The Russian minister was asked why the country was trying to improve its nuclear capabilities at a time when the international community is working to get countries like North Korea and Iran to abandon their nuclear programs.
"Of course it is necessary to improve missile system in order to avoid any accidents. This is standard procedure," Fedotov said.
Fedotov said that "as everything we have, it's totally defensive."
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said President Bush and Putin had discussed the issue previously. He suggested that close ties between the two leaders makes alarm unnecessary. But he didn't eliminate Washington's concern.
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBLUTWQR1E.htmlWhy did the American people have to learn about this in the press? Does it make anyone more comfortable to know that Bush has "close ties" to Putin? What do you make of the quiet collusion between the two leaders on the issue of the expansion of our mutual nuclear defenses? Does this go beyond smart diplomacy? I think it is a smiley face on a new cold-war nuclear arms race with Russia as they threaten to expand their arsenal at the same time Bush is advocating a 'new generation' of smaller, 'useable' nuclear weapons.
I'm not comforted at all by their backroom dealmaking on this issue. We need to know what the president really knows about Russia's new nuclear inituitive, when did he know it, and why weren't we told before Putin made his speech.