Putin calls for follow-up to missile U-turn

[mawilson 2,133]

This is what happens when you show weakness...

Vladimir Putin, Russia’s prime minister, on Friday said the Obama administration’s

decision to scrap plans for a missile defence shield in Europe was a positive step –

but warned that he now expects other concessions by the US to follow.

In his first public comments since the US announced its decision on missile defence

on Thursday, Mr Putin said he now expected the US to back a bid by Russia,

Belarus and Kazakhstan to join the World Trade Organisation.

“I expect that after this correct and brave decision, others will follow,” Mr Putin said

in a speech in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. The measures should include “the complete

removal of all restrictions on the transfer of high technology to Russia and activity to

widen the membership of the World Trade Organisation to [include] Russia, Kazakhstan

and Belarus”, he said.

Mr Putin’s call for the US to back WTO membership for Russia as a customs union

with Kazakhstan and Belarus is likely to confuse western diplomats. The US and the

European Union have both been strong supporters of Russian membership. But this

year, Mr Putin suddenly stopped Russian membership negotiations and said Russia

would join only in union with Kazakhstan and Belarus.

His speech is likely to add to fears in the US that President Barack Obama’s concession

on the missile defence shield – a programme Moscow fiercely opposed – is likely to

embolden the Kremlin to make further demands.

However, in a speech in Brussels, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Nato’s secretary-general,

insisted that Russia must now be urged to co-operate with the western alliance on a

number of fronts.

Mr Rasmussen urged Russia to work with Nato on missile defence and proposed looking

at ways to link US, Nato and Russian anti-missile systems. He also said Nato and Russia

should conduct a joint review of the security challenges they faced.

“I would like Russia and Nato to agree to carry out a joint review of the new 21st-century

security challenges, to serve as a firm basis for our future co-operation,” Mr Rasmussen

said. “We should explore the potential for linking the US, Nato and Russian missile defence

systems at an appropriate time.”

Mr Rasmussen said he sought “maximum” Russian pressure on Iran aimed at its nuclear

program.

Nato has been developing its own plans for defence against short to medium-range missiles

and has in the past co-operated with Russia to ensure such systems work with each other.

It had been considering moves to complement the scrapped US system to extend the

area it would have protected.

link

[mawilson 2,133]

No comment?

Goooo Obama. Well done.

Nice gesture with nothing to show for it.

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

No comment?

Goooo Obama. Well done.

Nice gesture with nothing to show for it.

putin scares the liberals into hiding.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I really hope that he doesn't back down on that one. Russia wants into the WTO, but has no interest in meeting any of the criteria to be accepted. I have no objection to any of those nations being accepted into the WTO, but they must first meet the standards, and abide by the same trade rules.

[almaty 19]

f##k putin and russia,he scares no one with-their shitty miltary and 3rd world weapons

[one...two...tree 2,762]

vs.

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

f##k putin and russia,he scares no one with-their shitty miltary and 3rd world weapons

and who invented the ak-47, oh alleged commie for christ member?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

f##k putin and russia,he scares no one with-their shitty miltary and 3rd world weapons

and who invented the ak-47, oh alleged commie for christ member?

AK-47's are no match for our AR-15's.

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

f##k putin and russia,he scares no one with-their shitty miltary and 3rd world weapons

and who invented the ak-47, oh alleged commie for christ member?

AK-47's are no match for our AR-15's.

personally, i prefer a lever action 30-30

[Pooky 3,781]

f##k putin and russia,he scares no one with-their shitty miltary and 3rd world weapons

and who invented the ak-47, oh alleged commie for christ member?

AK-47's are no match for our AR-15's.

Unfortunately not true. Both are good weapons, but you need to clean and maintain an AR15 for it to remain operational.

AK47's were designed to be used by idiots, with little, or no savvy on cleaning and maintaining the weapon. The AK47 will take a lot of abuse and still keep working, unlike the AR15.

Still, the AR15 is better than the British SA80, which goes on sick leave and refuses to work if someone so much as sneezes within half a mile of it.

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

f##k putin and russia,he scares no one with-their shitty miltary and 3rd world weapons

and who invented the ak-47, oh alleged commie for christ member?

AK-47's are no match for our AR-15's.

Unfortunately not true. Both are good weapons, but you need to clean and maintain an AR15 for it to remain operational.

AK47's were designed to be used by idiots, with little, or no savvy on cleaning and maintaining the weapon. The AK47 will take a lot of abuse and still keep working, unlike the AR15.

Still, the AR15 is better than the British SA80, which goes on sick leave and refuses to work if someone so much as sneezes within half a mile of it.

another good choice is whatever the french army is equipped with. hardly used, dropped only once.

[Pooky 3,781]

f##k putin and russia,he scares no one with-their shitty miltary and 3rd world weapons

and who invented the ak-47, oh alleged commie for christ member?

AK-47's are no match for our AR-15's.

Unfortunately not true. Both are good weapons, but you need to clean and maintain an AR15 for it to remain operational.

AK47's were designed to be used by idiots, with little, or no savvy on cleaning and maintaining the weapon. The AK47 will take a lot of abuse and still keep working, unlike the AR15.

Still, the AR15 is better than the British SA80, which goes on sick leave and refuses to work if someone so much as sneezes within half a mile of it.

another good choice is whatever the french army is equipped with. hardly used, dropped only once.

Did you know that the French don't have telescopic sights on their rifles?

They have mirrors