February 11, 2009 5:21 PM

Moscow Asks U.S. For Clarity Over Remarks

(AP)  Moscow has asked the United States for a clarification following remarks in which U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates suggested that Russia's future course is uncertain and lumped the nation together with Iran and North Korea, the Foreign Ministry said Monday.

President Vladimir Putin lashed out at U.S. foreign policy over the weekend in comments that reflected a growing chill in ties between the former Cold War foes, who are at odds over issues ranging from U.S. military plans for Europe to the state of democracy in Russia.

Gates ruffled Russian feathers when he identified Russia as a potential threat, telling a U.S. House of Representatives committee meeting last week: "We don't know what's going to develop in places like Russia and China, in North Korea, in Iran and elsewhere."

Russia has asked the United States to clarify whether the remark corresponds with the position of the U.S. administration, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The remark was among several by members of the U.S. military and intelligence community that "cause us bewilderment," it said.

"It is hard to avoid the impression that all these statements are part of a certain system of negative evaluations of our country. The question is how much this reflects real U.S. policy," the ministry said.

Russian officials resent being juxtaposed with nations that President Bush included in his "axis of evil," as well as what they took as a suggestion that Russia is an unpredictable wild card — part of the international security problem, rather than part of the solution.

The Foreign Ministry said Russia "proceeds from the assumption that relations between our countries are based on mutual interest in strengthening the strategic partnership."

Putin and his backers often emphasize that Russia is more stable than during the uncertainty following the 1991 Soviet collapse, and say it is the United States that is making the world less secure.

In some of his harshest criticism of U.S. conduct on the world stage, Putin told a security conference in Germany on Saturday that the United States "has overstepped its national borders in every way." He said the "almost uncontained ... use of force in international relations" by the United States is prompting nations to seek nuclear weapons and threatens to spark a new arms race.

The ministry said the Russian request was lodged with the U.S. ambassador. The embassy said it could not confirm the request was made.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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by beehive21-2009 February 13, 2007 11:50 PM EST
Russians are ok,don't mess with them leave them be, You have enough problems with the Brainwashed Robots who are looking forward to 70 virgins.
Reply to this comment
by travelinman6 February 13, 2007 9:18 PM EST
Defense Secretary Gates was testifying before the House Armed Services Committee responding to questions about projections for U.S. military size/capacity, and in response said (as reported by Reuters):

"We need the full range of military capabilities," including ground combat forces to battle large armies and nimble special operations troops to scout out terrorist threats, Gates told the House Armed Services Committee.
"We don't know what's going to develop in places like Russia and China, in North Korea, in Iran and elsewhere," he said.

While he might have substituted a ubiquitous phrase like "...around the world...", he was testifying before the Congressional House Armed Services Committee, who do not need to be patronized. And the truth is, it is his DUTY to oversee the U.S. defense so that they can respond to ANY threat or problem regardless of it's size or location.
Anyone who genuinely feels that Gates' remarks were inappropriate simply doesn't have a grasp on reality.
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by anopinion1 February 13, 2007 2:22 PM EST
FARTKNOCKER2

I don't even vote anymore after bush lost the popular vote the first time he was elected and somehow he was still put in the whitehouse.
It showed voting on the president is worthless it is the electoral votes that are the only thing that matters.
Reply to this comment
by lars008-2009 February 13, 2007 2:12 PM EST
WOLF563 will bring all muslums together to fight world wide

the facist nazi islamic muslims already are fighting and killing non muslims world wide...

muslims are killing all over the world in the name of MOON GOD Allah, Rwanda, Sudan, Niger, Somalia, Indonisia, Chechya, Serbia, Isreal, India, Spain, America, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Great Britian, Thailand, Saudi, Nigeria, Egypt, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkey. If your blind to the facts.......

MUSLIMS PLAN FOR WORLD CONQUEST!!!
Hizb ut-Tahrir wants all Muslims united in a single state led by a caliph, or a successor to the prophet of God.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11989895
http://adeeperlookweblog.blogspot.com/2006/04/frightening-truth-of-why-iran-wants.html
Reply to this comment
by lars008-2009 February 13, 2007 2:08 PM EST
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahaha

the russian fighting force...........lol

Russian soldiers 'used for ***'
The Russian military is reported to be investigating claims that army conscripts were forced to work as male prostitutes in St Petersburg.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6356707.stm
Reply to this comment
by wolf563 February 13, 2007 1:56 PM EST
Russia can`t afford to go to war with any one . Thier army is killing its self .3000 men have died every year in the Russian army from hazzing alone . However Russia will join in with Iran in a war with anyone who attacks Iran to protect thier interests in the nuclear and arms sales and this will bring all muslums together to fight world wide . I suggest you get to know your neighbors now as you may have to depend on them for your life when the U.S.A. is attacked in the near future .
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by bigwhtpony February 13, 2007 11:40 AM EST
Hey, Rooskies.....did Gates stutter??? He said, "you are a potential threat." No further clarification is necessary. If you're offended, then quit selling arms to the likes of Iran!
Reply to this comment
by anopinion1 February 13, 2007 11:35 AM EST
GET THIS IDIOTIC CREW OUT OF THE WHITEHOUSE NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW


THESE IDIOTS ARE TRYING TO JUST **** OFF THE ENTIRE WORLD AND SHOULD BE STRUNG UP NEXT TO S*&%*M.
Reply to this comment
by lars008-2009 February 13, 2007 11:22 AM EST
rightttttttttttttttttttttttttt

you are right, it is awful in the USA, please stay the hellaway....... we don't want anymore illegals.......

USA should have followed the vikings naming convention and named the USA FROZENLAND..... to keep the rest of the world away.........

but nooooooooooooooooooooo everybody wants to come to the USA and nobody wants to go to the USSR.... oops i mean russia........ hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Reply to this comment
by pandoraboxed February 13, 2007 11:04 AM EST
lars008

NEVER FORGET YOUR OWN IN NEW ORLEANS!!
NEVER FORGET THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA!!
NEVER FORGET YOUR HUNGRY & HOMELESS!!

YOU DON"T HAVE TO SIT ON YOUR A$$ & GOOGLE ALL DAY, DUMB A$$!
NEO_CON_MORON!!!!!
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