Russian Roulette

The Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty was agreed and signed between NATO and Warsaw Pact Countries in 1990 in Paris.

This deals with agreeing the expansion of boring old weapons that kill people in traditional ways, bullets, bombs etc., and tanks and helicopter gunships, and was a significant step in promoting the peace, stability and security of Europe.

Signed by many but rarely ratified it’s existence and use was questioned yesterday by Russian Defense Minister Sergei : "If the treaty is not ratified by other signatories, Moscow will raise the issue if whether or not this mechanism ... is needed at all." He went on to say on TV , “'The expansion of US and NATO infrastructure to Russian borders raises a question about the fate of the CFE,”

This is seen as a direct response to the "drive by diplomacy", of the Secretary of State Rice’s visits to Berlin, Kiev and Brussels as well as a hasty stop in Bucharest to sign an agreement giving the US access to three Romanian military bases - whilst also slipping in another lie about a shift in US policy on degrading torture and abuse of prisoners.

Romania seeks the power of the American umbrella, which will play uneasily with the EU – now the Russians are feeling threatened by the US military moves in the region.

Just more of the US Zionist / Neo-con “Fuck You “ Beltway gangsters world strategy unfolding – Rice did look very fetching in her floor length fur trimmed coat and boots however.

PS - 08 December 2005 - Last year Romanian exports to Russia were US$181 Mn and imports US$2.7 Bn a growth of 43%. Most of this is imported energy , crude oil, refined products and natural gas = 90% of imports."There is still an unexplored potential between the two countries" said Igor Sidorov yesterday, Russian Trade Representative to Romania.

Recent blogs on same topic here