Putin threatens to target US if it deploys missiles to Europe: ‘Let them count the range and speed of our weapons

[bostonangler]

President Vladimir Putin threatened the United States with an expanded array of strategic weapons on Wednesday, announcing a new hypersonic missile, and the early deployment of new nuclear submarines equipped with long-distance underwater nuclear drones.

He warned that Russia's new weapons would target the US if it deployed missiles to Europe.

"Many in America’s ruling class are obsessed with exceptionalism,” he said. “But can they count? I expect they can. So let them count the range and speed of our weapons. This is all we ask.”

If the US deploys missiles to Europe, banned under the INF treaty, "In that case, we will be forced, and I want to underline this, forced to take both reciprocal and assymetrical measures."

Mr Putin’s harsh rhetoric, delivered in his annual State of the Nation address, was a return to familiar territory.

Last year, he used the same speech to announce a new generation of nuclear weapons, and even deployed an animated video showing a direct strike on Florida. Russia’s new “invincible” weapons would force the West to finally listen, he said.

This year – amid falling ratings – many expected a different approach, focussed on everyday concerns of ordinary Russians.

For a while, Mr Putin lived up to those expectations. He presented himself as the guardian of the welfare of the nation. There would be more money for clinics, for schools, for hospitals. Benefits would be increased. Mortgage holidays introduced. There would be more organic food.

Mr Putin rallied against the excesses of his own system. He would fight, he said, against the “arrogance” of his own bureaucrats. And he would continue to press against the out of town landfill sites that have been scourging many people’s lives.

It was only an hour into his speech – and when he began to talk about new defence technology – that the uncharcteristically nervous president found his groove. He announced a new hypersonic missile – the Zircon – which was able to travel 1,000 km (621 miles) at a speed of over 9 mach. The "Poseidon" underwater drone and "peresvet" laser system unveiled in 2018 would be deployed earlier than expected this year, he added.

“Those who believed there could be another Putin will be disappointed,” said Konstantin Kalachyov, head of the Political Expert Group and an occasional Kremlin advisor. “Judging by the text, the lobbying ability of the Ministry of Defence trumped all else.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/putin-threatens-target-us-weapons-120406530.html

 

 

He's such a nice and reasonable guy... I'm glad our president is his buddy.

B/A

 

[coorslite21]

I believe all of these 'World Leaders" are smart enough to understand that a Nuclear War would be of no benefit to anyone.  Generally speaking in a war the winner gets the "spoils" as a reward......having thousands of nukes, and using them, wouldn't be as effective as just one well placed Warhead detonated high in the atmosphere creating an EMP that would knock the entire power grid off line in the given country it was used against..

 

The media can preach their fear mongering nuke crap all they want.......no one wins if they decide to turn the Earth into glass......CL

[umbertino]

3 hours ago, coorslite21 said:

I believe all of these 'World Leaders" are smart enough to understand that a Nuclear War would be of no benefit to anyone.  Generally speaking in a war the winner gets the "spoils" as a reward......having thousands of nukes, and using them, wouldn't be as effective as just one well placed Warhead detonated high in the atmosphere creating an EMP that would knock the entire power grid off line in the given country it was used against..

 

The media can preach their fear mongering nuke crap all they want.......no one wins if they decide to turn the Earth into glass......CL

 

True...And anyway the Super-Powers had their  more or less certainty of Peace and no War based on each other fear of a nuclear attack....For decades infact......

Edited February 20, 2019 by umbertino