Russia launches military exercise involving nuclear, conventional forces

[Purveyor]

(02-10) 11:11 PST MOSCOW (AP) --

Russia is in the midst of a strategic military exercise motivated in part by Moscow's concerns about U.S. plans to develop new types of nuclear weapons, a top general said Tuesday.

The exercise, which began in late January on the headquarters level, will later involve the launch of several ballistic missiles and flights by strategic bombers, said Col.-Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, the first deputy chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces.

Baluyevsky dismissed media reports that the exercise closely resembles Soviet-era simulations of an all-out nuclear war with the United States, saying that it's not directed against any specific country.

"The enemy is imaginary," Baluyevsky said at a news conference. "There is no hint whatsoever that the enemy is the United States, or any other country."

At the same time Baluyevsky said the exercise reflects Russia's concern about the development of low-yield nuclear weapons in the United States, which he described as destabilizing.

"Shouldn't we react to that?" he said. "I'm sure that we should and we are doing that."

He said the maneuvers will also help Russia develop the means to penetrate missile defenses, another priority of the U.S. military.

Remainder of this Associated Press Article Here

[NNN0LHI]

1. Cold war? What Cold war? Nothing to see here. Move along now n/t