US defense secretary says Russia is 'nuclear saber-rattling'

[inanna]

Source: Associated Press

May. 3, 2016 2:20 PM ET

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter blasted what the U.S. and its allies see as Russian aggression in Europe, saying Tuesday that Moscow is "going backward in time" with warlike actions that compel an American military buildup on NATO's eastern flank.

"We do not seek to make Russia an enemy," Carter said at a ceremony to install a new head of the military's U.S. European Command and top NATO commander in Europe. "But make no mistake: We will defend our allies, the rules-based international order, and the positive future it affords us," he said.

Carter's remarks reflect U.S. aggravation with Moscow on multiple fronts, including its intervention in eastern Ukraine, its annexation of Crimea in 2014 and what Carter called Russian efforts to intimidate its Baltic neighbors — countries the United States is treaty-bound to defend because they are NATO members.

Carter said the "most disturbing" Russian rhetoric was about using nuclear weapons.

"Moscow's nuclear saber-rattling raises troubling questions about Russia's leaders' commitment to strategic stability, their respect for norms against the use of nuclear weapons, and whether they respect the profound caution that nuclear-age leaders showed with regard to brandishing nuclear weapons," he said.


Read more: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2016-05-03-EU--United%20States-Russia/id-d5e751210de2421ab225a79dc77cdcfe

[leveymg]

1. Sounds like the sabre rattling is coming from Ash's scabard.

Whose brandishing are you talking about?

Senior White House officials said the U.S. and its partners were shifting into a new phase focused on military deterrence to Moscow. Additional NATO forces that will rotate through countries on Russia's eastern flank will be enough to defend NATO countries if Russia were to attack, said the officials, who requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

To that end, the U.S. plans to add a third U.S. Army combat brigade in Europe in the coming year as part of a $3.4 billion initiative, Carter said. On Monday, he said NATO is considering establishing a continuous rotation of up to 4,000 troops in the Baltic states and possibly Poland.

That force, which could include some U.S. troops, is among options expected to be considered at a NATO defense meeting in June. U.S. officials said they were encouraging other NATO members to commit troops to the force as well.

But U.S. attempts to control or direct Russia haven't fared well. The U.S has been unable to end Russia's occupation of parts of Ukraine and support for separatist rebels. And Washington is desperately seeking Moscow's help to enforce a cease-fire in Syria between the Russian-backed government and Western-supported rebels, and eventually usher President Bashar Assad out of power.

On both fronts, the United States has been running into brick walls with the Russians.

[Igel]

5. A few years back my wife and I were watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Our kid was perhaps 10. He was elsewhere.

He came in during the last few seconds after the credits, when the production company Mutant Enemy Productions has its crudely drawn robot or monster making some sounds like "oogh, argh" and concluded that Buffy was a roughly drawn animated series about robot-like monsters.

[Fast Walker 52]

2. there is so much insane propaganda on Russia and most of the problem is US aggression

Our insane military leaders seem determined to start a new war with Russia, and possibly even a nuclear one.

[Turbineguy]

4. A nuclear holocaust well be a fine ending

to a Trump presidency.

[Fast Walker 52]

8. it would be fitting...

[Turbineguy]

9. Trump seems to have solved that part.

[Gregorian]

3. In a matter of time these sorts will be rebuilding bridges, dams, electric grids...

It won't be long. Faster, if we lose a glacier into the ocean.

[McKim]

6. Not Happy in Washington Unless they Have Enemies and Wars

Oh for Heaven's sake! Not another trip to the Way Back Machine to the 1950's! Who in Washington is stirring up all this trouble?
This is crazy and Hillary is going for it.

[jpak]

7. Outlaw Russia - begin bombing in 5 minutes

?itok=96fIzT1E

[Odin2005]

10. Lots of Putin apologists in this thread.

Whenever Russia is a dick the usual suspects pop up blaming the US.