The Sunday times reports on Putin's state-of-the-nation address:
Mr Putin pointed out that Russia’s military budget is 25 times less than that of the United States. "Their house is their fortress - good for them," he said. "But that means that we also must make our house strong and reliable."
For some reason this, and the discussion on a previous thread, reminded me of this quote:
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.
This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children...
This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
3 comments:
I think this is barely mildly concerning. I'd be more interested in finding out what they are spending on. If it's gear to further crack down on Chechen forces, then it's more of an internal item. If it's defensive items in case of a broader ME conflict (which I think is more likely to occur if the US pulls out of Iraq w/o a stable gov't established), it's prudence. To say it's in response to the US is nonsensical, because the US has been outspending Russia for quite some time, and if they're just now getting around to increasing defense spending...
Richard: Putin claims it's a response to the U.S. They don't want to lose their ability to pursue an independant foriegn policy.
... Ami.
I understand that, Ami. The question is what is meant by "in response to." If it's that Pres Putin feels threatened by the US, then I think it's absurd. If Pres Putin thinks it will allow Russia to play a larger part in world civilization, then I don't see a problem. If it's a secret desire to rebuild the USSR (I don't think that's likely at all, but I could be wrong), then I'll consider worrying about it.
My guess is that it's partially #2, but also at least partially as a political pander in Russia.
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