Russia should pull out of non proliferation treaty. For as long a the US has hostile and imperialistic intentions non propliferation treaty does not have any sense. In fact, in its own interest Russia should aid all contries who a willing to possess nuclear weapons for self defense.

It is a pity that it has taken so long for the Russian ruling elite to come to terms that the U.S will bring NATO and Missile Shields first to Russia’s doorsteps and second to Russia itself. It is nice to see now they come to terms that the projection of military power is the only language the United States' ruling elite understands and respects. Only by drawing a line on the geopolitical sands will the U.S think twice the dream of encircling Russia and realization of the fantasy of the Full Spectrum Dominance over Russia and the world. Russia needs to be more forceful and clearer when dealing the with the United States because Europe is captive to the United States geopolitical and economic imperatives.

February 08, 2010, 12:35, Katrina wrote > It is a pity that it has taken so long for the Russian ruling elite to come to terms that the U.S will bring NATO and Missile Shields first to Russia’s doorsteps and second to Russia itself. It is nice to see now they come to terms that the projection of military power is the only language the United States' ruling elite understands and respects. Only by drawing a line on the geopolitical sands will the U.S think twice the dream of encircling Russia and realization of the fantasy of the Full Spectrum Dominance over Russia and the world. Russia needs to be more forceful and clearer when dealing the with the United States because Europe is captive to the United States geopolitical and economic imperatives. ================ Western barbarity arrogance and condescension have no limits. They understood MAD, everything else they interpret as weakness and try to take advantage of. God Bless Mr. Putin defender of humanity and freedom loving people everywhere.

Srbin I totally agree with you that the United States will understand MAD because the United States understood when Russia responded forcibly to the Georgian provocation of war against South Ossetia. Medvedev’s first year offered a mixed message which the neocon pundits and western military strategists read as a weakness and a sign of internal fighting among Russian ruling elite. Now that Russia a firm position, it must back up its position with firm determination. The assure the U.S necons are not suicidal. They are clever and cunning but they do not have a death wish. It was Russia that failed to make its position plainly clear sooner. Now, that is has by adopting MAD, it needs to work hard to defend its national interests and by extension world peace and collective security.

The only allies the Russian Federation has are its military forces. Absolute Russian foolishness is to believe that America wants to be friends - she doesn't. America is doing her best to alienate former USSR members (both in Europe and Asia) from Russia, and thereby form a "cordon sanitaire" around the Russian Federation armed with American missiles. This "cordon sanitaire" serves three functions for America: first, it is a clear demonstration that Russia is too weak to prevent such encirclement; second, it enables America to bring the host nations under it's control; and, thirdly, it provides a platform from which to undermine the Russian Federation itself. A test of America's, and NATO's, desire for friendly relations with Russia is about to be put to the test with French's upcoming sale of the Mistral helicopter carrier warship to Russia. America is doing her best behind the scenes to kill this sale. The sale of this warship would enable Russia to more rapidly respond to crisis threatening Russian interests in the Baltic and in the Black seas, and it would also advance Russia's capability to construct such warships herself. Both benefits to Russia, from the sale of the Mistral, are upsetting to America and to NATO, because in the back of their minds, Russia is, and will always remain, an "enemy". If America and NATO succeed in killing the Mistral sale, Russia should rethink its cooperation with NATO in Afghanistan. Sergey Lavrov, foreign minister of the Russian Federation, is no fool, and he knows exactly what the American and NATO game is with this "cordon sanitaire" policy. Medvedev, Putin and Lavrov are in a chess match with the West, and they are pushing their pawns as well as Paul Keres ever could.

Srbin: "God Bless Mr. Putin defender of humanity and freedom loving people everywhere." You are such a romantic!!! I doubt Vladimir Putin even spends five seconds worrying about how to defend "humanity and freedom loving people everywhere". Vladimir Putin is a Russian patriot, and not the second coming of Mother Teresa.

Reciprocal actions, as a policy, worked for decades. mutually assured destruction {MAD} probably kept the Soviet Union out of another conventional war and possibly prevented World War III. So long as all countries understand the consequences of releasing the nuclear genie upon another nation, it is possible to maintain nuclear balance for a time. No one really knows how long it will take before nukes are used some where in the world, but clarity on what to expect from Russia, under certain circumstances, should be taken as being FOREWARNED about Russia's nuclear weapons intentions and policies. Forewarned is forearmed. Now we can all sleep better.

I have a comment for what john says. The USA and allies will take Russia's action of pulling out of NPT as a way to vilify Russia, Russian interest, Putin, etc.. I say that as an American. Some Americans know of the censorship and bias against America's "enemies". Pulling out of NPT will just give NATO ammunition for use against Russia. All countries always have the inalienable right to defend themselves. Nukes however, should and must take a back seat to more conventional ways like peace talks, treaties, clustering with other nations (maybe like a NATO for Russia or states that are Pro Russia, sort of like the antithesis to NATO), and other means. Besides, nukes are not like a car where you get a drivers license and off you go. Some countries do not have the experience necessary to know how to wield mutually assured destruction capability. Imagine 4 geographically close "inexperienced" nations who are hostile to each other all relying on MAD for their security....