Moscow Asks U.S. For Clarity Over Remarks

Comments By U.S. Defense Secretary Lump Russia With Iran And North Korea

(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.

[grazinggoat]

CBS:'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.'

And Putin is not a moron...

Well well well. See how is the sh*t-stirrer of the world? But for how long?

[feelfree1]

Re: "President Vladimir Putin lashed out at U.S. foreign policy over the weekend..."

Mr. Putin did not "lash out", but he rather gave a very good speech, which is available in english. What he said in hs speech was very insightful, as well as measured, and accurate.
Putin is a Judo expert, and it shows.

If we could squeeze this kind of candor out of our own mainstream press, we would all be a lot better off- except for the war profiteers.

[tuckerndfw]

I wonder how many other nations the US can alienate, or engage in war, before the last Republican is thrown out of office?

It is obvious why the GOP can only hang onto a majority in Washington for a few years at a time. The GOP, as a group, is more incompetent & corrupt than any other organization on the planet.

Bozo Bush represents them very well.

[karlimhof]

Gates says: ": "We don't know what's going to develop in places like Russia and China, in North Korea, in Iran and elsewhere."

Why doesn't this joker do his job and find out! Start by activating : DIPLOMACY

[karlimhof]

" Where in the world did we get the idea to allow every nationality into our nation?

Posted by annd2302

I assume you are a native American Indian ?

[adian1-2009]

If what Mr. Gates said reflects policies of the US towards Russia, who knows. But any policy regarding Russia, as long as Putin leads that nation, can't be based on trust nor in expecting good intentions from Putin. If his argument is that Russia is more stable today than in the 90's, he might be right. Ordinarily, nations led by antidemocratic dictators are stable. Iraq was relatively stable under Hussein. So was Spain under Franco. And Chile under Pinochet. And Cuba under Castro. And Italy under Mussolini. And Germany under Hitler. So, Putin, the mere fact that in your speech you said true things about our present administration, we do not trust you nor any goodness in your intentions. You can't be trusted and we know it.

[bluestardad]

Now that is just what we need another Bush Stooge Gates making the Russians mad as he uses Insult Deplomacy to get us into a real war now that Bush has stretched our military so thin!

[dallison7]

The world is beginnign to sound off about this criminal American regime. Just as the world stood up against Hitler. We should be so ashamed. REMOVE THE CREEP FROM OFFICE, NOW!!

[hmac8]

I HAVE NOT HEARD ALL OF MR PUTINS SPEACH BUT IM SURE IT IS SOME TRUTH IN IT AND SOME OPINIONATED LIES.I THINK AS AMERICANS WE HAVE TO FIND COMMON GROUND IN OUR TWO PARTIES ONE IS TO SOFT SOME OF THE TIMES AND ONE IS TO HARD SOME OF THE TIMES.LETS DO OUR CHILDREN A FAVOR,STOP IMAGRATION FOR FIVE YEARS AND CLEAN OUR OWN HOUSE GET AFGAHNASTAN UNDER REAL CONTROL AND BEG FOR HELP WITH IRAQ ASAP IN IS OUT OF CONTROL THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY BIG AGENDA BUT IT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED IF THIS WERE THE ONLY PROBLEMS THAT THE RUSSIANS HAD THE WOULD BE VERY HAPPY. HMAC8 USNR

[fallenguard]

I'd tell Mr. Gates to not let his bulldog mouth write checks his canary butt can't cash. We've got enough problems world wide, so why start something with Russia now? Bush picked a real weiner here...oops...real winner.

[crater7]

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY THE SAME: A NEW FACE IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, THE SAME OLD COWBOY DEPLOMACY. RUSSIA SHOULD BE UPSET BY GATES CALLLING THEM AXIS OF EVIL. LETS SEE, IRAQ, 100,000 DEAD. IRAN, THE BUSH, ADMINISTRATION CURRENTLY PUTTING TOGETHER INTEL., FOR AN EXCUSE TO INVADE, BOMB (SHOCK AND AWE ). LETS NOT FORGET ABOUT THE INTEL., BEFORE THE IRAQI INVASION. YOU KNOW, WMD'S, CMD'S, AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS. YOU CAN GO TO ANY COUNTRY IN THE REGION, AND FIND RUSSIAN MAED WEAPONS. I GUESS THATS ENOUGH TO INCLUDE THEM IN THE AXIS OF EVIL.

[ademeyer]

Putin is taking advantage of America's lower standing in the world, due to the Iraq invasion, to score points with his own people. The truth is, democracy IS declining in Russia under Putin. And democracy is declining in the US under Republican rule.

[karlimhof]

""We don't know what's going to develop in places like Russia and China, in North Korea, in Iran and elsewhere."

Hey Gates! It's supposed to be your job to know. And if you don't know to find out.

If you're ignorant, then shut up and stop making America look like a banana republic!

[lars008-2009]

HEY PUTIN!!! STOP HELPING TERRORISTS COUNTRIES!!!

NEVER FORGET THE RAPES OF BESLAN GIRLS!
Terror at Beslan
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1316935651894423094

RAPES IN BESLAN: IN MUHAMMAD%u2019S FOOTSTEPS
http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/News/Trifkovic04/NewsST091304.html

Forget Not the Children of Beslan
http://kenlydell.typepad.com/islamic_evil/forget_not_the_children_of_beslan/index.html

Religion of Peace??? More like a cult of death.
http://www.terrorists-suck.org/why_suck/beslan.html

[pandoraboxed]

looks like he has his head up his a$$ like every other redumblican, you right wing cowboys are as dumb as rocks! neo-con-moron's!

[pandoraboxed]

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!!!!!

[lars008-2009]

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

[anopinion1]

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.

[bigwhtpony]

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!

[skyk-2009]

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!
Posted by bigwhtpony at 08:40 AM : Feb 13, 2007

If there is ONE consistent FACT throughout history it's that You FASCIST are without a doubt as dumb as a box of rocks!! In case you didn't notice Sparky you losers are getting the living *** kicked out of you in Iraq... I hardly think you need to be taking on any more War's. ROFLMAO Anyone who want's to fight even a Girl Scout Troop with Sir Lies-A-Lot as the Commander in Chief is really not dealing with a full deck!!

[skyk-2009]

JH6379..ANOPINION1...Hey your Democrats help vote him in..They could have kept him out..go blame your own folks
Posted by FARTKNOCKER2 at 10:11 AM : Feb 13, 2007


Oh Joy! Just what we need! Another supporter of Sir LIES-A-Lot putting BLAME on their neighbors and Fellow Citizens for the Incompetence of the WORST President in US History. What is it with you people.. do you LIKE getting you Butts Whooped? ROFLMAO

[skyk-2009]

but nooooooooooooooooooooo everybody wants to come to the USA and nobody wants to go to the USSR.... oops i mean russia........ hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Posted by lars008 at 08:22 AM : Feb 13, 2007

You mean the USA built by LIBERALS? ROFLMAO You do KNOW the people you have been quoting now for MONTHS as being the people who BUILT this great nation WERE LIBERALS don't you? ROFLMAO Dumb as a box of rocks!! ROFLMAO

[skyk-2009]

And Italy under Mussolini. And Germany under Hitler. So, Putin, the mere fact that in your speech you said true things about our present administration, we do not trust you nor any goodness in your intentions. You can't be trusted and we know it.
Posted by adian1 at 06:10 AM : Feb 13, 2007

You are making such statements when THIS nation has a leader who the citizens of our ONLY ally found him to be worse than the Leader of NORTH KOREA? Do NOT start throwing stones when you house is made of glass... We need to stop concerning ourselves with what other countries say and do and START concerning ourselves with getting a leader who can actually be trusted to at least tell the truth. We certainly are not in any position to be rattling any sabers of challenging anyone else in the world... Bush is without a doubt the most hated creature on this or any other planet in our solar system. That puts us in a position we have never been in.

[wolf563]

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 .

[lars008-2009]

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

[lars008-2009]

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

[anopinion1]

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.

[travelinman6]

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.

[beehive21-2009]

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.