Why Putin pulled out of the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) last year

Bush's boys announced mid 2007 that some of the bits (hopefully one's that work) of the new "ballistic missile defense system" would be placed in Poland and the Czech Republic.

To little comment at the time , on July 14th 2007 Russia announced that it would withdraw from the 1990 Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE). Russian officials made a point that in 2001, the Bush administration unilaterally pulled out of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty because it said the pact no longer served U.S. interests. Tit for Tat.

A key provision of the CFE Treaty was that signatories were committed to engaging in regular exchanges of information about troop movements and submitting to challenge inspections from other treaty participants .

Whilst the Latvians and Estonians got a bit nervous, political and military analysts said major redeployments were unlikely and pooh poohed any ideas of lessening security. The suspension, they said, was both a symbolic expression of Russian anger over missile defense and a demonstration that the country has returned as an assertive power that must be reckoned with.

This was just after President Bush invited President Vladimir Putin and his missus to the summer home of Bush's parents in Kennebunkport, Maine and he looked deep into the soul of Putin..

It was popular move back home however ..."Russia can't just twiddle its thumbs when it sees the Americans taking root in the Baltic and Caucasus countries and strengthening their positions in East European countries," said Gennady Zyuganov, the leader of the Communist Party (pic).

Russia said it would end the inspection of its military installations by NATO countries after a formal notification period of 150 days - roughly Christmas Day.

So no-one really knew that there was a build up of Russian armour on Georgia's borders ...and they say down at the Dog and Duck that the surveillance was all turned towards, Afghanistan, Waziristan, Baluchistan, Iraq and Iran.

They do say in the Saloon bar that war is like decorating. Good preparation is vital.