Putin Warns Of Retaliation To Missile Plan

Russian Leader Says U.S.'s Planned European Missile Defenses May Prompt "Retaliatory Steps"

(CBS/AP)  Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow could take "retaliatory steps" if Washington proceeds with plans to build a missile defense system for Europe, including possibly aiming nuclear weapons at targets on the continent.

Speaking to foreign reporters days before he travels to Germany for the annual summit with President Bush and the other Group of Eight leaders, Putin assailed the White House plan to place a radar system in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in neighboring Poland.

In an interview last week, Mr. Bush said he explained to Putin that the new defense system was designed to protect NATO allies from a missile fired by Iran or North Korea, reports CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod. But neither Iran nor North Korea has a missile that can reach Europe, providing Putin with a way to confront the United States at a critical time for him.

"We are being told the anti-missile defense system is targeted against something that does not exist. Doesn't it seem funny to you, to say the least?" an irritated Putin said.

He added that the planned missile shield would cover Russia's territory up to the Ural Mountains.

"It would be funny if it wasn't so sad," he said.

Putin lamented that the planned system would be "an integral part of the U.S. nuclear arsenal" in Europe — an unprecedented step. "It simply changes the entire configuration of international security."

He said he hoped that U.S. officials would change their minds regarding the missile plan, warning that Moscow was preparing a tit-for-tat response.

"If this doesn't happen, then we disclaim responsibility for our retaliatory steps, because it is not we who are the initiators of the new arms race, which is undoubtedly brewing in Europe," Putin said.

"The strategic balance in the world is being upset and in order to restore this balance without creating an anti-missile defense on our territory we will be creating a system of countering that anti-missile system, which is what we are doing now," Putin said.

Last week, Russia tested a new ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and a new cruise missile. While Western analysts said the system has probably been under development for several years, Putin has described the test as part of Moscow's response to the U.S. anti-missile plan.

Putin also suggested that Russia could respond to the threat by aiming its nuclear weapons at Europe.

"If a part of the strategic nuclear potential of the United States appears in Europe and, in the opinion of our military specialists will threaten us, then we will have to take appropriate steps in response. What kind of steps? We will have to have new targets in Europe," Putin said, according to a transcript released by the Kremlin. These could be targeted with "ballistic or cruise missiles or maybe a completely new system" he said.

Putin also suggested that in the absence of a real threat from Iranian and North Korean missiles, the U.S. plan could be an attempt to spoil Russia's relations with Europe.

In Iran's first official response to the U.S. missile-defense plan, Supreme National Security Council head Ali Larijani said "claims by U.S. officials that installing a missile defense system in Europe is aimed at confronting Iranian missiles and protecting Europe against Iran is the joke of the year," according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

"The range of Iran's missiles doesn't reach Europe at all," the agency quoted him as saying.

Relations between Moscow and Washington have soured in the past year. The two former Cold War foes are at odds over Washington's missile plans, Russia's conflicts with former Soviet nations — including Ukraine, Georgia and Estonia — and U.S. concerns of democratic backsliding in Russia.

Mr. Bush leaves Washington Monday on an eight-day, six-country European jaunt, including the G-8 meeting in Germany.

The president is beginning his trip in the Czech Republic, with a scheduled arrival in Prague Monday afternoon, and will wrap up his tour with a visit to Poland — the former Soviet satellites where he wants to base major parts of the new shield.

Visiting the two countries on the sidelines of the summit is likely to be taken in Moscow as a very deliberate snub by Mr. Bush.

"This is a distinctive message that is as easily understandable in Russian as it is in English," said Simon Serfaty, a senior adviser to the Europe program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "The message is that we're going to do what we're going to do, and your concerns about the deployment of some marginal capabilities designed for defense purposes in Central Europe are not going to impress me."

Besides the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland, Bush also has Italy, Albania and Bulgaria on his travel itinerary. He has meetings planned with at least 15 foreign leaders, plus the Pope, and his schedule isn't final yet.

[pwrslm]

Does anyone have any doubts that they already have nukes pointed at EU targets already?

I dont. Putins rocket bluffs are a grab for attention. He must feel pretty imputent, eh?

After the force they use to put down dissent against his rule, its pretty obvious that Putin seeks the old guards return over the Russian people.

[infidel_us]

This guy is a KGB criminal! His country hasn't got the resources or the money to mount any meaningful retaliation. I call your bluff!

[winnerindia]

Russia go on! we want to see a new super power who will be without any greed. By the way who gave the role of Jesus to the United States??????
The right time has come when U.S must bow before other countries.
Cina, India, Russia and Iran what a beautiful picture!

[gkc99]

Nice work, Bushshytes! Your stupidity and arrogance has turned a potential ally into a repeat Soviet Union cold war enemy. Starting with the Reaganite arrogance that Ronnie all by himself ended the Soviet Union (how about 200 million Russians got tired of Communism?), you have disregarded Russia's legitimate concerns, send a$$holes like Rumsfeld, Cheney and Condie to lecture them, and threatened their strategic posture with the transparent subterfuge of defending Poland against North Korea. Way to go, morons!

[pwrslm]

I get to laughing when I see folks post stuff that suggests that the US forced Putin into anything.

The only reason he didnt start this up 6 years ago was because of 9-11. He figured his rhetoric didnt stand a chance against the worlds attention on Iraq/Afganistan. Then he **** when we found thier hands in the cookie jar with Saddams cookies, eh?

Whats to say, Putins been working to reinstate socialism and communism into the Russian Government from the start.

[currentnews]

Certain men have been known to overcompensate for their feeling of inadequacy about the size of their, let us say, male organ. So here is male organ vertically challenged Putin overcompensating to Mr Bush's valid intent.

It must drive Putin up the wall knowing USA plans to place a radar system in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in neighboring Poland. Putin threats are nothing. He is full of hatred that USA has such powerful negotiating capabilities with Czech Republic and Poland. USA must always be proactive. Let the ants be reactive.

Putin should enjoy his own dose of Polonium 210 with his potato vodka and the world would be a much better place.

[drummer94]

Keep it up George. Then all that money you and HalliCheney stole is gonna get incinerated in the first pop! What a 'friggin maroon. Try enlisting Putin's help in deterring Iran from building the bomb. The dude in Iran thinks,well, your a joke. He's banking on Russia not supporting the U.S.

[gkc99]

The Bushit / Chickenshit swagger has actually put Russia in the position of seeing the USA as a bigger threat than nuclear Iran. That takes some doing as Iran shares a border with Russia in an oil-rich region, is home to a religion at complete antipathy to the atheistic ex-
soviets, and harbors allies of the folks who drove the Russians out of Afghanistan. Rather than encouraging the Russians (who didn't just disappear despite the delusions of the Raygunites in the late 80s) to join with the USA in controlling the Islamic bomb and containing Islamic fascism, the Bushshytes ignorance and arrogance has driven the Russians to look out for their own strategic interests--and they do still have the world's largest land army and 20,000 nuclear warheads, despite the droolings of the senile Raygun (while he was alive--may he rot in H*ll). Smoooth move, jackasses.

[currentnews]

Canada has oil for USA.

[missingamerica]

Putin is a member of PNRC.

[glidescube]

Keep it up George. Then all that money you and HalliCheney stole is gonna get incinerated in the first pop! What a 'friggin maroon. Try enlisting Putin's help in deterring Iran from building the bomb. The dude in Iran thinks,well, your a joke. He's banking on Russia not supporting the U.S.
Posted by drummer94 at 08:32 AM : Jun 04, 2007


As much as I hate W I stand by him in this missile defense system. They are defensive weapons only Why is everyone getting so bent out of shape?

We have a god given right to protect ourselves from Islamists.

[acauble1]

As much as I hate W I stand by him in this missile defense system. They are defensive weapons only Why is everyone getting so bent out of shape?

Posted by Glidescube at 09:02 AM : Jun 04, 2007
............

People are getting bent out of shape because Bush is risking global security/peace among the nuclear nations with some PIECE OF S.H.I.T missile "defense" shield.

They've been proven to be highly ineffective and inaccurate!

Plus, if Russia has developed new ICBMs to avoid these missiles, then we're just sticking toy rockets in the ground in Eastern Europe while risking the lives of tens of millions of innocent human beings!

(however, Bush'n Co. have demonstrated they don't give a rats a.s.s about life unless it's in some woman's womb).

[rafterman1]

===As much as I hate W I stand by him in this missile defense system. They are defensive weapons only Why is everyone getting so bent out of shape?===

The idea is, from the Russian perspective, a missile defense system might give the US the idea that they could initiate a first strike if we felt the missile shield could stop a Russian counterstrike. It's why we and the Russians have had ABM treaties since the 1970's - to ensure that MAD (mutually assured destruction) remains an equal deterent for both sides.

[malomaboy06]

Whatever you may think about US security, it is simply inconcievable that the US would place defensive missles in a place where they would only be blocking a move by their allies. Russia does not pose any threat to us whatsoever. When we place missles in a place were they are not welcome, however good our intentions may be, we are in the wrong, and must take steps to correct our actions.

[acauble1]

If Russia launched an inter-continental nuclear BARN up in the air...

... our POS missile defense system wouldn't even it that either!

[dogband]

Who knows who is wrong here, but with Bushes track record of [1] naming axis of evil countries, [2] invading one of those countries, and continued sabre rattling against Iran and Korea, I can only guess its the good ole USA under W's stupid guidance.

Bush has a very good chance of getting us in a major war, perhaps even WW III. Our army is devestated, our army equipment gone, our deficit huge and growing, our enemies multipling daily, our individual rights and freedoms eroding.

Bush is without question the ABSOLUTE WORST PRESIDENT IN OUR HISTORY. He is going to get us all killed. What a madman.

[acauble1]

Bush is without question the ABSOLUTE WORST PRESIDENT IN OUR HISTORY. He is going to get us all killed. What a madman.
Posted by dogband at 09:19 AM : Jun 04, 2007
.............

You've said it best!

I'm using up as much vacation time as I can...

...spending it with my family, each and every one of them, while I still have time.

[kevboom]

Let Europe plan out and pay for their own missile shield against Iran, if there is even any truth to Iran having weapons. Why does the U.S. always have to be the bad guy against the middle east, perturbing terrorists, and now perturbing Russia as well? The pound and euro are crushing the dollar thanks to Bush's endless war designed to make a few military contractors very rich. If there really is an Iranian threat to Europe, then let them pay for their own defense. Why does America always have to bankroll nato ***, Israel, and everything else half a world away that is none of our business. America can't educate its own people, control immigration problems, provide health care, or repair and maintain a crumbling infrastructure because of misplaced priorities. Meanwhile Europe reinvests in its people and continues on toward the path of economic dominance. How stupid are the people in this country to continue to vote for politicians so greedily tightly tied up in corporations that they'd rather sell out their own people and military than give up a buck. Stop wasting money and lives in the middle east and attracting further terrorist attention toward our shores! Invest in our own people for a change and look for terror cells already in place here.

[bigsk8fan]

Oh good, another country that the USA can go to war with. There are still more countries that we are at peace with. What's up with that George?

[drummer94]

We can take Iran, or anyone else out for that matter, with what we have now. George, in his delusional state of mind, is only provoking a confrontation.

[harp1963]

How would we feel if Russia was installing anti missle systems in Mexico, Canada, and Cuba? We will pay for the sins of George Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfield for generations to come.

[harp1963]

How would we feel if Russia was installing anti missle systems in Mexico, Canada, and Cuba? We will pay for the sins of George Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfield for generations to come.

[drummer94]

We can take Iran, or anyone else out for that matter, with what we have now. George, in his delusional state of mind, is only provoking a confrontation.

[aaabee-2009]

We have a god given right to protect ourselves from Islamists. Posted by Glidescube at 09:02 AM : Jun 04, 2007

Yes, but we can do it without jepardizing global relations. Bush is unraveling that which president after president before him, Reagan included, had managed only by committing tremendous efforts to easing the cold war and smoothing global relations with other armed powers such as Russia.

Defending ourselves is one thing, destabilizing and alienating international relations with unrelated countries to our War On Terror is something entirely different.

[aaabee-2009]

We have a god given right to protect ourselves from Islamists. Posted by Glidescube at 09:02 AM : Jun 04, 2007

Yes, but we can do it without jepardizing global relations. Bush is unraveling that which president after president before him, Reagan included, had managed only by committing tremendous efforts to easing the cold war and smoothing global relations with other armed powers such as Russia.

Defending ourselves is one thing, destabilizing and alienating international relations with unrelated countries to our War On Terror is something entirely different.

[one_american]

Russia is moving quickly to become part of the "Axis of Evil"; Russia needs to cast off this tyranical dictator madman and return to Democracy now.

[tomar0317]

Right on kevboom.

[acauble1]

How would we feel if Russia was installing anti missle systems in Mexico, Canada, and Cuba? We will pay for the sins of George Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfield for generations to come.
Posted by harp1963 at 09:45 AM : Jun 04, 2007
............


This is basically the beginnings of the Cuban Missile Crisis........ with the tables turned!

Except we don't have cooler heads from either country at this time.

[acauble1]

How would we feel if Russia was installing anti missle systems in Mexico, Canada, and Cuba? We will pay for the sins of George Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfield for generations to come.
Posted by harp1963 at 09:45 AM : Jun 04, 2007
............


This is basically the beginnings of the Cuban Missile Crisis........ with the tables turned!

Except we don't have cooler heads from either country at this time.

[grazinggoat]

Russia is moving quickly to become part of the "Axis of Evil"; Russia needs to cast off this tyranical dictator madman and return to Democracy now.
Posted by One_American

-Seems to all of us here this Axis-of-Evil is curving back to Washington D.C., pit-stopping at Walking-Liar'sButtock before making a final stop in your deepthroat One-HalfAmerican...

-You sound so ridiculously dumb to consider this great country that is Russia as part of anything evil. The Evil resides now in Washington and we need, as a great Nation to get rid of it soon. Yesterday! He's a real shame on our Nation.

[grazinggoat]

Let Europe plan out and pay for their own missile shield against Iran, if there is even any truth to Iran having weapons. Why does the U.S. always have to be the bad guy against the middle east, perturbing terrorists, and now perturbing Russia as well? The pound and euro are crushing the dollar thanks to Bush's endless war designed to make a few military contractors very rich. If there really is an Iranian threat to Europe, then let them pay for their own defense. Why does America always have to bankroll nato ***, Israel, and everything else half a world away that is none of our business. America can't educate its own people, control immigration problems, provide health care, or repair and maintain a crumbling infrastructure because of misplaced priorities. Meanwhile Europe reinvests in its people and continues on toward the path of economic dominance. How stupid are the people in this country to continue to vote for politicians so greedily tightly tied up in corporations that they'd rather sell out their own people and military than give up a buck. Stop wasting money and lives in the middle east and attracting further terrorist attention toward our shores! Invest in our own people for a change and look for terror cells already in place here.
Posted by kevboom at 09:25 AM : Jun 04, 2007

- Plenty of wisdom in here! Happy to promote your thoughts... ;)

[condumism]

Corporate America and the Fascist, paranoid GOPigs continue to throw money at the needless US Military. WAnt to talk about government waste? The US National Labs are a perfect example of throwing money at worthless causes. Los Alamos for instance has a staff of about 9,000 people, most of whom have absolutley nothing to do with the defense of America. PhD's all over the place creating useless models of hypothetical future events, mostly for salaries well above $100,000 per year, and many running private businesses on the side from Los Alamos, with virtually no oversight from the for profit corporate entity known as LANS that now skims profits from the place. WAKE UP AMERICA, YOU'RE BEING ROBBED EVERYDAY BY THE CORPORATE US MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX.

[georgew1956]

do you trust the president

give me a hell yes

or a hell no

[mdc76082]

Russia is moving quickly to become part of the "Axis of Evil"; Russia needs to cast off this tyranical dictator madman and return to Democracy now.
Posted by One_American
-------------------------
Return to what???? LOL , they were never a democracy! Oh they tore down a wall, let a few states go independent (while still having a noose around their necks), changed the their name and flag. Underneath, they are still the U.S.S.R. Look, it's still taking us over 200+ yrs to get this "democracy thingy" fine-tuned and it still has flaws. Do you really think they (Russia) were even in the "democracy" zone in such a short time span? You are soooooo funny! Welcome to the "Cold War" that never left!

[infidel_us]

How would we feel if Russia was installing anti missle systems in Mexico, Canada, and Cuba? We will pay for the sins of George Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfield for generations to come.
Posted by harp1963 at 09:45 AM : Jun 04, 2007

Grow up and stop whining. It's a missile DEFENSE system....not nuclear tipped ICBM's pointing at Kiev or Moscow.

It's to prevent islamo-fascists (like Iran) from launching their nuclear rockets at us or our allies.

I know you'd rather have "the world" feel better about us than care about our soverignty or defense, so why don't you take another hit off the bong and leave the tough stuff to people who do this for a living.

[mdc76082]

I guess when Putin comes to visit, he and GW and Cheney will go hunting. It's a breath of fresh air to see a country with the capability & balls, "shove" a missle down ol'GW's throat. I don't blame Russia in the least. This Administration had it coming to them. Russia's been b_itch slapped one to many times in the past. Plus, GW and Cheney need to keep Condi's mouth shut for her remarks on Russian.

[mdc76082]

infidel_us - nothing more than a lemming who believes in everything the conservative right has to throw on his plate (that means reads or watches i.e. FoxNews, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, etc.). Eat, drink, and obey lemming. When were you on the engineering team that designed this missle "DEFENSE" system? How do you know what it's intentions are? I forgot, you believe everything your Government tells you. Pssh. Such a lemming.

[grazinggoat]

When dealing in World destruction, the least you can do is to talk to the Masters. Russia and USA are the major tenants of Mutual Destruction in this case. Just wondering if our US Forces generals and their counterpart Russians speak together, before making moves. What if Russia itself could propose, some protection to the interests of Europe? Why doesn't Nato make the effort to embrace the Russian Defence system and call it the Northen Hemisphere Defence Organization... in order to defend from big rolling ball China soon to be?

- I mean all this resource could be directed to live in mutual understanding and mutual needs fulfilling instead of competing for each others' resources.

-It takes only a moron such as the one we have in the White House to behave as such now.

[rafterman1]

===The Evil resides now in Washington===

Bush isn't really evil. He's merely stupid and arrogant. But not evil. Cheney, on the other hand...

[aaabee-2009]

mdc76082 - that's real good man. Feel better now? I'd rather be an America loving lemming than a bedwetting liberal who hates his own country. Posted by infidel_us at 11:57 AM : Jun 04, 2007

Infidel, time to take your medication again. Your generalizations about liberals are so yesterday, could you at least come up with something fresh?

I have never wet the bed and I love my country so much I am willing to stand up for it against the hate, the name-calling, and the bullying of my own fellow countrypersons from the other side of the aisle who seem content to let evil stand.

In the end, my conscience will be as clean as my sheets. :)

Peace, brah

[rafterman1]

===I have never wet the bed and I love my country so much I am willing to stand up for it against the hate, the name-calling, and the bullying of my own fellow countrypersons from the other side of the aisle who seem content to let evil stand.===

So true. Some of these right wingers are like those parents who let their kid do whatever they want and be annoying and pi$$ everyone off because they allow their kid to be a spoiled brat. If you love your kid, you discipline them so they don't become arrogant jerks. Likewise, if your country does wrong, you say so and wish it would do better.

Righties can't seem to understand that concept. They think love of country means to ignore anything wrong it does, even if it hurts the country.

[lochlan-2009]

It's all for Israel. From day one the Bush Admin. had the ABM treaty on their radar. A catastrophic event needed to occur against the U.S. in order for us to withdraw from the treaty, and to the Bush Admin.'s and Israel great luck along came Sept.11. The WTC was leased by Silverstein (a very prominent and politicaly connected jewish real estate businessman). Luckily for him he specified that he wanted plane crashes covered in the insurance. Three months after his purchase two planes crashed into the building, of which he sued to have each plane crash counted as a seperate incident. He won and walked away with $7billion (rather than $3.5billion) in insurance money, while still holding the rights to the future sight. The attacks were of course from terrorists (atleast we were told) who were trained in Afghanistan (where we want a Natural Gas Pipeline for Haliburton from the largest natural gas reserve in the world to the Indian Ocean) and Iraq (Israel's closest real threat, plus the second largest oil reserve and nice war profiteering spot to plunder).

[wdrussell1]

Leave it to George. Now he actually wants to restart the cold war.

[grazinggoat]

===The Evil resides now in Washington===

Bush isn't really evil. He's merely stupid and arrogant. But not evil. Cheney, on the other hand...
Posted by Rafterman1

-Thanks for the precision. Cheers!

[macusweil]

The doves drove the hawks back and ended the cold war using tools like the ABM Treaty of 1972. Just like with torture Bush and the neo.cons `chicken hawks` think they know better.

Breaking internal treaties on torture has only lead to escalation. The same is now true for nuclear arms.

You can bet some GOP insider already has the contract to build these new missile in Eastern Europe. The war profiteers can not profit without war of fear of war.

[macusweil]

You infidel_us your ignorance butt will be smoked into nuclear ash if you continue to blindly follow drug addicts like Bush and Limbaugh.

[condumism]

infidel_us posted his fascist views:
I believe liberals are a parasite.....they live off those of us who work and give nothing in return.

How's life in The South, the land of the most hate-filled morons and bigots in America. I'll bet you're also an ex-military welfare recipient!

[tbweb]

mdc76082 wrote:

I guess when Putin comes to visit, he and GW and Cheney will go hunting.

Posted by mdc76082 at 11:33 AM : Jun 04, 2007

mdc76082,,,

You think that's a good idea? For Putin to go hunting with Cheney? LOL, If I was Putin I would pass on that one, especially with tensions being the way they are!

[tbweb]

"Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow could take "retaliatory steps" if Washington proceeds with plans to build a missile defense system for Europe, including possibly aiming nuclear weapons at targets on the continent."

I don't understand President Putin's empty threat, it's pure nonsense! President Putin is trying to give the impression Moscow's missiles are hard coded with targets and need to be re-programmed for new targets. Complete nonsense, Moscow can re-program its missiles to any target in the world in a matter of seconds and it knows it! This is 2007 and not 1960. nice try!

[ov442]

Doesnt the Reality of this situation show that A) Putin has had these missiles in development for years and has now tested them long before America has any "Anti-missile" defense system that Putin mentions even Close to being implemented in Europe.
B) Putin is purposely antagonizing the West and it appears trying VERY hard to provoke a Nuclear war in Europe and over the ocean with these New ICBMS that are supposed to be technologically and Tactically superior to anything either they or we have in place now.
C) why wouldnt we want to put in a missile defense system PRIOR to Iran or North Korea gaining the missile technology? and as a matter of fact, They are being sold military equipment and technology regularly by Russia and China. ...duhhhh?? can we say two superpowers joining forces against the US and our interests to dominate through a new Era of fear?