[Scarlett.]

MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- Just hours after U.S. President-elect Barack Obama delivered his victory speech, Russia's leader delivered a scathing rebuke of U.S. policy and reminded Obama of some of the major foreign policy challenges he will face in office.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev makes the address to the nation in Moscow's Kremlin.

In his first state-of-the-nation speech since taking office earlier this year, President Dmitry Medvedev warned that Russian missiles will be deployed against the planned U.S. missile shield in eastern Europe.

"The Iskander missile system will be deployed in Kaliningrad region to neutralize, when necessary, the missile shield," Medvedev said. "We are also planning to use the resources of the Russian naval fleet for these purposes."

Moscow has long been infuriated by a U.S. plan for the defensive missile installation, which includes basing missile interceptors in Poland. Russian officials previously warned that such a move would open Poland up to an attack in the event of conflict.

Under the U.S. plan, the interceptor rockets in Poland would be linked to an air-defense radar system in the Czech Republic. Video Watch more about the Kremlin attack on U.S. policy »

Russia fears the missile shield would blunt its nuclear deterrent.


At the Pentagon, spokesman Bryan Whitman reiterated Wednesday that the missiles are not aimed at Russia and are designed as a defensive shield for U.S. allies in Europe. He said the shield is designed with the possibility of Iranian ballistic missiles in mind.

Medvedev had more harsh words for America, criticizing its support for Georgia's "barbaric aggression" in the recent conflict in South Ossetia. He also blamed the United States for the global financial crisis.

"The most powerful, the economy of the United States ... took down a tailspin of the financial markets of the whole planet," Medvedev said. "This crisis, this has also acquired a global nature. Certain features of local problems becoming common problems, this is typical of the modern world today."

Though Medvedev's speech showed Russia is not softening its foreign policy, he followed the remarks with a congratulatory telegram to Obama in which he called for continued cooperation on a number of issues. Medvedev also said he hopes for a constructive dialogue with the next U.S. president.
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Medvedev said in his speech that Russia has no problems with the American people.

"We have no inborn anti-Americanism," Medvedev said. "We hope that our partners, the new administration in the United States of America, shall choose to respect full-fledged relationships with Russia."

CNN

[Novo]

dear me

both countrys are acting like kids

[Scarlett.]

Not really, the US is planning a Missile Sheild, a sheild, and Russia wants to nuke it!

[Magic]

I dont really understand, sorry, can you explain in Sam-dumbo terms haha.

[Scarlett.]

Russia is to deploy new missiles in a Baltic enclave near Nato member Poland, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says.

Short-range Iskander missiles in the Kaliningrad region would "neutralise" the planned US anti-missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, he said.

The US says its shield is a defence against missiles from "rogue" nations, but Moscow sees it as a direct threat.

Mr Medvedev also said he wanted to extend Russia's presidential term to six years from the current four.

He did not explain if he wanted to extend his own term, or change the rules for his successor.

There has long been speculation that Mr Medvedev is a stop-gap so that Prime Minister Putin - who served the maximum two consecutive terms - can return to the top job, correspondents say.

'Conceited' US policy

In his first state-of-the nation address, Mr Medvedev said Moscow would deploy the Iskander missile system in the Kaliningrad region - between Nato members Lithuania and Poland - to "neutralise - if necessary - the [US] anti-missile system".

Kaliningrad map

"Naturally, we also consider using for the same purpose the resources of Russia's navy," he said.

Mr Medvedev also said Russia would jam the US anti-missile system electronically.

Mr Medvedev's announcement is extremely provocative, but the Kremlin's clear message is that America is to blame, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow says.

Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus later said that Russia's decision to deploy missiles was "beyond comprehension".

In his speech to lawmakers, the Russian leader also said the August war in Georgia had resulted from a "conceited" US foreign policy.

He said "the conflict in the Caucasus was used as a pretext for sending Nato warships to the Black Sea and also for the foisting on Europe of America's anti-missile systems".

Mr Medvedev, who succeeded Vladimir Putin in May, vowed that Russia "won't retreat in the Caucasus".

Mr Medvedev also blamed Washington for the global financial crisis, but said Russia would "overcome" the challenge.

BBC News

[Novo]

america isn't innocent neither is russia

we don't know the full story

we never will

[bananarama]

The Russian response is only to be expected......They know Obama will be a push over and cave in like the weak spineless party the Democrats are......The iranians must be laughing all the way to the nuclear bomb they will be sending to israel.....

[Wildcat!]

Originally posted by bananarama
The Russian response is only to be expected......They know Obama will be a push over and cave in like the weak spineless party the Democrats are......The iranians must be laughing all the way to the nuclear bomb they will be sending to israel.....

Oh gawd, youre a real sharp one arent you? Why dont you do yourself a favor and limit your discussions to Big Brother Issues! I think you will be more helpful there! Better to talk about things your brain can actually understand!

[bananarama]

Originally posted by Aint_mad_atcha

Oh gawd, youre a real sharp one arent you? Why dont you do yourself a favor and limit your discussions to Big Brother Issues! I think you will be more helpful there! Better to talk about things your brain can actually understand!

Why don't you do yourself a favour and stop insulting posters just because you don't agree with a point of view......such silly insulting comments add nothing to a debate what so ever.....Please grow up.......

[Wildcat!]

Originally posted by bananarama

Why don't you do yourself a favour and stop insulting posters just because you don't agree with a point of view......such silly insulting comments add nothing to a debate what so ever.....Please grow up.......

yeah I love your debating! Read back your posts, and see the wonderful points youve made!

[bananarama]

Originally posted by Aint_mad_atcha

yeah I love your debating! Read back your posts, and see the wonderful points youve made!

So sad to see you have now added sarcasm to your list of debating skills.......