Kyrgyzstan: Did Moscow Subvert a U.S. Central Asian Ally?

Um... yes?

Obama May Bypass Senate to Implement New START Treaty

I don't think the fact that Russia is cutting the number of its aging nuclear warheads, which costs a ton each year to maintain, is really a big strategic accomplishment. However, I do think it is pretty amazing that Russia will allow us to run logistics convoys through their territory in support of the War in Afghanistan - I think that must have been a direct result of some kind of promise not to harp on the missile defense shield in Eastern Europe...

Russia offers Chavez nuclear help amid US tensions

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was to meet Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on Friday after Russia risked Washington's wrath by offering the fierce US foe help developing nuclear energy.

The two were to meet in the city of Orenburg after hawkish Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told Chavez in Moscow on Thursday that Russia was "ready to consider the possibility of cooperation in nuclear energy..."

"Today like never before all that you said on the multi-polar world becomes reality. Let us not lose time," Chavez told Putin. "The world is fast developing geopolitically..."

"Latin America has become an important chain-link in creating a multipolar world, and we will pay more attention to this vector," [Putin] said.

See also:
Chavez, Medvedev oversee signing of oil, gas deals, increasing Russian-Venezuelan ties

Russian Star Wars

He said that Russia must modernise its nuclear defences within eight years, including the creation of a “system of air and space defence”.

The announcement puts Russia in a new arms race with the United States, which has infuriated the Kremlin by seeking to establish an anti-missile shield in eastern Europe. The US argues that the shield is aimed at rogue states such as Iran, but Russia is convinced that its own security is threatened.

Mr Medvedev told military commanders that “all combat formations must be upgraded to the permanent readiness category” by 2020. He added that Russia would begin “mass production of warships, primarily nuclear cruisers carrying cruise missiles and multi-purpose submarines”.

“A guaranteed nuclear deterrent system for various military and political circumstances must be provided by 2020,” he said after attending military exercises in the southern Urals region of Orenburg.