We Can Do Anything You Can Do Better

"Over 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of penetrating any, even the most technologically advanced missile defence systems, will join the nuclear forces in the current year."
Russian President Vladimir Putin

"I believe the [US] statement must be looked at together with other similar statements, which have recently been numerous."
"A few days ago, reports started to turn up about certain [American] missiles put in a certain location and about certain ammunition depots in Eastern European countries and the Baltic. It looks like our colleagues from NATO member states are pushing us into an arms race."
Russia's deputy defence minister Anatoly Antonov

Russian defence ministry official General Yuri Yakubov stated earlier in the week that US proposals to build up an allied army on Polish soil would be "the most aggressive step by the Pentagon and NATO since the Cold War. Russia will have no option but to build up its forces and resources on the Western strategic front". Tensions are, if anything, continuing on the rise between Russia and its erstwhile Western allies.

Events moved swiftly enough; from Ukrainians deciding that the Kremlin-centric President they despised being ousted and replaced by the 'people's choice' reflecting a broader Ukrainian move toward the West and shutting the door on closer economic and social-political relations with Russia, to an ethnic Russian-Ukrainian rebellion, partnered with Moscow that resulted in the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the later punishing sanctions installed by the West.

The friendly mat extended by NATO and the United States toward closer relations with Russia was just as unceremoniously withdrawn as Vladimir Putin's decision to expand Russian territory into his neighbour's sovereign geography proceeded. The Baltic States, ever fearful of the fierce hugs expressed by a resurgent Russia nostalgic for the glory days of a world power in the USSR, appealed to NATO.

But a 1997 reassurance agreement signed by NATO with Russia agreed there would not be any permanent stationing of Western troops in Eastern Europe.

In light of the ongoing aggressive moves at intimidation of both Eastern and Western Europe states by the Russian bear feeling fairly growly about the 'unfairness' of its situation, NATO has decided to install heavy weapons, equipment and warfighting supplies in Eastern Europe (notably Poland) on a permanent basis, but in the case of an emergency, it would be a revolving, term-limited NATO force that would respond.

The Russian response to the plan has been predictable, Vladimir Putin boasting he could match tank for tank, missile for missile with NATO. At the opening of an arms show west of Moscow, an immense display of armaments showcased Russia's resurging military might in the light of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania pressing NATO to deploy ground troops permanently to their nations, to deter that bear.

Washington has been duly warned. The deployment of new American weapons near Russian borders would have the effect of producing a dangerous level of instability in Europe. And whose fault would that be? NATO's, naturally. When Mr. Putin spoke at the arms show, vowing to continue arms modernization for Russia, economic plight be damned, he pointed to the Armata tanks claiming them to "have no analogs in the world."



The Russian military is prepared to begin testing its new long-range early warning radar whose intent is to monitor the Western direction. Another is destined to be deployed in the East. The new top priority for the Russian military is the decommissioning of its Soviet-built ICBMs. And to replace them with the more advanced defence systems to modernize Russia's nuclear forces. Look out, world!

But the situation though dire, is not entirely hopeless, after all. Mutual assured destruction intervenes, the acronym known as MAD, quite fittingly, since anyone who would threaten nuclear Armageddon would have to be certifiably lunatic, and no one suggests Mr. Putin is that; merely grandiosely assertive and yearning for past glory. He knows well that to threaten is one thing; to attack quite another in the instance of international forces aligned with NATO deployed in the Baltics being attacked by Russian troops, to trigger a catastrophic response.

Ain't gonna happen. We trust, sincerely.

Labels: Baltic States, Conflict, NATO, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Weapons

posted by Pieface @ Thursday, June 18, 2015