According to the Associated Press, Russian President Vladamir Putin has made further threats against the nuclear missile agreements that have been made in the past. He has also made more threats against the United States and its allies. Putin has issued a warning that a new Cold War has begun.
The day after the start of the G8 Summit, Russian President Vladamir Putin said that Russia is interested in aiming nuclear warhead missiles at key cities in Europe. This comes in retaliation to the proposed missile defense system that President George Bush is proposing to have constructed.
The proposed system will place a radar system in the Czech Republic. There would also be interceptor missiles placed in Poland. According to President Bush, this system would be placed to battle any potential strike that could be placed in Europe from Iran.
Putin believes that the placement of the missile system is actually an attempt to protect Europe from Russia. He has stated that he considers this an insult against him and his country.
Putin also believes that the suggested interceptor missiles could also be used for attack. He believes that these missiles would have the capability to attack key points within Russia. Putin has stated that this suggestion is ushering a new Cold War between Russia and the Western World.
Statements that were made this morning by officials from Iran backed up Putin’s arguments. These officials stated that there was no way that their missiles could ever travel far enough to reach Western Europe. They thought that it was a joke to even think that their missiles could reach Eastern Europe.
The known artillery of Iran would have a maximum distance of about 800 miles. This would mean that the furthest target that could be reached would be central Isreal. There is a possibility that there are other missiles in their arsenal that could travel longer distances that officials do not know about.
There are experts claiming that Iran is working on longer-range missiles that would enable it to strike European countries. These claims are speculative, and are not backed up by any hard evidence.
Putin stated today that he realizes that there is a lot of tension in the politics of the world right now. He does not consider the placing of a missile defense system in his territory as being a proper answer to this unrest. He believes that it poses more of a threat to his people then protection.
President Bush has received a lot of criticism recently for his foreign policy. It would be a major mark against his historical record if he was one of the causes for a second Cold War.
Source:
Associated Press
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070604/ap_on_re_eu/russia_us_missiles;_ylt=AmvcPYMn7cajgETQQHxmsPzMWM0F
