Russian Military Budget May Rise 25%

(AP)  Russian lawmakers gave preliminary approval Friday to a 2009 budget that calls for a 25 percent hike in defense spending - a sharp increase for Russia's military that comes only a month after it crushed Georgia on the battlefield.

The boost in defense spending fits in with Russia's recent defiant posture toward the West, a stance that has seen relations with the United States and the European Union sink to a post-Cold War low after last month's war in Georgia.

The draft 2009 budget was approved by a 351-85 vote in the first of four required hearings by the State Duma, or lower house.

The budget envisages defense spending rising from 1,016.7 billion rubles (about $40 billion) this year to 1,277.5 billion rubles (some $50 billion) next year, a 25.7 percent increase.

Under a three-year budget plan, Russian military spending will increase yearly, reaching 1,390.7 billion rubles ($54.5 billion) in 2010 and 1,480.5 billion rubles ($58 billion) in 2011.

Former President Vladimir Putin has moved to reaffirm Russia's global clout and rebuild the armed forces during his eight-year tenure. His protege and successor as president, Dmitry Medvedev, has pledged to continue modernizing Russia's arsenal - a task he said became even more acute after the five-day war in August with Georgia.

Russian forces quickly routed the Georgian military and pushed deep into Georgia, but military analysts said the fighting also underlined the weaknesses of the Russian military, such as its shortage of precision weapons and its lack of satellite navigation.

Windfall oil revenues have allowed the Kremlin to steadily increase defense spending over the past eight years, but the Russian military spending is still dwarfed by the Pentagon's budget of $480 billion this year.

[tryhonesty]

So sad that this point in time the United States has such a warmongering RepubliCON party in power, and idiot Bush and selfish, evil Cheney calling the shots. Such an opportunity lost for a peaceful world.

[prudentvoter]

The Russians would be wise to double or quadruple defence spending. Time they go into mass production of new generation nuclear deterrent systems. Bush, Cheney and Rice have made it clear what US intentions are it is only reasonable that they protect themselves.

[polar_bear3]

We are the BARBARIANS when we fight. Our kids born and raised in severe and harsh conditions, where your feminish gay boys would be crooked and gone. Polish, Germans, French, English, Turkish etc all of ya aware of that. Therefore you well manned westerners for centuries fear to have direct face to face combat with our HORDES OF SAVAGE BEARS. No point what kind of stupid organization you establish, or how many squealing dogs you assemble under your motley flags, or whatever your leaders bluff on your TV, we all together know where the truth was, is and will be. So stop whining and sniveling and back off, we just take what belong to us for ages%u2026hahahahaha Bunch of cowards

[tommygun083]

The big difference with Russian defence spending is that they have a strong economy and they can afford the luxury. Their biggest problem is that they already have full employment, and where are they going to get the people to work in the defence industry.

[zhynaryll]

Now we see the real Russia. And to think - the Dims will try to reduce our defense spending instead of making sure we''ll be the top power in the world. I, for one, don''t want to play second fiddle to the Russians and Chinese on any world stage. We need people of vision and character to run our great country, and belittling anyone for working to maintain our military superiority is to reflect very poorly on that individual''s character and depth of thought.

[jamster31]

IF THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY WOULD HAVE GIVEN GEORGE W. BUSH%u2019S POLICIES A CHANCE TO WORK THEN THE U.S. WOULDN%u2019T BE IN THIS FINANCIAL MESS!!!! George Bush was right all along and nobody listened to him! Congress didn%u2019t listen, the senate didn%u2019t listen now look where the U.S. is at in financial ruin. I know that there are other Bush supporters out there and you shouldn%u2019t be afraid to speak up and say that GEORGE BUSH WAS RIGHT! HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT GOING TO WAR, HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT LOOSENING SOME OF THE RULES THAT GOVERNED FINANCIAL GIANTS!!. Now the U.S is in this financial mess and George Bush is the only one that can bail us out!!!!


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Posted by twalk1122 at 09:51 AM : Sep 19, 2008


Are you really George Senior?

[usclimey]

Posted by twalk1122

twalk - I''m beginning to think you might be serious. This would not reflect well on your sanity.

[petro49l]

George W. Bush is responsible for nuclear escalation. His Poland missile base will be attacked by the Russians. They are developing missile and satellite technology to target American sites. Why allow Bush to destroy the world?