Russia's Military To Rival US

[zengrifter]

Putin Pledges To Build Russia's Military To Rival America's

The Telegraph - UK 5-11-6

Vladimir Putin has pledged to build up Russia's military to rival "fortress" America, and insisted the Cold War arms race is far from over.

In an unexpectedly belligerent state of the nation address on Russian TV, the Russian president accused the US of putting its own interests before its democratic ideals, and compared the country to a voracious wolf.

"We are aware what is going on in the world," he said.

"Comrade wolf knows whom to eat, he eats without listening, and he's clearly not going to listen to anyone."

He added: "It is premature to speak of the end of the arms race. It is in reality rising to a new technological level."

Mr Putin's combative speech comes days after Dick Cheney, the US vice-president, accused Moscow of rolling back democracy and threatening its ex-Soviet neighbours.

Last month US senators visiting Moscow said Russia's slide towards authoritarianism and stance on the Iranian nuclear crisis may undermine the country's bid to join the World Trade Organisation.

In his speech, Mr Putin said the government would strengthen the nation's nuclear deterrent as well as conventional military forces without repeating the mistakes of the Cold War era, when a costly arms race against the US drained Soviet resources.

Russia's military budget is 25 times lower than that of the US.

"We need a military that is able simultaneously to carry on battle in global, regional and, if need be, several local conflicts," he said.

The president also pledged action to counter Russia's acute demographic crisis, calling on members of parliament to vote money for more generous birth bonuses and childcare subsidies.

He said: "I am convinced that with such an approach, you will earn words of gratitude from millions of mothers, young families, all the citizens of our country."

Russia's population dropped by 4 per cent to 142.7 million between 1993 and 2006, according to the Health Ministry.