Can it get any mor pathetic?
- From: "Henry Alminas" <halminas@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:18:37 -0600
Luka bellowed:
"The Belarusian nation has never been and will
never be a traitor. We will never let tanks pass towards
Moscow."
It is curious that the Belarusans could be "traitors"
- if they do not support a foreign country.
If the Belarusans had even a vestigial backbone
Luka and his cronies would be dangling from
the lampposts over there.
Twenty more years of russkie occupation and
the Baltics would look about the same.
Best - - Henry
For educational purposes only:
From: Kommersant
Russia Opens Belarusian Front
(Moscow is ready to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus)
Russian Ambassador Alexander Surikov said in Minsk on
Monday that Russia is ready to deploy new military facilities
in Belarus, up to nuclear weapons. It is Moscow''s new
variant of an asymmetric response to the U.S. plans to
deploy missile defense system elements in Eastern Europe.
According to Kommersant''s information, Minsk is not
against it. However, Russia''s plans to deploy new facilities
in Belarus might be hampered by the permanent
Moscow-Minsk gas supplies conflicts.
""In response to Washington''s plans, Russia and Belarus
might decide to create new joint military facilities, including
nuclear ones. Certainly, it will require some cooperation and
integration,"" Russian Ambassador to Belarus Alexander
Surikov said in the interview to Interfax news agency on
Monday. Russian embassy in Minsk explained: ""The
ambassador spoke namely about the threat posed by the U.S.
missile defense system which the U.S. plans to deploy in
Poland and the Czech Republic. Moreover, the statement
should be regarded in the context of President Putin''s
speaking of a possible asymmetric response to these unfriendly
initiatives of Washington.""
Thus, Moscow has actually disclosed a new variant of an
asymmetric response to the plans to deploy U.S. missile
defense system near Russia''s borders. Russian First
Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said in early July
that Moscow might ""deploy new missiles in Russia''s
European part, including Kaliningrad,"" if Washington
rejects President Putin''s offers to jointly use the radar
stations in Gabala and Armavir. Then, Vladimir Putin
himself announced that Russia, since August 17, resumes
constant flights of strategic aviation after a 15-year-long
break. Both statements caused deep concern in the U.S.
and in Europe.
The variant with deploying Russian missiles in Belarus
might cause much more concern. Ivan Makushok,
Assistant to the State Secretary of the Russia-Belarus
Union State, explained that ""Belarus has preserved in
perfect condition the entire military infrastructure of
the Warsaw Pact times, including the launchers for
nuclear-tipped missiles which were exported to Russia
after the USSR''s collapse"". ""It is unlikely that Moscow
would miss that chance. Belarus is Russia''s trump card
in the competition with the U.S. It takes less time to
bring missiles back to the launching tubes than to build
a radar in Poland. So, it would be anticipation rather than
response,"" said Makushok.
Indeed, the process of nuclear weapons withdrawal from
the Belarusian territory began in 1992, in accordance with
the U.S.-Soviet SNF-1 Treaty. The process lasted till
mid-1990s. The statement that Belarus aims at achieving a
non-nuclear status was even recorded in the country''s
Constitution, ratified in 1994. Nonetheless, after Alexander
Lukashenka came to power, Moscow and Minsk frequently
raised the issue of bringing Russian missiles back to
Belarus.
Anyway, Minsk was not surprised by the Russian ambassador''s
statement. ""The issue has not been discussed yet, but you know,
we have high level of integration with Russia, and in the
military sphere as well. Meanwhile, there already are Russian
bases on our territory,"" said the Foreign Ministry of Belarus.
Russia''s military officials consider the scenario quite likely as
well. ""Certainly, it is a political issue. Yet, if the authorities
make that decision, there will be no questioning. If the army
receives an order, it will deploy a base anywhere,"" said the
Defense Ministry of Russia.
According to Kommersant''s information, Belarus'' top officials
also support the idea to deploy Russia''s nuclear facilities in
the republic. Minsk is quite disturbed by the growing U.S.
military presence in Eastern Europe, and hopes for Russia''s
support and protection. Back in April, President Lukashenka
promised: ""The Belarusian nation has never been and will
never be a traitor. We will never let tanks pass towards
Moscow."" On August 2, Lukashenka said confidently that
Belarus ""will be of service to Russia once again"".
However, expressing readiness to host Russian strategic
bases, Lukashenka apparently pursues other aims as well. If
Moscow makes that step, Minsk will acquire another lever
of pressure in the disputes around the supplies of energy
carriers. ""We cannot, on the one hand, impose
unclear oil and gas prices on Belarus, and lead a strategic
dialog on the other hand,"" said Makushok.
There has recently been a precedent of Minsk''s using
Russian bases in Belarus for putting pressure on Moscow.
In the midst of the gas war in January, Lukashenka declared
he would demand that Moscow should pay the rent
of the Volga radar station in Gantsevichi village and
the Antei long-wave radar center in Vileika, which
provide communication with the Russian Naval Forces''
submarines. The threat was not implemented, though.
However, the situation will be different if Russia deploys
nuclear weapons in Belarus. Acting as Russia''s security
guarantee, Lukashenka will be able to tougher bargain
with Moscow for gas, and to demand the
guarantees of retaining his power from the Kremlin.
Alexander Gabuev
.
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