Dismay in Europe as Obama Ditches Missile Defense
President Obama dismayed America’s allies in Europe and angered his political opponents at home today when he formally ditched plans to set up a missile defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.
The project had been close to the heart of Mr Obama’s predecessor, President Bush, who had argued before leaving office in January that it was needed to defend against long-range ballistic missile attacks from rogue states such as Iran and North Korea.
But it had hobbled relations with Russia, which considered it both a security threat and an unnecessary political provocation in its own backyard.
At a White House appearance today, Mr Obama confirmed that the defense shield envisaged by the Bush Administration, involving a radar base in the Czech Republic and interceptor rockets sited in Poland, was being abandoned.
Instead, after a comprehensive review, he had decided to accept the advice of both the Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, and of the Chiefs of Staff opt for a “smarter, stronger and swifter” system involving both sea-based and land-based mobile interceptors.
Mr Obama said that latest intelligence suggested that threat of long-range missile attacks from Iran had receded, but the threat of short- or medium-range attacks was a real one.
via Source.
Russia Build New Nuclear Missiles and Subs
Russia hopes to deploy a new nuclear missile next year designed to penetrate anti-missile defenses and will build eight submarines to carry it, defense officials said on Thursday.
The latest statements underline Moscow’s determination to upgrade its nuclear strike forces on land, sea and air. They are regarded by Russian commanders as the cornerstone of the country’s defenses.
Colonel-General Vladimir Popovkin, head of armaments for the Russian armed forces, told the Defense Ministry newspaper “Red Star” that Russia’s recent war with Georgia “compels us to rethink the current state of the armed forces and how they should develop further.”
President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have both pledged to extend Russia’s recent military build-up with extra funds to buy new, high-tech arms. On Wednesday, Putin announced an extra $3.1 billion of spending next year, partly to replace equipment lost in the Georgia war.
Despite the billions of dollars spent on them since Putin came to power as president in 2000, Russia’s 1 million-strong armed forces remain poorly equipped, badly paid and reliant on a large proportion of unwilling conscripts.
The deputy commander in chief of the Russian navy, Admiral Alexander Tatarinov, said on Thursday that by 2015 Moscow would build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines to carry a new, nuclear-capable strategic missile.
Russian Nuclear Bomber Flies Undetected To Within 20 Miles British Coast
A Russian nuclear stealth bomber was able to fly within 90 seconds of the British coast without being picked up by radar, it was revealed today.
The supersonic ‘Blackjack’ jet flew completely undetected to within just 20 miles from Hull in one of the worst breaches of British security since the end of the Cold War.
RAF radar eventually picked up the plane, but the only two pairs of fighter jets used for air alerts were on other duties.
The embarrassing breach late last year has called into question Britain’s defence capabilities after four jet squadrons were cut from the RAF’s budget four years ago.
One senior RAF pilot told The Sun: ‘The Russians made us look helpless. It was a disaster – it basically gave the Russians the green light to fly wherever they want.’
The supersonic jet had taken off from Engel’s Air Base near Saratov on Russia’s Volga delta.
The Ministry of Defense confirmed the incursion took place but said it had a ‘multi-layered’ approach to deterring enemy aircraft.
A spokesman said in a statement: ‘We are satisfied we have the flexibility to launch as many aircraft as the situation requires.’
Russia Preparing For Nuclear Confrontation?
Russia announced an overhaul of its strategic nuclear forces and army yesterday, in the clearest sign yet that Moscow may be preparing for a possible full-scale military confrontation with the US and Nato.
Speaking after Russia carried out its biggest military exercises since the cold war, Dmitry Medvedev, the president, said Russia would build a space defencse system and a fleet of nuclear submarines by 2020.
This summer’s brief war with Georgia, which led to a further rift between Moscow and the west, showed the need for Russia to have a strong military in a state of “permanent readiness”, Medvedev said.
His defence initiative is the biggest in Russia for at least a decade. It comes amid bitter opposition from Moscow to Washington’s plan to site a missile defence system in central Europe – a project the Kremlin says upsets Europe’s strategic balance. The move is also a riposte to US-backed plans for Georgia and Ukraine to join Nato.
Moscow opposes Nato’s further expansion, arguing that it challenges its regional “privileged interests”. Moscow also accuses the US of encouraging, and even participating in, Georgia’s attack on the breakaway enclave of South Ossetia.
“Just recently we had to rebuff aggression unleashed by the Georgian regime. As we discovered, a local smouldering conflict – even occasionally a frozen one – can flare up into a genuine war,” Medvedev said, addressing Russian troops.
He said Russia needed a “guaranteed nuclear deterrent system” in place by 2020. The armed forces had to be prepared for “various political and military scenarios,” he warned.
He promised large-scale construction of warships, including nuclear submarines armed with cruise missiles, and also announced plans for a system of air and space defence. The president promised to improve living conditions for Russian soldiers, as well as better military education and training.
Syria’s Bid For Missiles Stirs Alarm In Israel
Fears that Russia might sell advanced weaponry to Syria have raised concern in Israel.
Syrian President Bashar Assad, in Russia for talks with President Dmitry Medvedev, has been openly campaigning to acquire weapon systems that include long-range surface-to-surface missiles.
Russian media reports of Mr Assad’s ambitions prompted hand-wringing by Israeli officials on Thursday. Defence Minister Ehud Barak said Israel was analysing the ramifications of Mr Assad’s two-day visit.
The Haaretz newspaper, citing Russian media, said Mr Assad offered to host Iskander missiles, surface-to-surface missiles with a reported maximum range of 270 kilometres, as a response to a deal signed by Washington and Poland this week to deploy elements of a US missile defence system in Poland.
Silvan Shalom, a member of the Knesset, or parliament, said Israel should demand that Moscow refrain from “arming its enemies” because it could destabilise the Middle East.
The deal, however, is far from done. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would consider Syrian requests for arms but added: “We are indeed prepared to sell only defensive weapons which do not violate the regional balance of power.”
