http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070531/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/rice

Alright maybe after this the Russians will think twice before electing a former KGB member.

Doubtful, they seem to like him pretty well.

Exactly. they're just not used to criticizing their leaders and so instead they just idolise them. Most people we met in Russia adored him and we just couldn't understand why. I think being outside russia we seem to get a better picture of what goes on inside it than russians do.

I don't know. Yeltsin became fairly unpopular towards the end if I remember correctly.

I think that part of the problem is there's been a clear line of succession each time power has changed, from Gorbachev to Yeltsin to Putin. Currently there isn't anyone who is the obvious alternative to him for the public.

Maybe there is, but they are just scared that they will become the victim of an "accident".

Russia has been battling with terrorists in Chechnya for as long as I can remember, and yet Im almost positive that they are supporting Middle East extremists with technology and weapons that undermine the efforts to help stabilize the region and bring peace (not democracy, just peace, thats all I ask for) to the people of the Middle East. Russia constantly complains about any potential sanctions against IRAN that the UN bring up, and why? Maybe becuase it would make dealing nuclear technology to the Iranian goverment a little harder?

The missile defense system is definately something that should be in place all over the world. Its to protect the innocent from extremists. The sooner Putin figures this out and cooperates, the sooner these terrorists can be brought to justice.

Missile defense in Poland is a strange place to put it... What is Poland under threat from? Germany? France? UK? This looks like the west is putting it there to protect from Russia. Missile defense was always a belligerent tool during the cold war and it still is today.

Actually the stated reason is Iran.

You know, I'm starting to wonder if perhaps the Russian Missile Fleet has degraded so badly that an interceptor system like this would threaten their nuclear strike capacity. Maybe they've only actually got a handful of their ICBMs operational, and are bluffing about the rest. Then they'd have a legitimate reason to be spooked by our ABM system, and would never admit it.

Why should the Russians accept such a system in their "backyard", when the US strongly opposed the same thing?

The answer, of course, is that the US should not care either. The entire world should get ABM coverage.

The cold war ended over a decade ago, leave it there. The world has much more pressing issues than that. Russia needs to understand that they aren't the target here. The only "target" for the world should be terrorists. They do not care who you are, what you believe in. They will die in the effort to kill as many people as they can.

"A man that has nothing to lose is the most dangerous."

"All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing"


Cmon people, the ABM is only a defensive measure against these lunatics who are probably developing nuclear strike capabilities. Will it take a Nuke to be dropped on Kiev, Moscow, Venice, Paris, etc. before people begin to actually take this threat for real and do something about it??? Im sorry, but it will just be a tad bit too late then.

Soon, politicians are going to be arguing over every little detail, while the very countries they are fighting to "protect" become the victims of radical extremeists.


What if we put some of these systems on the Russian borders as well. We should be trying to protect all that oppose terrorists, regardless of the past. Wishfull thinking I know, but someone has to think logically.

It saddens me to see how the leaders of our world can frighten the living daylights out of the public in an effort to do whatever they wish, including gradually taking away the civil liberties of the people.

Such is the power of nightmares.

There is no such apocalyptic threat, that you describe, to this world.

The biggest threat to the world is the Neoconservative cabal based in Washington.

Intifada, you have a very good point, although most of your thoughts are extremely anti-western, anti-washington, and most of them are for good reason.

Have I seen any proof that Iran, Libya, N.Korea, have any weapons programs?? Besides the recent missile tests by N.Korea....No. Needless to say if Iran, N.Korea, Syria, Libya, etc. didnt have any intentions on developing such weapons, than why does the ABM system bother them so much?

If someone had said that Terrorists are going to Hijack 4 planes (supposedly) and run them into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, Im pretty sure they would have been lauged at. But once it happened, all of a sudden everyone started asking why noone saw it coming.

So, Intifada since I've had a shroud of fear drawn over my eyes, would you care to answer me one question. What does Russia stand to lose if the US/EU place a ABM system that defends europe AND russia from a Nuclear/Chemical/Biological missile attack from a rogue or terrorist nation??? Why are they making this such a big deal??

Dont use there loss of political capital as an excuse either. Provide something with a bit of substance.

Ali Larinjani said:

"Claims by U.S. officials that installing a missile defense system in Europe is aimed at confronting Iranian missiles and protecting Europe against Iran is the joke of the year."

I agree with him.

It should be noted that in 1996 and 1998, Osama bin Laden issued fatwas which both complained of American interference and activities in numerous countries, and, more precisely, of American military presence in the Arabian Peninsula, and American support for Israel.

The fatwas, to al Qaeda, provided justification for indiscriminate killing of Americans.

So there was a threat present, although the form of such a threat was obviously more obscure, however the Bush Administration apparently knew of a threat to hijack planes.

The Russians are annoyed because they used to be in control of the Eastern European region which the Americans are now using as their own private garden.

Putin is just trying to make Russia seem like a big power.

So basically, its still the "loss of political capital" that is the basis of there objections to an ABM system. Granted, If I were in there shoes, I'd be a bit nervous as well.

I support any soverign nation in developing nuclear technology for peaceful use. (power plants and such). But how are we to be sure that someone unfriendly to the USA or any of its allies wont get there hands on spent fuel to make a dirty bomb? You can't say it will definately happen and you can't say it wont.

Second, I've read the reports that states the bush administration had some credible intel stating that an attack using commercial jet liners is a possibility. And what probably happened, is some big wig cocky politician said, pfff nahhh not the good ole USA. Well he was wrong, bush was wrong, and thousands of innocent people paid the price. Did bush hold off on the intel to use the 9/11 attacks to gain strength for his already established agenda of attacking Iraq to finish what his father started?? Noone really knows for sure.....if he did, he deserves to die a traitors death.



Cant we all just get along!!!

Well, so far IAEA inspectors have come up with no evidence of a nuclear weapons project being pursued by Iran.

That said, nuclear disarmament is the only way to rid the world of the potential for such a scenario. The problem is, when countries like America and Israel refuse to disarm and stop building nuclear weapons, other countries will do the same.

The West should practise what it preaches.

I would not put it past a United States President to do such a thing.