Arms race with Russia coming, Clark says.

[elleng]

U.S. government officials believe Russia is stepping up its military activity, and they say it could jeopardize the ability of the U.S. and Canada to defend North America.

The commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command testified before a Senate committee on Friday.

He said Russia is trying to get to the point where it can deploy long-range armed missiles from bomber aircraft, submarines and warships, and such a program puts this country at risk.

Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Wesley Clark also believes Russia is pushing to develop its weapon capabilities.

"Well, they will go operational. There's no doubt about that. And yes, there is an arms race that's coming. We just have to face the fact that Russia is coming back,” Clark said.

NORAD Commander Admiral William Gortney says they have seen a notable increase in Russian military assertiveness, including more patrols of Russian heavy bomber aircrafts outside Russian airspace.

http://www.wdam.com/story/28494048/arms-race-with-russia-coming-clark-says

Short story. That's all there is.

[randys1]

1. Putin is a certifiable mad punk and the GOP showed him so much love that who knows

what a GOP White House would do.

Putin is very bad news, maybe it is time for Navy Seal Team Six...

[BeyondGeography]

2. We outspent them on defense about 8-1 last year

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures

Do we need to race harder?

I was a 2004 Clarkie, but Wes can stuff it on this one.

[elleng]

3. I AM a Clarkie,

Wes has the same wisdom he's always had. I do NOT think 'shooting the messenger' is a useful strategy. If it were, a few more than Wes would have to go:

"U.S. government officials believe Russia is stepping up its military activity, and they say it could jeopardize the ability of the U.S. and Canada to defend North America.

The commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command testified before a Senate committee on Friday.

He said Russia is trying to get to the point where it can deploy long-range armed missiles from bomber aircraft, submarines and warships, and such a program puts this country at risk."

[BeyondGeography]

6. Not impressed

The term "arms race" is irresponsible and should be expunged for all time. New investments to meet new threats does not require an arms race. Plus they should only be made in the context of a long- term plan that lowers defense spending in real terms.

[Hekate]

4. Surprise, surprise. Putin can distract his people from his domestic failures with a return to...

....the Cold War, which includes smaller, proxy wars. And at least half our Senate would be only too glad to oblige. Oh joy.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Eeek!! Bogey man!! Quick, send more money to the MIC!!

[LuvNewcastle]

7. They always seem to find another 'reason'

to increase spending for war. I can think of a lot of things that are a great deal more important right now.

I think that one of the things that is holding us back from doing more for the citizens is having the military and war as the foundation of our economy. Basing your economy on war is like basing it on for-profit prisons. It might stimulate the economy to some degree, but the sacrifice is much too great.

I don't care what we build our economy on as long as it's something positive, not something that inevitably leads to the degradation of large numbers of people. We could build around space exploration, for instance. Just think how far we might get if we focused our attention in that direction.