Russia will act to neutralize U.S. missile shield threat: Putin

[Lodestar]

Source: Reuters

A ballistic missile defense shield which the United States has activated in Europe is a step to a new arms race, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, vowing to adjust budget spending to neutralize "emerging threats" to Russia.

The United States switched on the $800 million missile shield at a Soviet-era base in Romania on Thursday saying it was a defense against missiles from Iran and so-called rogue states.

But, speaking to top defense and military industry officials, Putin said the system was aimed at blunting Russia's nuclear arsenal.

"This is not a defense system. This is part of U.S. nuclear strategic potential brought onto a periphery. In this case, Eastern Europe is such periphery," Putin said.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-nato-shield-russia-idUSKCN0Y41OF

[bemildred]

1. This whole situation is perverse.

Putin and the Pentagon both know the "defense system" is not worth a bucket of warm spit in a real war, the war they are supposed to "defend" against. The Pentagon put the system in place and turned it on to placate the E. Europeans, who fear Russia. Putin meanwhile, knowing quite well what he is doing, uses the occasion for statesmanlike posturing and counter-threats.

Monkey politics all the way.

[yourpaljoey]

2. Surely the E. Europeans know this missile defense is no defense

Carl Sagan laid that out many years ago.
Who benefits?

[bemildred]

3. I don't get the impression they are a whole bunch smarter than the US' public.

To be fair. Just as led around in any case as we are, or the Chinese, or the Russians, or ...

Being well-informed is a lot of work. Most people have jobs already.

I would say that E. Yurpean politicians know where their bread is buttered, and are not inclined to get in the way of the big boys. So they do what is expected, whenever possible. Ms Merkel is in a lot of hot water for that sort of thing with her electorate.

[EX500rider]

4. Should the US complain about the nuclear armed Russian ABM system? lol

Operational Russian ABM

Consists of:

68 launchers of short-range 53T6 (NATO: SH-08 'Gazelle') endoatmospheric interceptor nuclear-tipped missiles at five launch sites with 12 or 16 missiles each. Designed by NPO Novator, similar to US Sprint missile. These are tested roughly annually at the Sary Shagan test site.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-135_anti-ballistic_missile_system