Russia Withdraws From Cold War Arms Restraint Treaty

[Purveyor]

Source: Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Moscow - Russia suspended participation on Wednesday in a key Cold War treaty limiting armed forces in Europe amid mounting East-West security tensions. Russia has suspended all activities towards observing the treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) since midnight on December 12, The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday.

"This step has been prompted by exceptional circumstances related to the CFE's contents, which concern Russia's security and require urgent measures," the ministry said.

The treaty was an vital part of Cold War arms restraint agreements signed between 16 NATO members and six former Warsaw Pact nations in 1990, but Russia is the only state to have signed an amended draft of the document since the strategic upheaval accompanying the fall of the Soviet Union.

European officials on Wednesday pressed Russia not to abstain from the treaty, saying it could lead to a disintegration of the network of Cold War security treaties and a new arms race.

But Moscow bucks at the "farfetched conditions" tied to Europe's ratification of the treaty, angry at NATO's demand it withdraw troops from breakaway regions in the former Soviet states of Georgia and Moldova.

Read more: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/157445.html

[slowry]

1. Iran must be stopped. n/t

[Javaman]

5. I'm assuming you forgot to include the sarcasm thingy. nt

[lpbk2713]

2. 'Well Dumbya, here's another fine mess you've gotten us in to."

[AnneD]

3. Nothing worse than having....

your arms in cold war restraints
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Oh you don't mean arms but weapons....Never mind.

[unkachuck]

4. $100 a barrel oil....

....buys you many options....

"Russia's abandoning the treaty "could have security implications for all of Europe," Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos cautioned..."

....ok, Europe!....since you've been following the chimps lead in most things, it's now time to re-arm! We've got some great Christmas buys on some excellent weapon systems with security arrangements that just won't quit; put a few dozen in you Christmas stocking now!!....

....don't worry, we'll take care of you, Uncle Sam loves ya....