Russia is learning very quickly how toxic the propaganda of the Political Right can be to the electorate of the USA. Russia will NOT tolerate another Iraq War.
New Russian-U.S. arms treaty expected soon - foreign minister (click title to entry - thank you)
A new U.S.-Russian strategic arms reduction treaty should be signed in the very near future, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.
"The work has effectively entered the home stretch," he said. "Just a little is left to be done: The presidents have issued unambiguous instructions, and now it is up to professionals and experts to commit that to paper."
Moscow and Washington are expected to sign a new document at the beginning of 2010 to replace the START 1 treaty, which expired on December 5.
Lavrov said last week the new treaty envisions "radical" cuts in the number of strategic offensive weapons.
Medvedev and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama announced at their first meeting in April that the countries would replace the START I treaty as part of their efforts to "reset" bilateral ties.
The treaty's outline agreed by the presidents included cutting nuclear arsenals to 1,500-1,675 operational warheads and delivery vehicles to 500-1,000.
MOSCOW, December 25 (RIA Novosti)
Both the President of Russia, Dmitriy Medvedev and the President of the USA, Barak Obama will sign a Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty. My guess is within the year. But, Russia will not ever again trust the USA with global stability. The Massachusetts election proved the USA is far to fluid a country to expect a stable and corruption free government.
While the people of the USA exhibit a very short memory to the past decade, Russia and the other nations around the globe remember all too clearly the issues that presented with Iraq and the USA Investment Banks. The global community will posture itself from here on to protect from such issues again.
Recently Taiwan purchased weapons as well and China is having a fit. China is so angry it is backing away from environmental agreements and now with the exhibit of the poor choices of the American electorate, the game will change in a significant way.
I don't blame them. At all. As a matter of fact, it would be best if Russia were accepted into NATO.
During the Bush/Cheney years the confidence in the USA as a peacemaker and benevolent global power was completely shattered. Russia and China have been busy all those years in diplomatic relations with 'near border' nations to the USA. That diplomacy will continue and we will see more and more trade with Russia and China into Central and South America. I would not be surprised if Russia and/or China come to the aid of Mexico in President Calderon's plea for UN relief to his government.
The more the demographics of the House and Senate shift to elections of Republicans, the more the USA will again be marginalized globally both economically and diplomatically. It isn't as though Russia isn't seeking a sound and benevolent relationship with President Obama and the USA. Quite the contrary. Russia wants to engage in nuclear non-proliferation, but, it remembers all too well the three page document handed to then President Putin that destroyed nuclear arms stability by Walker Bush.
Obama's prescription for America (click here)
The Russian Military Industrial Complex has been tooling up to produce whatever conventional weapons are marketable. Russia is turning a profit on its military industry while remaining mostly 'at peace' with other countries. I say mostly at peace, as both South Ossetia and Abkhazia are high priorities for Russian vigilance.
The Irish Times - Saturday, January 30, 2010
Georgia plans for ties with Abkhazia and S Ossetia (click here)
DANIEL McLAUGHLINGEORGIA HAS drawn up a plan to strengthen economic and social links with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in the hope of eventually regaining control of two rebel regions that Russia has recognised as independent states.
The Georgian government said it “rejects the pursuit of a military solution” in seeking to “achieve the full de-occupation . . . and reverse the process of annexation of these territories by the Russian Federation”, following a five-day war between Moscow’s and Tbilisi’s forces in August 2008.
Tbilisi’s new strategy is intended to restore grassroots co-operation between Georgians, Abkhaz and South Ossetians, by restoring trade links, developing social and cultural projects and improving access to healthcare and education for people in the two disputed territories.
Russia’s military crushed a Georgian bid to retake control of South Ossetia in 2008 and swiftly poured troops into that region and Abkhazia and recognised them as independent states....
 | |
| MOSCOW, January 29 (Itar-Tass) (click here) - Russia prepares an agreement on fight against illegal migration to be signed with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, deputy director of the Federal Migration Service Anatoly Kuznetsov told reporters on Friday. Kuznetsov took part in a session of the Coordinating Council of heads of CSTO competent agencies on fight against illegal migration. “Our department is drafting agreements on fight against illegal migration to sign them with South Ossetia and Abkhazia,” he said, specifying that the documents are almost ready. “We are ready to sign shortly an agreement connected with fight against illegal immigrants,” he summed up. |
Russia and the global community have exhibited a great deal of patience for the American people to come out of their 'funk' over September 11th and the ravages of adverse propaganda that resulted in a second disasterous term of Bush and Cheney. But, with more and more uncertainty of the 'mood' of the American electorate, the overall optimism will diminish to the 'return of sanity' by the American people.
Basically, Russia will be sure every country on the global was sufficient conventional weapons to protect its borders and sovereignty while they are also free to create alliances that will secure their economies and international trade.
Sadly, the lability of the American electorate is proving to be too much a burden for most nation's reassurance of national security.
Russia, Libya Sign $1.8 Billion Arms Deal (click here)
30 January 2010Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says Moscow has agreed to sell Libya weapons in a $1.8 billion deal.
Mr. Putin made the announcement Saturday while meeting with the head of Izhmash, a major Russian gun manufacturer.
He said the contract was signed Friday, and covers both small arms and more complex weapons.
Russia's Interfax news agency had quoted a "military diplomatic source" as saying Libya was ready to buy about 20 fighter planes from Moscow, as well as air defense systems and several dozen tanks.
Libyan Defense Minister Major General Younis Jaber met with officials in Moscow earlier this week.
The deal with Libya follows a report by Russia's state-owned arms export monopoly claiming overseas sales of military equipment rose 10 percent in 2009....
