before taking the first questions from some 1,200 journalists.

Russia's relations with the West are a perennial topic at the news conference, which gives foreign journalists a rare chance to directly ask a question of Putin — and gives Putin a chance to portray Russia, as he often does, as a country under attack from ill-wishers abroad.

[bluestardad]

Bush; Leave Russia alone! areyoufuckingnuts?

[johnshaft4]

Just like every other nation, with the record of Bush/Cheney self inflicted disasters NO ONE takes us seriously anymore, including but not limited to Iran, North Korea, China, Eurpean countries, you name it and they view as paper tigers. The Israelis use us as chump puppets to fight their disasterous proxy wars for them.

[alphaa10-2009]

Rather than mock Putin's speech, we would do well to heed the challenge of the new Russian strategic weapons-- and wiser heads at the Pentagon presumably are. At all costs, we must avoid the traditional American hubris to spend many times more for a marginally more effective weapon, but at a huge increase in cost and complexity. Americans traditionally do not respond very efficiently to this kind of challenge.

The damning irony is Bush re-ignited the strategic arms race, himself, abrogating the Helsinki ABM treaty negotiated by former Pres. Ford. Bush also seems blissfully unaware there will be not only the traditional players but new ones, as well. The new contest, as Putin points out, is now assymetrical. The problem with assymetrical defense is we cannot afford even a few warheads to penetrate our defenses.

[alphaa10-2009]

New Arms Race-- 2
In addition to a blundering Bush, Americans also have a second impediment. With each year, it becomes clearer the principal focus of the American defense industry is not national defense, but profiteering at taxpayer expense. There are volumes written about Pentagon waste, and some of the spending is no longer even tracked by Pentagon auditors. America spends more than all other powers of the world combined, yet must watch the goal of national security recede like a mirage.

American defense industry spokesmen traditionally assure congress and the joint chiefs our money is well-spent, and that our rivals could not possibly match our military might or effectiveness.

Time and again, however, Russia and other potential adversaries have brought surprise and dismay to defense industry hawks in Washington, as rival nations manage some exceptional performance. This is not a prescription for American despair, but a warning about pride and ignorant presumptions-- and a firm counsel to use diplomacy for what diplomacy does best, to heed the counsel of reason.

[notblue]

It's all about the money for Vlad, doesn't care what could potentially happen to the U.S. Hard to trust the former head of the infamous KGB.

[legendary240]

Russia is the threat from the north in Revelation that will decend upon Israel at the final battle of the ages. Don't underestimate them, that's the mistake all the nations of the world will make.

[bigwhtpony]

Countermeasures? Vlad, you must have gotten ahold of a bad batch of vodka. You guys have to use recycled toilet paper....where are you going to get the money for countermeasures?

Oh, I know.....you'll just sell more nuclear technology to the middle east. You're a real pal!