 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
Putin boast of 'grandiose' military plans no cause for alarm: Gates
Washington (AFP) Oct 18, 2007 President Vladimir Putin's boast of "grandiose" Russian military plans, including a new nuclear weapon, were "an assertion that Russia is back" but not a cause for alarm, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday. Russia has used oil revenues to steadily increase the pace of its military modernization over the past couple of years, said Gates, who visited Moscow last week. "But I would point out that we're coming from a very low base," he told reporters. "In the 1990s, the Russian military was almost inert. And they're spending, perhaps, 10 percent of what we spend, if that, on defense." "So I think what you see is that these kinds of things that he's talking about are basically an assertion that Russia is back and intends to play a major role on the world stage and intends to be taken seriously," he said. Asked whether Putin's comments alarmed him, Gates said, "No, it doesn't alarm me." Putin made the remarks in a a video link-up with servicemen at the Plesetsk nuclear missile base. He said Russia would build another nuclear submarine next year and was also planning a "completely new" atomic weapon. "We have grandiose plans and they are absolutely realistic," Putin said, speaking hours after the military announced the successful test firing of a Topol intercontinental ballistic missile. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
USS Fort McHenry Mission To Set Tone For US Africa Command
Washington DC (AFNS) Oct 17, 2007USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) is slated to leave Little Creek, Va., Oct. 16 for a seven-month deployment to the Gulf of Guinea that the chief of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said will exemplify how his new command will operate. The amphibious dock landing ship will serve as a platform for the Africa Partnership Station Initiative, which aims to work cooperatively with U.S. and international partners in promoting maritime security in Western Africa, said Army Gen. William E. "Kip" Ward. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
