Operational Missile Defense System - The Way Ahead

NATO's Secretary General Fogh Rasmussen said that the Western Alliance is determined to move ahead with an operational missile defense system.  The statement follows what Rasmussen called a comprehensive test.

 "We will continue to expand the system toward full operational capability.  The alliance has already developed an initial command-and-control system to link the US assets with sensors and interceptors provided by European allies.   I expect more announcements in the months and years ahead."

An announcement by NATO leaders of an "interim capability" is expected to be announced during the Chicago Summit on May 20-21st.

The missile defense shield has caused frictions in the relationship between the U.S. and Russia and newly elected Russian President Vladimir Puttin is skipping the G8 Summit.  While Putin said that his attendance was cancelled due to the work he needs to do on his Cabinet, it is widely believed that it is as a protest against missile defense.

While there have been high level negotiations between Russia, NATO and the U.S., Russia was seeking a binding agreement to ensure the system was not being used against Russia.  The U.S. and NATO are only prepared to give political assurances.

 "We have not been able to find mutually-acceptable solutions at this point and the situation is practically at a dead end," said Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov. 

 The U.S. and Europeans are ready to go ahead with the deployment of the first elements of the missile defence system next month.  The United States says it is installing the system to protect European allies from an attack by Iran, which the Western allies fear is on the brink of developing a nuclear weapon.

Russia has been opposed to the missile shield from the outset and fears that the deployment would harm its own nuclear deterrence.  Russia has warned that if the United States proceeds, it would be forced to unleash its own massive armament system if the U.S. did not address its concerns.

Rasmussen announced that NATO conducted a comprehensive test last month, which included  US ships, radar and satellites, as well as interceptor batteries from Germany and the Netherlands.

According to Rasmussen the test was successful and that first elements of the US network of satellites, sensors and sea-based interceptors are already deployed to Europe.

Turkey, Romania, Poland and Spain have all agreed to host US assets, Rasmussen pointed out.  Russia is particularly concerned about deployment of missile defense assets in former Warsaw Pact satellites.  This should be a hot issue during the Chicago Summit, which former Russian President Dimitry Medvednev will attend.

Putin Skips G8 Summit at Camp David

Russia's President Vladimir Putin will be skipping the G8 Summit to be held later this month at Camp David.  The venue has been moved to Camp David intentionally to appease Putin and give him an opportunity to engage one on one with the other leaders.  Putin has decided to send his predecessor Dimitry Medvednev. 

The White House says it was surprised at the change in plans.  While Putin claims that he needs to finish work setting up his new Cabinet.  It is likely that the change of heart comes because of the U.S.'s insistence of setting up the European Missile Defense System, which Russia opposes. 

Russia has been opposed to the missile shield from the outset and fears that the deployment would harm its own nuclear deterrence.  Russia has warned that if the United States proceeds, it would be forced to unleash its own massive armament system if the U.S. did not address its concerns.

Russia's Chief of Staff General Nikolai Makarov argues that Russia could station short range Iskander missiles in its Kaliningrad location, which is close to the Polish border, aimed at destroying the system's European infrastructure.

Russia's General's also argue that once the third and fourth phase of the missile system is deployed, it would have the capability to eliminate Russian rockets by the end of the decade.


Earlier this year President Obama was caught on an open mike asking Medvednev to give him some space and that he would be in a better position to negotiate after the election.  The outgoing President told Obama that he would relay the message to Vladimir.


Despite the seeming strained relations between Putin and Obama,  the White House said that the two leaders expressed interest in sustained high level talks.


"The two presidents reiterated their interest in the sustained high-level dialogue that has characterized the reset of relations and the substantial progress of the last three years."

During the recent elections for the President and the Duma (Russian Parliament), there were allegations of fraud and large protests, which continue.  The U.S. has criticized Putin on this issue, which, of course, was rejected by Putin.

Obama and Putin agreed to meet next month on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Mexico.

How is the reset working so far? 

Russia Warns it May Have to Deploy New Rockets in Europe

So much for the reset button with Russia.  Russia warned Thursday that it may have to deploy rocket in Europe in order to defend against the European Missile Defence System.

 "We have not been able to find mutually-acceptable solutions at this point and the situation is practically at a dead end," said Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov. 

The U.S. and Europeans are ready to go ahead with the deployment of the first elements of the missile defence system next month.  The United States says it is installing the system to protect European allies from an attack by Iran, which the Western allies fear is on the brink of developing a nuclear weapon.

Russia has been opposed to the missile shield from the outset and fears that the deployment would harm its own nuclear deterrence.  Russia has warned that if the United States proceeds, it would be forced to unleash its own massive armament system if the U.S. did not address its concerns.

Russia's Chief of Staff General Nikolai Makarov argues that Russia could station short range Iskander missiles in its Kaliningrad location, which is close to the Polish border, aimed at destroying the system's European infrastructure.

Russia's General's also argue that once the third and fourth phase of the missile system is deployed, it would have the capability to eliminate Russian rockets by the end of the decade.

President Obama was caught on an open mike asking outgoing President Medvedev to give him space until after the election, when he would be able to negotiate some concessions.  Medvednev said he would tell Putin.

Putin, who will be sworn in as Russia's President next Monday, has already cancelled an appearance at this month's Chicago summit to protest the deployment.

Is this a another foreign policy failure?  Hillary Clinton talked famously of the reset button with Russia, the START treaty was signed by the two Presidents, but now it almost looks as if they might be on the brink of another arms race.

If things go sour with Russia and China, how much can realistically be accomplished in the United Nations?   Maybe it's time to find another reset button.

Ellen Tauscher, 

Special Envoy for Strategic Stability and Missile Defense, Missile Defense Conference in Russia

Opening Statement  

Anti-Putin Protests Continue in Moscow - Largest Yet

Two weeks ago the protests against Vladimir Putin and election fraud had been the largest ever.  These were surpassed today.  According to Russian radio Mikhael Gorbachev has called for Putin to resign.  There is a growing outrage against Putin's twelve year rule.

Four years ago Putin could not run for re-election, since the constitution prevented it and Dimitry Medvedev was elected into that post.  The United Russia Party dominated the Duma and Putin became Prime Minister.  Many believed that he was still calling the shots. 

The recent elections resulted in the United Russia Party just gaining 49% of the vote, although it still dominates the Duma.  The OECD claimed that the election was riddled with fraud, including ballot stuffing.  Many in Russia believe that the United Russia party only received about 27% of the vote.

It seems the chickens have come home to roost.  Russians are not impressed with Medvedev's promise on facebook that he had called an investigation.  Putin had close to a two hour rant on Russian television and it appears that Russians have had enough.

Rally participants densely packed a broad avenue, which has room for nearly 100,000 people, about 1.5 miles from the Kremlin, on a snowy day. They chanted "Russia without Putin!"
A stage at the end of the half-mile avenue featured placards reading "Russia will be free" and "This election Is a farce." Heavy police cordons encircled the participants, who stood within metal barriers, and a police helicopter hovered overhead.
The recent protests in Moscow and other cities have dented Putin's authority as he seeks to reclaim the presidency in a March vote. The Kremlin has responded by promising a set of political reforms that would allow more political competition in future elections.
But protest leaders say they will continue pushing for a rerun of the Dec. 4 parliamentary election and punishment for officials accused of vote fraud. They say maintaining momentum is key to forcing Putin's government to accept their demands.  Washington Post

Billionaire to Challenge Putin

 Russian Billionaire and owner of the New Jersey Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, has thrown his hat in the ring to challenge Valdimir Putin in his quest for the presidency.

"This is probably the most serious decision of my life,"he said. 

After being restricted by term limits to run as President again, Putin, a mentor of Dimitry Medvedev, had a scheme to run again in 2012.  Putin was disqualified from running in 2008, after having served two terms.  Before last week's Duma election Putin and his United Russia Party planned on regaining power in Russia.  The election is alleged to have been riddled with fraud and protestors have taken to the streets, demanding that new elections be called.  Medvedev in a facebook message has ordered an investigation into the election.  

Recently Prokhorov wrote in a blog that Putin is probably the best candidate to lead Russia's government in view of the ineffective Duma.   Prochorov has to collect 2 million signatures in order to register for the presidential election.

Prokhorov has been an advocate for the release of Michail Chodorkowski, who spoke out against Putin in 2003 when he was head of the Russian oil company Yukos and was later convicted for money laundering.  It is believed that his conviction was politically motivated. 

Prokhorov, who is estimated to have a wealth of $18 Billion, according to Forbes is the third wealthiest Russian. 

Analysts contend that despite this weekend's protests, Putin is still the most popular candidate and that Prochorov can muster at the most 7% of the vote.

From the outside looking in, there seems to be more than election fraud going on in Russia.

Demonstrations in Russia - Against Putin's Russia?

Tens of thousands assembled in Moscow today for a protest against misuse of power and election fraud.  It seems that the neat little plan for Putin to continue holding power is falling apart.  The chickens have come home to roost.

Dimitry Medvedev, who befriended Putin during his time as a campaign manager and advisor for St. Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak.  Medvedev fit neatly into Putin's plan, when Medvedev was elected President in 2008.  There seems to have been a Putin plan all along to take power in Russia again in 2012.

It seems however the chickens have come home to roost.  After the December 4th election, Putin's United Russia Party received just under 49%, although it is enough for Putin to push his agenda.  There have been widespread allegations of ballot box stuffing and election fraud.  The OECD alleged that that the election was  fraudulent and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Russia to hold fair and free elections.

Russians shed their fear of the state power and took to the streets, initially with protests on December 5th and 6th, where Russians took to the streets shouting "Russia without Putin". The protests resulted in hundreds of arrests.

Not discouraged, protests were organize for December 10th and tens of thousands of Russians took to the street, with up to 50,000 riot police deployed ahead of the protest.  Demonstrators are demanding a rerun of the election and and end to the Putin era. 

There were protests throughout Russia, according to BBC

• Protesters in the Pacific port of Vladivostok waved banners with slogans like "The rats should go!" and "Swindlers and thieves - give us our elections back!"

• In Kurgan, on the border with Kazakhstan, police dispersed an unapproved rally after between 200 and 400 protesters gathered on a square in freezing weather

• Some 3,000 people braved temperatures of minus 20C for a two-hour rally in Novosibirsk
• At least 3,000 people rallied in Yekaterinburg to chant "Freedom to political prisoners" and "Russia without Putin", with one protester waving a large teddy bear - the symbol of the United Russia party is a bear - impaled on a stick.

Whether or not Putin will listen remains to be seen.   Is this Russia's Arab Spring?

Update: 

The protests appear to have had some success.   After massive protests yesterday, which saw very little interference by police and were broadcast on Russian media, Russian President Dimitry Medvedev ordered an investigation into allegations of polling violations during last Sunday's parliamentary election.  

Putin Gets Booed At Mixed Martial Arts Event in Moscow (Video)

Vladimir Putin, who is running for election as the next President of Russia, was booed yesterday at a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event in Moscow.  When Putin started to address the crowd after the match, crowds were less than flattering, booing the man that wants to present himself as a strongman.

The incident has been video taped and showed up on you tube, where it went viral, with just over half a million views overnight.

Putin had attended the MMA match between the Russian Fjodor Jemeljanenko and his American challegner  Jeff Monson.  When  Fjodor Jemeljanenko emerged the winner over the bleeding Monson, Putin started his speech.   The audience booed and only started cheering when Jemeljanenko was announced the winner and Putin called him a "real Russian Hero."