Russia mulls missiles in Belarus to offset U.S.

Russia feels the same way about US infringement in it's sphere of influence as the US felt about Russian missiles in Cuba. The charade that the missiles are to protect Europe from an attack by Iran is ridiculous to say the least. Iran doesn't have missiles capable of such an attack and would have absolutely no reason to attack Europe. The placing of these missiles is nothing more than an effort to intimidate and isolate Russia. Putin and his protege Medvedev are not about to be intimidated and will respond in kind. Bush appears ready to revivive the good ole days of the cold war.

"Bush appears ready to revivive the good ole days of the cold war." As a veteran of those "good old days" I say that Russia is bluffing. I was stationed in Germany when President Reagan placed intermediate range missiles in West Germany. The Soviet Union, like Russia today, bitched, moaned, and complained about that too, and look what happened. They bitched, moaned, and complained their way right out of existence. This is nothing more than a bluff. The ambassador is talking about the "possible basing of Iskander missiles, the possible basing of strategic bombers in Belarus" but that would put them in rage of our conventional weapons and that would leave them VERY vulnerable to attack. Russia's military isn't that stupid and they wouldn't risk exposing nuclear forces in this way. As far as their "sphere of influence" goes, that's been shrinking since the fall of the Soviet Union itself, so I don't think that our placement of a missle defence network in Europe is really going to change that much. They sure ain't expanding their "sphere of influence" and rattling their nuclear sword is only going to separate them from western leaning nations, something that will weaken them even further. I won't be surprised if they lose even more aligned countries.

Cobra much of what you say is likely applicable to the current situation.The main point I wanted to make was the US wants to push Russia further into isolation. The US can see that Russia is again gaining a presence as a strong power on the world stage and likely feels uncomfortable at the prospect. Going back to the "good old days" of the cold war, when the USSR removed it's missiles from Cuba a sidebar to the agreement was the US removed their's fom Turkey. The installation of missiles in Cuba was in response to the Soviet Union being encircled by American bases in Europe. I would hesitate to take threats fom Putin-Medvedev lightly. Putin craves a position of military strength and world recognition and will go to great ends to achieve it. Beware the Russian bear should he fell cornered. The crux of the matter is the misssiles are designed to protect Europe from Iranian attack which seems to be a very unlikely possibility.The only possible motive for their installation is to try to imntimidate and further isolate Russia. Putin is smarting over the infringement of the USA on what was formerly a sphere of influence for the Soviet Union, a sphere he wishes to re-establish. Preventing this appears to be the only reason for US missile bases in the Poland Checz republic area.