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| Europe |
| US hits back after Putin tirade |
| 2007-02-12 |
| The United States and Russia were locked in a bitter war of words yesterday as officials reacted furiously to a speech by Vladimir Putin that represented the most ferocious attack on US policy by a Russian leader since the Cold War. Although Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, sought to cool some of the angry rhetoric flying between the two former Cold War adversaries by describing Russia as a "partner", he added: "We wonder too about some Russian policies that seem to work against international stability such as its arms transfers and its temptation to use energy resources for political coercion." President Vladimir Putin, attack on aAmerican foreign policy President Vladimir Putin speaking at the Conference on Security Policy in Munich The comments, echoed by officials across the US political spectrum, came a day after astonished delegates listened to an unprecedented tirade from the Russian leader that was at times reminiscent of Nikita Khrushchev's shoe-banging rhetoric. Reflecting the growing chill in relations between the two countries, Mr Putin accused the United States of trying to subjugate the world and termed its policy in the Middle East as "unilateral and frequently illegitimate." "Today we are witnessing an almost uncontained hyper-use of military force in international relations that is plunging the world into an abyss of permanent conflict," he said. "The United States has overstepped its national borders in every way. This is extremely dangerous. It results in the fact that no-one feels safe because no-one can feel that international law is like a stone wall that can protect them." While many of the assembled European politicians may have secretly agreed with Mr Putin's feelings on America's invasion of Iraq, fear of Russia's democratic trajectory and growing energy might united delegates in condemnation of the speech. Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt said the West had to accept that Mr Putin's speech represented "the real Russia of today". His Czech counterpart, Karel Schwazenburg, said the speech showed "clearly and convincingly" why Nato had been right to expand into eastern Europe. The Nato secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, also condemned the speech. Mr Gates, a former CIA officer, tried to put Mr Putin's comments down to the Russian president's KGB background. advertisement "I guess old spies have a habit of blunt speaking," he said. "However I've been to re-education camp," — a jibe that won approving laughter and applause from the audience. "One Cold War was quite enough." For weeks, the Kremlin had indicated that Mr Putin would make a key foreign policy statement at the conference. Foreign policy aide Sergei Prikhodko said last week that Mr Putin was going to outline "his vision of the place and role of Russia in the present day world". And while the tenor of Mr Putin's speech may have caused outrage, it has hardly caused surprise. Relations with both Europe and the United States have been deteriorating as a newly assertive Russia, buoyed by booming energy prices, has shaken off the post-Soviet malaise of the 1990s. Western criticism has mounted as Mr Putin curtailed freedoms in Russia and imposed economic punishments on ex-Soviet neighbours who had pursued a pro-Western course. In return the Kremlin is particularly angered by US plans to move missiles into eastern Europe.. While Washington insists that the missiles are directed at the growing threat of Iran and North Korea, the Kremlin is convinced they are directed at Russia. Last week, hawkish defence minister Sergei Ivanov, seen as a possible successor of Mr Putin when he stands down next year, announced an eight-year £100 billion military upgrade. Defence spending has quadrupled since Mr Putin came to power. But western diplomats argued yesterday that Mr Putin's speech reflected as much weakness as it did strength. Russia's military hardware is largely rusting and, even though the Kremlin may be trying to develop new missiles, it has lost the nuclear race. "Putin's speech was in part impotent rage," said a Western diplomat. "He's a strong believer that the Cold War principle of Mutually Assured Destruction made the world a safer place." "When he railed against a unipolar world, he was essentially acknowledging that for the first time in 50 years the United States has reached nuclear primacy." |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #8 Damn Joe, That makes too much sense and makes my head hurt. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-02-12 20:46 |
| #7 (1) Lest we fergit, as I recall the USSR put up anti-missle + anti-air missle defenses around Moscow and other Soviet cities and key mil bases, while the USA did not, becuz the USA is strong while ultra-Lefty USSR did not officially admit to being either strong or weak. "RUSSIA" STILL HAS THEM. And (2), a look at FREEREPUBLIC + LUCIANNE + BBC + MIL BLOG/FORUM MISSLE MAPS show Moscow is NOT too far out-of range for Iran's self-proclaimed new 2000-km missle, a situation whcih will definitely change against Russia's interests as time goes on. And lastly (3) without saying it, Putin's refusal ro recognize Russia's role in anti-US weapons and tech proliferation goes to show AGAIN that Russia is indeed very much waging an ANTI-US/WESTERN, GLOBAL "WAR FOR OIL/ENERGY", IN TACIT SUPPORT OF GLOBAL ANTI-DEMOCRACY. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-02-12 19:48 |
| #6 How's that lifespan thing coming along Vlad? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2007-02-12 17:56 |
| #5 "We wonder too about some Russian policies that seem to work against international stability such as its arms transfers and its temptation to use energy resources for political coercion." -however, those of us who regularly read the 'Burg do not wonder. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2007-02-12 16:34 |
| #4 Vlad's just posturing so he doesn't look like our bitch. |
| Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 2007-02-12 15:42 |
| #3 In return the Kremlin is particularly angered by US plans to move missiles into eastern Europe....the Kremlin is convinced they are directed at Russia. They aren't aimed at you, silly. That is what our new boomers are for! |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-02-12 13:21 |
| #2 Vladimire who? |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2007-02-12 11:58 |
| #1 This, plus the story above about Putin and Saudi Meeting? in this case 2+2=5 |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2007-02-12 10:18 |