Russia Rebuffs US Overtures On Missile Shield

[Purveyor]

Source: AFP

MOSCOW (AFP)

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates offered Russia cooperation on missile defence activities Monday but was rebuffed by Moscow who said a planned US missile shield was "seriously destabilising".

Nevertheless, Gates said he remained "cautiously optimistic" after meetings with President Vladimir Putin, First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov and Defence Minister Anatoly Serdukov.

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Gates' upbeat view contrasted with a statement read by the Russian defence minister saying Russia's position on the US missile shield "remains unchanged".

"We believe the strategic missile defence system is a seriously destabilising factor that can have a significant influence on regional and global security," Serdyukov said, speaking through an official interpreter.



Read more: http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=172738

[unkachuck]

1. well I'm 'recklessly pessimistic'....

....our military industrial complex needs another good arms race to stay in business, what's changed?....

....until we cut back our military to what is needed to defend the country and apply the difference to a universal healthcare system, I'll remain 'recklessly pessimistic'....

[cliss]

2. Overtures! Isn't that funny.

Just imagine for a moment, this administration overturing anyone. It would be at gunpoint, if anything.

You give 'em half a chance, and that overture will be at gunpoint, "you do it, or else".