[So what the "revision" is all about? *The most important element of the revision is that the NATO has been explicitly named as the top military threat.
"Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to the use of any types of weapons of mass destruction against it or any of its allies. President Medvedev has approved Russia's new military doctrine." That's from the immediately preceding version of the military doctrine published on Feb. 5 2010 (source: <http://rt.com/usa/russia-military-doctrine-approved/>), that remains in place as it was.] The 2010 doctrine further clarfied: "I [i.e. Nikolay Patrushev, the then Russian Security Council Secretary] have already said that we are not going to attack anyone, but ***we are not going to wait until we are attacked*** [emphasis added] either. Given the kind of weapons some countries now possess, we simply will not have a chance to retaliate. Therefore, we will work to get information about the existing programs and we will work to ensure these attacks do not take place against Russia. The existence of nuclear weapons serves as a guarantor to deter our potential foes." (On the one hand it is being claimed that nuclear weapons in the hands of Russia is "a guarantor to deter our potential foes", on the other, in the very same breath, the need for an attack, *in anticipation*, is being talked of! That shows up graphically the great level of confidence in the *deterrence" of nuclear weapons - what a big hoax!) The *anticipatory attack*, as is the case with the US, UK and France, may very well include use of nuclear weapons as well. That's important. *The revised doctrine provides that the likelihood of anyone launching a fully-fledged war against Russia is decreasing. *It also talks of the Russian military's goals to protect national interests in the Arctic region.] I/II. http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/12/26/amid-heightened-tensions-west-russia-declares-nato-top-military-threat Published on Friday, December 26, 2014 Amid Heightened Tensions With the West, Russia Declares NATO is Top Military Threat New doctrine also says Russia could use nuclear weapons as retaliation or 'deterrent measures' byNadia Prupis, staff writer Russian President Vladimir Putin named NATO Russia's top external threat on Friday. (Photo: World Economic Forum/flickr/cc) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed a new military doctrine that names NATO's military presence near the country's border and expansion in Eastern Europe as Russia's top external threat, according to a Kremlin statement. The doctrine, which Putin signed as Russia's economic power and international relations continue to deteriorate, maintains many of the provisions put into place in its previous edition, signed in 2010. Among those is the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons in retaliation to other nations targeting Russia or its allies with weapons of mass destruction--though the doctrine concedes that those scenarios are unlikely. A new provision, however, adds that Russia could use precision weapons "as part of strategic deterrent measures," without elaborating on how and when those weapons would be used. "Despite a decreased likelihood of a large-scale war against Russia, some security threats continue to grow," the doctrine says. Also included in the military document is the new goal of protecting national interests in the Arctic. NATO denied that it posed a threat to Russia, instead accusing the country of undermining European security. The alliance's spokesperson, Oana Lungescu, said in a statement that NATO "poses no threat to Russia or any nation." "Any steps taken by NATO to ensure the security of its members are clearly defensive in nature, proportionate and in compliance with international law," she said. "In fact, it is Russia's actions, including currently in Ukraine, which are breaking international law and undermining European security." Russia's military intervention in Ukraine, as well as the annexation of Crimea in March, has led the U.S. to impose ever-increasing sanctions against the country--which, in turn, contributed to Russia's recent financial crisis. Further, in October, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg declared that the alliance could deploy its troops "wherever we want to" in Eastern Europe. The announcement came shortly after NATO vowed to create "rapid response" military forces to fight Russia. "These capabilities already exist," Stoltenberg told Polish state broadcaster TVP. "We have them, and we can deploy them in individual regions. And this is only an add-on to what the alliance already has." Stoltenberg's comments--and NATO's years-long military expansion in Baltic states and recent presence on the Russian border--seemed to defy the 1997 NATO-Russia Founding Act, in which the alliance agreed to avoid "permanent stationing of substantial combat forces" to Eastern and Central Europe. Ukraine and the West have also accused Russia of fueling a separatist insurgency in Donetsk and other areas in eastern Ukraine, supplying troops and weapons to pro-Russian rebels, but the Kremlin has denied those charges. In November, Kiev army spokesperson Andriy Lysenko accused Russia of sending tanks and artillery over the border into eastern Ukraine, but presented "no evidence or timetable" for the information. The doctrine comes shortly after Ukraine took further steps to gain NATO membership, voting to drop the country's "non-aligned" status, a move which Russia had outspokenly opposed. After the vote on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the vote was "counterproductive" and that it would deepen the rift between Russia and Ukraine. Ahead of the doctrine's release, the Russian government said NATO was turning Ukraine into a "frontline of confrontation." The Defense Ministry also posted a Tweet on Wednesday warning that Ukraine's "accession to alliance will bring Russia-NATO relations to complete collapse." II. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=20e_1419612921 Russia's new military doctrine lists NATO, US as major foreign threats Click to view image: '20e_1419612921-44si_1419613001.jpg' Click to view image: '20e_1419612921-481_1419613002.jpg' Russia has adopted an updated version of its military doctrine, which reflects the emergence of new threats against its national security. NATO military buildup and American Prompt Global Strike concept are listed among them. The new doctrine was approved on Friday by President Vladimir Putin. Its core remains unchanged from the previous version. The Russian military remains a defensive tool which the country pledges to use only as a last resort. Also unchanged are the principles of the use of nuclear weapons which Russia adheres to. Their primary goal is to deter potential enemies from attacking Russia, but it would use them to protect itself from a military attack - either nuclear or conventional - threatening its existence. The new sections of the doctrine outline the threat Russia sees in NATO's expansion and military buildup and the fact that the alliance is taking upon itself "global functions realized with violation of international law." The doctrine lists among major foreign military threats "the creation and deployment of global strategic antiballistic missile systems that undermines the established global stability and balance of power in nuclear missile capabilities, the implementation of the 'prompt strike' concept, intent to deploy weapons in space and deployment of strategic conventional precision weapons." The Yury Dolgoruky nuclear-powered submarine.(RIA Novosti / Pavel Kononov) Another new point in the doctrine is that one of the Russian military's goals is to protect national interests in the Arctic region. READ MORE: Sneak peak at Russia's 'under renovation' Arctic base The document also points to the threat of destabilization countries bordering Russia or its allies and deployment of foreign troops such nations as a threat to national security. Domestically, Russia faces threats of "actions aimed at violent change of the Russian constitutional order, destabilization of the political and social environment, disorganization of the functioning of governmental bodies, crucial civilian and military facilities and informational infrastructure of Russia," the doctrine says. Moscow sees international cooperation with countries sharing its effort to increase security, particularly members of BRICS, the OSCE, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and others as the key to preventing military conflicts, the doctrine states. Traditional threats that Russia must deal with mentioned in the doctrine include extremism and terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and rocket technology and actions of foreign intelligence services. The document notes that modern threats are increasingly drifting from a military nature to informational, and states that the likelihood of anyone launching a fully-fledged war against Russia is decreasing. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
