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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Vlad accuses U.S. of a erotic desire to invade Russia |
| 2007-10-19 |
| Putin touts new nuclear weapons against US President Vladimir Putin has announced plans to build a new generation of nuclear weapons after accusing the United States of harbouring an "erotic" desire to invade Russia and steal its natural resources. Delivering one of his most belligerent anti-Western tirades, Mr Putin also suggested that America and its allies had concocted a fake assassination plot to prevent him from visiting Iran this week. Casting himself as a pugnacious but benign defender of national sovereignty, the president told his people during a live television phone-in that only Russia's military prowess had prevented the country from suffering Iraq's fate. But he delivered a relatively conciliatory message on America's plans to station a missile defence shield in Europe - proposals which Russia hotly opposes. The subject of Western plots was first raised by Alexander, a mechanic in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk. Was it right, Alexander wanted to know, that certain American politicians considered Russia's refusal to share its natural resources "unfair" — claims he bizarrely attributed to Madeleine Albright, the former US secretary of state. "I know that such ideas are brewing in the heads of some politicians," Mr Putin replied. "I think it is a sort of political eroticism which maybe gives some pleasure but will hardly lead anywhere. The best examples of that are the events in Iraq, a small country that could hardly defend itself but which possesses massive oil reserves. Thank God Russia is not Iraq. It is strong enough to protect its interests within the national territory and, by the way, in other regions of the world. What we are doing to increase our defence capability is the correct choice and we will continue to do that." On the subject of missile defence, however, Mr Putin was more measured. "The latest contacts with our American colleagues show that they have indeed given some thought to the proposals we made and they are looking for a solution to the problems and for ways to ease our concerns," he said. Nearly eight years into his presidency, Mr Putin has grown steadily more assured and nationalistic in his public performances and the annual phone-in is clearly an event in which he revels. As questioners fretted about Western machinations and Russia's uncertain future when Mr Putin steps down next Spring, the president was always on hand, like a cross between an emperor and a deity, to grant petitions, answer prayers and dispense advice and encouragement. Not once was an unsettling or controversial question asked — a fact that drew scorn from the Kremlin's dwindling band of critics. "It was unbearably boring and openly narcissistic," said Yevgeny Kiselyov, a political commentator. "It was all staged from beginning to end. If he is a president and not the Tsar, why don't we hear the opinion of those who don't vote for him?" Russia's already rapid rearmament would be stepped up even further, Mr Putin promised. Ambitious plans to bolster the country's nuclear arsenal — as well as its conventional military hardware — were well underway. They include new missile systems, modernised nuclear bombers and submarines. "We have plans that are not only great, but grandiose," he boasted. To drive home this message, the broadcast was interrupted to show a test launch of Russia's newest intercontinental ballistic missile. "The anti-western rhetoric is aimed at voters, philistines who like to believe that Russia is surrounded by enemies intent on keeping the country on its knees," Mr Kiselyov said. "For them, Putin is the only man who can defend us from these vicious enemies." |
| Posted by:Delphi |
| #12 President Vladimir Putin has announced plans to build a new generation of nuclear weapons after accusing the United States of harbouring an "erotic" desire to invade Russia and steal its natural resources. No, we'll leave that one up to the Chinese. They're the ones with the growing appetite for resources. We're just in the [Wally] market for cheap trinkets these days. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-10-19 18:42 |
| #11 "...To invade Russia" > Putin is directly accusing accusing the USA of attempted assassination as per geopol order-diplomacy. IOW, PUTIN > USA HAS DIRECTLY/FORMALLY COMMITTED AN ACT OF WAR. IMO, appears RUSSIA = IRAN > building a case for a TERROR STRIKE AGZ DUBYA-USG + RUSSIAN INTERVENTION IN IRAN IN CASE OF US-IRAN CONFLICT. SUB-IOW, RUSSIA LIKELY BELIEVES A US-IRAN WAR WILL OCCUR BEFORE [ < EOY 2007]OR DURING 2008 [Jan-June 2008]US ELEX??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-10-19 18:40 |
| #10 The paranoia in me says he's getting the populace ready for war. You must be young. This is how the Soviet leaders always speak, mostly for domestic consumption. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2007-10-19 18:03 |
| #9 The paranoia in me says he's getting the populace ready for war. |
| Posted by: Anon4021 2007-10-19 17:41 |
| #8 United States of harbouring an "erotic" desire Russian brides? What's the nutcase talking about? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-10-19 17:26 |
| #7 Vlad's been hitting the nose paint a little too hard lately. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-10-19 16:08 |
| #6 Hitler was better at diplomacy at Putin. Hitler always had a carrot to go with his stick. Putin is all stick all the time. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2007-10-19 15:55 |
| #5 I think he's getting this stuff straight out of Pravda. As a |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque6305 2007-10-19 15:47 |
| #4 What sort of idiot believes the US would want any part of a 2nd world hellhole like Russia? Cold, dreary, misbegotten land of alcoholics and losers beset by crime, corruption, and dreams of slavic grandeur and empire and surrounded by 3rd world hellholes filled with jihadi's. |
| Posted by: FOTSGreg 2007-10-19 15:23 |
| #3 "Vlad accuses U.S. of a erotic desire to invade Russia" These clowns truely are insane. Hey, Vlad-baby - here's a free clue. We don't want your Besides, Americans (and Brits and Canadians) regularly "erotically" invade more hospitable lands - like Caribbean islands, Cancun, etc. And they welcome us. I think Vlad is projecting.... |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2007-10-19 15:21 |
| #2 Methinks the lady doth protest too much. |
| Posted by: Gabby Cussworth 2007-10-19 14:48 |
| #1 idiot |
| Posted by: sinse 2007-10-19 14:41 |