Here we go ...so I guess we'll have to consider moving short range, no warning attack missiles to target their launch bases

How much more stupid can the Russians be over losing their ability to use NUCLEAR BLACKMAIL as a negotiating tool against their NEIGHBORS?

Russia threatens to target US missile shield sites: reports

Russia could point missiles at strategic US targets in central Europe, including planned American missile shield sites in Poland and the Czech Republic, a senior Russian general said Wednesday.

"I can't exclude that if such decisions are taken by our military-political leadership, the missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic and other such objects could be chosen as designated targets for some of our inter-continental ballistic missiles," General Nikolai Solovtsov said, quoted by Interfax.

Moscow "is obliged to take corresponding measures that prevent under any circumstances the devaluing of Russia's nuclear deterrent.

Everybody get it? Xlation - Russia needs to be certain they can use their missiles to destroy anyone they choose in order to achieve their goals. (Which are what, btw?) Thus they are assured they can gain those goals by effective blackmail.

"We should be sure that the current and future strategic missile forces... are guaranteed to fulfil the task of strategic deterrence," said Solovtsov, the head of Russia's strategic missile forces.

Listen, Nikky, baby, boychickle, WE DON'T WANT RUSSIA. WE DON'T 'WANT' POLAND, the UKRAINE, or any other wonderful place you covet or think will be turned into a new base for the Teutonic Knights to trash and sack Mockba and turn out the new boyars. It's THESE NATIONS who have chosen to have a democracy. It's THEY who have chosen to be close to or join NATO. Partly as a result of the very attitude you are exhibiting right now. Get off it, and get onto improving Russia. What we want is to be able to IGNORE YOU, and for you to IGNORE US except for profitable commercial relations, and cultural exchanges, and the free intermixing of our peoples as they so choose. WE DON'T WANT THE RODINA. These missiles are effective only against those you launch at Poland or Europe IF YOU LAUNCH THEM. They are not effective against your strategic deterrent aimed at us AS APPARENTLY THEY ALWAYS WERE. They are HIGHLY effective against the low to mid tech missiles we expect from Iran, or Syria, or Hizballah, and that's how it's going to be. So I guess if you need to be assured of your ability to blackmail NATO ALLIES, we are GOING to have another Cold War, which you apparently prefer to what we have had.

Fine.

The band's playing ...it's a Samba. Too bad for earth. We tried.

Solovtsov added that by the end of the year Russia planned to carry out four strategic missile tests, including a test of the new RS-24, capable of carrying a clutch of independently targetable warheads.

The comments came as tensions mounted between Russia and the United States over last month's Russian military surge into Georgia and the fraught question of missile defence.

While the 10 missile interceptors planned for Poland could not themselves undermine Russia's arsenal, Moscow was troubled by a lack of transparency in the project, Solovtsov said.

Moscow sees the plans for new US missile defence facilities in central Europe as part of an effort to encircle Russia.

Washington insists the planned facilities are directed against "rogue states" such as Iran and in no way threaten Russia.