...Putin (click here) has of course exhibited an almost supernatural hold over the state of Russia for the last fifteen years, able to manipulate and control the nation to his will for much of that time. The times, though, they are a changing and Putin has started to change with them, becoming more aggressive and obstinate rather than inclusive.
At this stage, that shift seems to be working. There have been troubles for Putin, no doubt, but no full out rebellion. How long that stability holds is of course up for debate but for now Putin still exerts an incredible degree of control over his country, power he is using to play with nuclear weapons again in presumably an effort to show the world what a tough guy he is, still is.
“Exercises of the strategic nuclear forces were conducted on such a scale for the first time in the modern history of Russia,” said the Kremlin in statement. “Vladimir Putin gave a high evaluation to the combat units and crews and the work of the Armed Forces General Staff, which fulfilled the tasks before them and affirmed the reliability and effectiveness of Russia's nuclear forces.”
It’s not clear what the tests actually involved or the actual reason was for doing them but they happened....
China's nuclear arsenal is not a surprise to anyone, yet there exists no treaty between China and the USA. A friendship pact exists between China and Russia since the year 2000, but, China might want to remind its neighbor to the north about it and renew the bond.
The article in The Washington Times is inflammatory, but, there is a nuclear arsenal that increased in size after Bush made that huge payment to Pakistan for air space.
...National security columnist Bill Gertz (click here) has just finished a series of reports about what the Pentagon will not tell the American people: China has just completed a series of intercontinental missile tests that mark the start of a new era for China’s nuclear forces, one in which they deploy missiles with multiple warheads and penetration aids (MIRVs). Two apparently successful tests of the JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile signal that the two new operational Type-94 (Jin class) nuclear missile submarines (of a fleet of five) may soon start strategic patrols. On land, China’s new DF-41 mobile ICBMs are soon expected to demonstrate MIRV capabilities and are estimated by some to be able to carry up to 10 warheads....
Is the Washington Times still twenty-five cents on the newsstand? That speaks to me for some reason.
China's nuclear arsenal is not a surprise to anyone, yet there exists no treaty between China and the USA. A friendship pact exists between China and Russia since the year 2000, but, China might want to remind its neighbor to the north about it and renew the bond.
The article in The Washington Times is inflammatory, but, there is a nuclear arsenal that increased in size after Bush made that huge payment to Pakistan for air space.
...National security columnist Bill Gertz (click here) has just finished a series of reports about what the Pentagon will not tell the American people: China has just completed a series of intercontinental missile tests that mark the start of a new era for China’s nuclear forces, one in which they deploy missiles with multiple warheads and penetration aids (MIRVs). Two apparently successful tests of the JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile signal that the two new operational Type-94 (Jin class) nuclear missile submarines (of a fleet of five) may soon start strategic patrols. On land, China’s new DF-41 mobile ICBMs are soon expected to demonstrate MIRV capabilities and are estimated by some to be able to carry up to 10 warheads....
Is the Washington Times still twenty-five cents on the newsstand? That speaks to me for some reason.
