by antiaristo » Tue Jan 31, 2006 9:45 pm
<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr><!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="font-size:small;">Putin boasts of defence-piercing missiles</span><!--EZCODE FONT END--> <br><br>Associated Press<br>Tuesday January 31, 2006 <br><br><br>The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, boasted today that his country had weapons capable of penetrating any missile defence system.<br>In language reminiscent of the cold war arms race, Mr Putin said: "Last year Russia tested missiles systems that no one in the world has and won't have for a long time."<br><br>He added: "These missile systems don't represent a response to a missile defence system, but they are immune to that. They are hypersonic and capable of changing their flight path."<br><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Mr Putin said he had shown the working principles of the missile systems to the French president, Jacques Chirac, during a visit to a Russian military facility. "He knows what I'm talking about," he said.</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br><br>SNIP<br><br>"I know the mood of the leaders of the G8. No one is against our active participation in this club. No one wants the G8 to return to a <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>group of fat cats</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->," he told the Kremlin news conference.<br><br>Russia took over the rotating chair of the group at the start of this year. But some critics have questioned whether Russia is sufficiently committed to democracy and human rights to justify its place in the club.<br><br>He said Russia still intended to join the World Trade Organisation, but said it would only do so on its own terms<br><br>"The main problem is reaching an agreement with the United States," Mr Putin said.<br><br>He explained that <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Russia rejected Washington's demand for foreign banks to be allowed to open branches in Russia rather than subsidiaries, as is now allowed. "This is not acceptable to us as it would not allow us to control financial flows</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->," he said.<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br><br>Yes, that's the same Mr Chirac that warned just last week that France would use nuclear weapons against anybody who attacked her.<br><br>I have my own theory about that.<br><br>A few days beforehand it was reported by Andrew Pierce in the Times that the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were withdrawing from Buckingham Palace, and that Charlie the Kilt and his mistress would henceforth carry out their duties.<br><br>At about the same time it was announced that the European Parliament is to investigate Equitable Life (more than two hundred MEPs signed the petition).<br><br>Things are warming up! <p></p><i></i>
