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Russia Calls New U.S. Missile Defense System a ‘Direct Threat’

MOSCOW As American and allied officials celebrated the opening of a long-awaited missile defense system in Europe with a ribbon cutting and a band, the reaction in Russia on Thursday suggested the system had raised the risks of a nuclear war.

Russian officials reiterated their position that the American-built system imperiled Russia’s security. But the public discussion in Russia was darker, including online commentary of how a nuclear confrontation might play out in Europe, and the prospect that Romania, the system’s host, might be reduced to “smoking ruins.”

Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/13/world/europe/russia-nato-us-romania-missile-defense.html?_r=1

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Original post by VoteLeave
MOSCOW As American and allied officials celebrated the opening of a long-awaited missile defense system in Europe with a ribbon cutting and a band, the reaction in Russia on Thursday suggested the system had raised the risks of a nuclear war.

Russian officials reiterated their position that the American-built system imperiled Russia’s security. But the public discussion in Russia was darker, including online commentary of how a nuclear confrontation might play out in Europe, and the prospect that Romania, the system’s host, might be reduced to “smoking ruins.”

Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/13/world/europe/russia-nato-us-romania-missile-defense.html?_r=1


Russia has hundreds of ICBMs & has bombers that can deliver nuclear weapons. There's no way we can stop a Russian attack if they launch a large amount of missiles but this system isn't aimed at them. It's aimed at other nations realistically & perhaps terror groups who might obtain control of a single missile.
Reply 2
Despite what Captain America does with his, a shield is not an offensive weapon.

Does a bulletproof vest present a "direct threat"? Does a helmet?
Nobody cares about what Russia says.
Russia cries about nothing.

Nothing new here.

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Reply 5
Original post by DiddyDec
Russia cries about nothing.

Nothing new here.

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You are seeing this issue to western centric. To understand better how would UK react if let says France builds a Middle Defence system on the channel that is toward to the UK?

This is as somebody point a gun to you and says it is everything alright and you should not worry.
Original post by slaven
You are seeing this issue to western centric. To understand better how would UK react if let says France builds a Middle Defence system on the channel that is toward to the UK?

This is as somebody point a gun to you and says it is everything alright and you should not worry.


Russia has enough missiles to overwhelm the shield so it makes no real difference.
The only thing a defence system is a direct threat against, is an offensive attack.
Original post by slaven
You are seeing this issue to western centric. To understand better how would UK react if let says France builds a Middle Defence system on the channel that is toward to the UK?

This is as somebody point a gun to you and says it is everything alright and you should not worry.


Agreed
Original post by slaven
You are seeing this issue to western centric. To understand better how would UK react if let says France builds a Middle Defence system on the channel that is toward to the UK?

This is as somebody point a gun to you and says it is everything alright and you should not worry.


A gun is an offensive weapon, a defense system is not.

It's not the same.

And honestly, I don't think very many people would care in the first scenario, I certainly wouldn't. It would only be a "shock" given that they are supposedly allies and there is supposed trust. Neither of those is true with Russia, so there is no shock value either.
Reply 10
Original post by brainhuman
A gun is an offensive weapon, a defense system is not.

It's not the same.

And honestly, I don't think very many people would care in the first scenario, I certainly wouldn't. It would only be a "shock" given that they are supposedly allies and there is supposed trust. Neither of those is true with Russia, so there is no shock value either.

A missile defence system is an offensive as well defencive weapon. Maybe to you personally would not a be a shock, but the UK government would certainly do.

In the past, before the NATO countries used to make treaties with each other to determine the ratio of weapons they can have.

Also,the UK also do not allow Argentinian ships to vessel near the Falkands for example.
Original post by slaven
A missile defence system is an offensive as well defencive weapon. Maybe to you personally would not a be a shock, but the UK government would certainly do.

In the past, before the NATO countries used to make treaties with each other to determine the ratio of weapons they can have.

Also,the UK also do not allow Argentinian ships to vessel near the Falkands for example.


It is not directly an offensive weapon. It is indirectly an offensive weapon in the sense that you can attack knowing that you have a defense.

But OP quoted Russia as saying that it is a "direct threat". That is not true.

I don't see how any of the rest of your post has any relevance.
Reply 12
Original post by brainhuman
It is not directly an offensive weapon. It is indirectly an offensive weapon in the sense that you can attack knowing that you have a defense.

But OP quoted Russia as saying that it is a "direct threat". That is not true.

I don't see how any of the rest of your post has any relevance.


It has to do because neither the UK nor Russia would ever allowed a foreign country to build defence systems on their borders.
Original post by slaven
It has to do because neither the UK nor Russia would ever allowed a foreign country to build defence systems on their borders.


BMEWS.
Original post by slaven
It has to do because neither the UK nor Russia would ever allowed a foreign country to build defence systems on their borders.


Russia already has an anti missile defence system - the AS-135. It however uses nuclear weapons to destroy incoming missiles; it's more of a sledgehammer vs bullet kill rather than a bullet on bullet kill.
They are however working on the S-500 system which uses conventional missiles to bring down ballistic missiles.
The Russians are getting upset for no real reason - MAD is still very much applicable even with these systems as both sides have enough firepower to destroy each other even if only 75% of each side's ICBMs get through.
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by slaven
It has to do because neither the UK nor Russia would ever allowed a foreign country to build defence systems on their borders.


How are naval ships at the coast of British territory defense systems?
Original post by slaven
You are seeing this issue to western centric. To understand better how would UK react if let says France builds a Middle Defence system on the channel that is toward to the UK?

This is as somebody point a gun to you and says it is everything alright and you should not worry.
You are seeing this issue from RT and Putin's centric.

If Russia wants to show the world it is peaceful, it should get out of Ukraine and Crimea and stop building up it's military, stop killing the people who are critical of it, stop shooting down civilian airliners, stop homophobia..........open your eyes to how much Putin is bleeding Russia to line his own murderously corrupt pockets.
Reply 17
Original post by uberteknik
You are seeing this issue from RT and Putin's centric.

If Russia wants to show the world it is peaceful, it should get out of Ukraine and Crimea and stop building up it's military, stop killing the people who are critical of it, stop shooting down civilian airliners, stop homophobia..........open your eyes to how much Putin is bleeding Russia to line his own murderously corrupt pockets.


How is Putin bleeding Russia? Since he came to power the living standards of the people is significantly got higher. Russia got back at prominence and it is turning into an economic power. Before him Russia was a poor country robbed by democrats and US puppetirs. This is not my fantasies, and even your Anglo-Saxon media admitted it.

Also, people are not killed in Russia and it is not opressing gay people (at least not the ordinary one, paid NGOs are a different issue). As for Ukraine the West founded a coup and the legimiate president need to flee. Russia could not allow the new regime to join the EU and NATO, and build there weapons.

It is the US and its puppets UK and France that are coming ever near to the Russian borders. Not RUssia to the UK or Franch borders.
They are making it so Russia can't launch missiles at us

That means they can be attacked, and they can't retaliate with missiles

They'll find a reason to attack Russia.. probably supporting Chechen terrorists again
Missil defence system undermines mutual assured destruction. So yes it encourages offence

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