Russian defence spending 'the latest step in a new arms race'

[Thinking Man's Idiot]

Russian defence spending 'the latest step in a new arms race'

(Sunday 28 September 2008)

ANTI-NUCLEAR campaigners warned on Sunday that Russian plans to upgrade its submarines and aerospace defence were "the latest phase in the new nuclear arms race."



Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that the new systems were necessary in response to US plans to site missile defence facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic.


The US has pressed ahead with these bases over the past few weeks despite Russian concern and majority popular opposition in those countries.


CND said that the "alarming" announcements were part of a spiralling build-up of new nuclear weaponry which includes new Labour's decision to replace the Trident nuclear weapons system in March last year.


Chairwoman Kate Hudson said: "CND has warned for some years that the US missile defence system would provoke a new nuclear arms race.


"Sadly, this is now shown to be true.


"Missile defence is seen by Russia and others as undermining the strategic balance between the nuclear-armed powers, thus restarting the cat-and-mouse game between rival nuclear forces.


"Coming shortly after the recent conflict in Georgia, this will only further increase tensions between Russia and the West.


"No-one wants a return to the cold war and the threat of nuclear annihilation. Existing stockpiles are sufficient to destroy the world many times over," Ms Hudson pointed out.


"Russia has a role to play, as a major economic power and significant energy producer, in helping to resolve the world's great problems. Working together to address climate change would be a better use of all nations' time and resources rather than pouring them down the drain of nuclear weapons production."

[ZingPao]

I'm sure you are aware of the PNAC. The US intends to stay powerful at all costs. Unfortunately, the Russians are as crazy as the US. Now we have Russian Strategic bombers visiting Venezuela with plans for the Russians and Venezuelans to do some naval manuevers in the Carribean. Those things don't scare me near as bad as the US government. I find it interesting people think it's okay for us to put missiles in Poland, but outraged the Russians want a presence near us.

[ZingPao]

Expert: Russia-Venezuela military exercises reaction to U.S. movesStory Highlights
Russian warships heading to Venezuela for joint naval exercises

Expert on Russian military: Move is response to U.S. actions in Europe

Russia increasing its ties with Latin American countries unhappy with the U.S.

"Some of this is the Russians wanting to get even," expert says

Next Article in World »



From Jamie McIntyre and Laurie Ure
CNN


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Russia is displaying its military power in America's back yard, sending a convoy of warships to Venezuela for joint naval exercises, the first such deployment since the Cold War.


The nuclear-powered Peter the Great cruiser is among the ships Russia is sending to Venezuela.

The Kremlin is becoming increasingly cozy with Venezuela, Cuba and other Latin American countries unhappy with the United States, in apparent response to thorny issues such as U.S. missile defense plans in Eastern Europe, NATO's eastern expansion, and U.S. warships dispatched to Georgia.

"Some of this is the Russians wanting to get even. They see American warships close to their shore; they're going to put Russian warships close to us," said Russian military expert John Pike of globalsecurity.org.

The fleet of ships headed toward the Caribbean includes some of Russia's finest, like the nuclear-powered Peter the Great cruiser and the anti-submarine warship Admiral Chebanenko.

Pike said that while these vessels are impressive, they are no match for the American Navy and pose little threat to the United States.

"They have obsolete technology. They would simply be no match for American warships in a one-to-one combat," he said.

Nonetheless, this deployment adds to the tension created earlier this month when two Russian Tu-160 nuclear long-range bombers arrived in Venezuela, also for military exercises.

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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a vocal critic of the United States, greeted the Russian pilots with a blunt message for Washington.

"Venezuela is not alone! Russia is with us," he said. "They are our strategic partners. The Russian Tu-160 bombers on our land are a warning to the empire of the U.S.A.!"

Chavez is increasing Venezuela's ties with Russia. He arrived in Moscow on Thursday for his second trip there in the past two months. Russia, meanwhile, has sold Venezuela more than $4 billion in arms.

U.S. Defense Department spokesman Geoff Morrell says the Pentagon is not fazed.

"Russia is certainly within its rights to conduct exercises with its allies. What's the old saying? You're sort of known by the company you keep. If they wish to hang out with the Venezuelan navy, that's their business," he said.

But Russia knows the United States is watching, and that seems to be the idea, Pike said.

"The Russians, sort of from here on out, every couple months are going to come up with some sort of new event, some sort of new exercise, some sort of new provocation to keep us focused on them," he said