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| Europe |
| Russia Said Preparing Nuclear Maneuvers |
| 2004-01-31 |
| Russia's nuclear forces reportedly are preparing their largest maneuvers in two decades, an exercise involving the test-firing of missiles and flights by dozens of bombers in a massive simulation of an all-out nuclear war. President Vladimir Putin is expected to personally oversee the maneuvers, which are apparently aimed at demonstrating the revival of the nation's military might and come ahead of Russian elections in March. Time-honored tactic in Russia. The business newspaper Kommersant said the exercise was set for mid-February and would closely resemble a 1982 Soviet exercise dubbed the "seven-hour nuclear war" that put the West on edge. Goody. Official comments on the upcoming exercise have been sketchy. The chief of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces, Col.-Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov, was quoted by the Interfax-Military News Agency as saying the planned maneuvers would involve several launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles in various regions of Russia, but he wouldn't give further details. Wonder if any will land on Chechnya? Kommersant said the maneuvers would involve Tu-160 strategic bombers test-firing cruise missiles over the northern Atlantic. Analysts describe such an exercise as an imitation of a nuclear attack on the United States. I suspect we'll have some air and naval units at a discreet distance practicing how we'll respond to a nuclear attack. Other groups of bombers will fly over Russia's Arctic regions and test-fire missiles at a southern range near the Caspian Sea, the newspaper said. The military also plans to launch military satellites from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and the Plesetsk launch pad in northern Russia - a simulation of the replacement of satellites lost in action, Kommersant said. Russia's system warning of an enemy missile attack and a missile defense system protecting Moscow will also be involved in the exercise, it added. Pavel Felgenhauer, an independent military analyst, said the military has regularly held nuclear exercises that were timed to coincide with the annual test-firing of aging Soviet-built missiles. "It has been a routine affair, but it can be expanded if they want a show," he said. Seems like that's what the new Russian army can do best, put on a show. Putin has repeatedly pledged to rebuild Russia's military might and restore pride to the demoralized service. When he ran for his first term in 2000, he flew as a second pilot in a fighter jet and later donned naval officer's garb on a visit to a nuclear submarine - images that played well with many voters who are nostalgic for Soviet global power and military prestige. Mission accomplished! And look, no protests. Kommersant said Moscow had notified Washington about the exercise, describing it as part of efforts to fend off terror threats even though it imitates the Cold War scenario of an all-out war. "You boys won't mind if we dust off a few books from 1987 in response, will you?" |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #9 I'm even more concerned about the TIMING of this exercise. Al Qaida promises to "make its biggest strike ever" against the United States by Feb 2. Maybe the Russians know something we don't - like, that may include a nuclear strike, and they want to be in their holes and ready, in case the US retaliates. Either way, both A-Q and Russia would lose, but it would be a huge mess to clean up after. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-1-31 7:43:52 PM |
| #8 Very good points - at the same time, however, I'd feel a lot safer if the Russians were better at this, since a highly skilled team in the silos will not be so busy trying to remember the sequence of tasks that they don't get confirmation. |
| Posted by: Colin MacDougall 2004-1-31 12:58:49 PM |
| #7 commies in russia are finished,probably the most corrupt nation on this earth with thousands of nukes dotted all about the place and enriched uranium stores in wooden warehouses with 2 gaurds and a rusty padlock on the door,was it not long ago some one thieved a whole fuckin power plant away from a russian navel base,jesus whats to stop them pinching a few nukes, and yet people still claim America is the still the biggest and most dangerous country on the planet.Amazes me how dumb some people are. As for putin kicking up a fuss about BMD,just how stupid does he think we are,i mean its not as if they could deploy one they wouldn,t - oh wait they already have around Mosco. Just another case of the Loony left doing the enamys work for them when they say BMD shouldn't be built, makes my blood boil with anger! |
| Posted by: Jon Shep U.K 2004-1-31 8:51:43 AM |
| #6 this line worries me a bit "images that played well with many voters who are nostalgic for Soviet global power and military prestige. " Nothing new, believe me. These are the same quacks that came out a few days ago for the 80th anniversary of Lenin's death. Same ones that paraded during the 75th anniversary...and the 70th....65th... |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-1-31 8:05:30 AM |
| #5 "...a missile defense system protecting Moscow..." Aren't the Russians some of the people screaming the loudest about America developing a missle sheild. Sounds like"Do as I say,not as I do." |
| Posted by: Raptor 2004-1-31 7:14:08 AM |
| #4 Um "aging Soviet-built missiles", that for some reason sounds more threatening than a modern missile if only for the fact that I worry bout it exploding during launch. Joking aside this line worries me a bit "images that played well with many voters who are nostalgic for Soviet global power and military prestige. " I just wonder what groups are speaking here? Life under the Soviets wasn't what you'd describe as "pleasant". |
| Posted by: Val 2004-1-31 7:12:21 AM |
| #3 wonder if any of the Tu-160's will stack it like one did the other month.personally i think the russians are sold out and should give up trying to be big hard and clever,it dosn't suit thier decrepid armed forces,fools. |
| Posted by: Jon Shep U.K 2004-1-31 4:56:27 AM |
| #2 In a related item, Moscow said to be up-dating its arsenal of air-brushes from the Brezhnev IV's to the more advanced Putin II's. |
| Posted by: WUZZALIB 2004-1-31 3:36:40 AM |
| #1 Oh, boy, are they going to start standing on balconies in pecking order, too????? |
| Posted by: Anonymous2U 2004-1-31 1:14:20 AM |