Tensions between the US and Russia touch a lot of fronts, including the 1987 Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty. The treaty forbids the development of intermediate range conventional and nuclear missiles, and there have been allegations one of the missiles tested by Russia is in violation of this treaty.
Russia has denied this is the case, but the House of Representatives appears uninterested in arguing the point, instead adding multiple lines to the nearly $700 billion military spending bill that was advanced in committee today, threatening to withdraw the US from the treaty, and funding US development of missiles that would deliberately violate it.
The US has little need of such missiles in the first place, as over the past three decades they’ve developed myriad alternative delivery systems that give them comparable capabilities to having intermediate ranged missiles, meaning the spending in the bill on this matter is wholly meant to spite Russia.
The putative Russian “violation” is related to a 2008 missile test they conducted. The US insisted it was a “possible violation” in 2014, and has never confirmed that this was the case, though Congress has repeatedly presented it as a fact.
The putative Russian “violation” is related to a 2008 missile test
they conducted. The US insisted it was a “possible violation” in 2014,
and has never confirmed that this was the case, though Congress has
repeatedly presented it as a fact.
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Let me see if I get this right…
In 2008, Russia conducted a missile test.
6 YEARS later the Americans decide it’s a “possible violation.”
3 YEARS later the US Congress assumes violation is fact?
Which means – it took the Americans 9 YEARS to ASSUME the test was in violation of a treaty?
Yee-up! Sounds par for the course for Americans!
But … WHEN do these folk start feeling embarrassed about the UTTER TRIPE they present to world and call …. “fact?”
Because, hell in a handbasket, if I was an American I’d be cringing something horrible – and wearing a Canadian baseball cap.
And if I were a Russian I couldn’t afford a new base ball cap.Sorry Russia after y’all do not honor a treaty and test a missile in violation of the treaty y’all want America just to sit down and stay quiet.This isn’t Obama’s military anymore and remember y’all helped get a Republican elected.Think about how weak we seemed under Obama and how dangerous and unpredictable we are under Trump.Thank you Putin,well done comrade my country needed someone with a back bone to unleash or superior military capability.Hope you learned you’re lesson don’t meddle in our elections you just might get more than what you bargained for.USA
How do you have answered a Russian? USA has actually not honoured many treaties. Asked the your native population? “White Man Speaks with Forked Tongue”!!
And ask your former breakaway region’s Latvia Lithuania Estonia why they formed they’re own government and wanted true freedom not Soviet Russia repression during the Soviet civil war.Why would these former Russian states want to join NATO and not be under Putin’s control? And yea let’s go back to the horse buggy and time when electricity was invented,before the nuclear bomb was created,before we acquired Alaska from Russia to make a point about America not honoring treaties…Very desperate attempt how about poor Ukraine another breakaway nation of Russia’s who gave up its nuclear arsenal in a treaty with Russia who promised not respect it’s sovereignty and it’s territories.How’d that work out for them???This is actually modern times Cassandra how about a modern point.USA
Meant before electricity was invented and Ukraine gave up it’s nukes in a deal with Russia if Russia promised to respect it’s sovereignty.
ONLY Russia is required to keep promises?
(Promises the Russian Federation didn’t make – the USSR did.)
WHY?
Ask the former owners of California, Hawii, and Most of the territory of the USA…. Stolen…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh Great! You do make assumptions!I am not Russian, I am English and stop lecturing to me. If you like to know there are a number of Countries in Europe who long to kick NATO out of Europe. Our leaders don’t want it but the people do.
Those three little Baltic states wanted to be NAZIs They also want to steal back all the property their Russian ethnic citizens owned . So they passed laws that you can’t vote in our elections unless you can trace your heritage back before 1940 . Than they tore down statues of the allied soldiers that liberated them from the Nazis . They built new statues . Statues of Nazi soldiers .. So we rewarded these Nazis by letting them join NATO . Or perhaps NATO is truly also a reincarnated NAZI organization like Yugoslavia , Russia and China think they are . NATO is very close to controlling everything in Europe Hitler did before the allies defeated him . .
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics signed the Budapest Memorandum.
The Russian Federation never did.
Something the Western MSM doesn’t talk about because it doesn’t suit the narrative…..
Those three little outhouses called countries have a “Russian invasion” problem because they treat their Russian-ethnic citizens like 3rd class dirt. So the “Russian invasion” threat comes from those folk who would like to rejoin Russia.
But to get rid of that “Russian invasion” threat all those little outhouses called countries have to do is threat their citizens like … citizens.
And it’s true – you can go look it up.
An American is talking about another country —- not honouring a treaty?
More esp where it takes 9 years to ASSUME that not honouring?
Dumb-down knows no depth!
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PS. I’m not Russian.
And if you don’t want countries to meddle in your elections – then YOU shouldn’t meddle in the elections of other countries. Simple.
But seriously – I doubt Russia meddled in your elections – what was there to meddle? You didn’t notice – your options STANK to kingdom come!
“The Killer or The Idiot – take your pick and make your cross!”
Clearly you’re President slash god Putin made his pick and it worked out great for us!!!Not so great for y’all!!!Hahaha… Elections have consequences… It’s not like in Russia where everyone votes for fun but,knows Putin is gonna win anyway…Hey how about I tell you the future in a psychic prediction,Putin is gonna run for president again and win!!!!Hahaha… Don’t feel sorry for me I feel sorry for you at least we got real choices not a rubber stamped process where the same guy always wins no matter what the people of his country want.USA
Great for you?
You picked the one who said he was going to END Obama’s wars.
You haven’t noticed how Trumpie got stuck into bombing with a will? Didn’t even miss his first batch of drone bombs!
You not only didn’t notice – you don’t care?
You’ve got “real choices?” Then what was the difference between electing Trump and electing Clinton? …..NONE.
You’re North Korea!
You go to the polls and make your little cross – just like they do.
Only difference is – your Little Kim puts on a new mask every 4-8 years!
I noticed you are more right than anybody will admit There was little difference in Foreign policy from Bush Clinton Bush Obama and now Trump is doing the same mistakes I thought Obama was making . Trump talked a different story but he is doing everything the same . Trump opposed the establishment but he is doing everything Obama was doing . Some thing is very much wrong
Obama talked peace so hard he got a peace prize – then he sat in that chair and did a Bush +++
Obama bad-mouthed Obama’s FP to the hills – he was going to end the wars and “get on with Russia” – then he sat in that chair and is now doing an Obama +++
Americans would do well to find out what it is they learn once they sit down – exactly what it is that REQUIRES all this warring and warmongering.
And before it’s too late to matter.
‘Cos Eric – this is VERY serious.
Putin can run 1 more time than Medvedev can run again . Maybe Putin could swing by Hi and pick up his birth certificate and run in the USA some time . He sure did a good job strengthening Russia I think I might vote for him ? If he does this ?
I can’t imagine any country signing a treaty with the USA and believing it means anything Haven’t we invaded and bombed many countries in violation of past agreements and treaties . Our treaties are on par with Germanys and Russia’s before W War 2 . Look at Libya and now Syria . I think what we did to them is against the law . Even our treaties with our selves are worthless . I know American Indians that have not received what they were supposed to get since the 1800s . Even our social security is a Ponzi scheme
Well why don’t you go complain in a country like North Korea or Iran or Russia on the internet and see who shows up… America allows people like you to complain about everything that’s wrong with it on forums like this.Freedom we fought for protected by the Constitution how about the countries I just named? That’s what I thought.USA
Who benefits?