-Caveat Lector- Russia Responds to U.S. Missile Shield with Massive Missile Tests By Yuri Karash Moscow Contributing Correspondent posted: 02:00 pm ET 16 February 2001 http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/launches/missile_defense_010216.html A day after Washington blasted Moscow for allegedly undermining international security, a high-ranking Russian military official said recent weapons tests prove that modern technology can pierce any antimissile defense shield. A Russian Tu-95MS ("Bear") long-range strategic bomber launched an air-based strategic missile on February 16, and another bomber -- a Tu-22 ("Backfire A") -- launched two tactical missiles during training exercises. Russian Air Force Commander-in-Chief Army Gen. Anatoly Kornukov said the launches were a success. "All the launched missiles hit targets at a training range located in the southern part of Russia," he told SPACE.com. Meanwhile, a Russian nuclear submarine launched a nuclear missile out of the Barents Sea and, as a special test of operational readiness, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) successfully launched a silo-based Topol (NATO code SS-25) intercontinental ballistic missile at a target in the Kura range located in Kamchatka in the nation's far east. RVSN spokesman Ilshat Baichurin said the Topol missile -- the oldest of its type still in the Russian arsenal -- performed flawlessly despite having outlived by 150 percent its operational period of service. Taken together, the tests confirmed the continuing strength of Russia's missile force, said Col.-Gen. Valery Manilov, first deputy chief of staff. "Russian strategic forces can break through any kind of antimissile defense system -- both the existing and the one which could be built in the future," Manilov told SPACE.com. "These tests have also proved the perfection of our [Russian missile] technology and the highest professional competence of our military." In particular, Manilov noted that the missile performed with "a minimum possible deviation from targets." Tolerance for "criticism" waning The Russian press has interpreted recent remarks by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, CIA Director George Tenet and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice accusing Russia of attempting to move missiles in the Kaliningrad region of western Russia as, collectively, "a broad-scale attack" against Moscow. "Never since Reagan was president, in [the] pre-Perestroika period, could one hear such harsh high-level U.S. criticism of Russia," noted Nezavisimaya Gazeta (Independent Newspaper), one of the nation's major periodicals. According to the journal, by accusing Russia of moving nuclear weapons closer to NATO countries and transferring missile technology to so-called "rogue nations," the United States is trying to justify its intention to amend the 1972 Antiballistic Missile (ABM) treaty, which prohibits the development of missile-killing weapons. Alexei Arbatov, deputy chairman of the Duma (lower chamber of Russian parliament) Defense Committee, said he shares this opinion. "If the United States believes that Russia violates any international treaties, they must encourage Russia to observe these treaties," Arbatov said, "�not�destroy [the ABM treaty], which is a cornerstone of world stability." ANOMALOUS IMAGES AND UFO FILES http://www.anomalous-images.com <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
