15.Gates says Russia poses no threat following incident near Murmansk

Gates says Russia poses no threat following incident near Murmansk

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said last week that he does not regard Russia as a threat to U.S. security, despite growing evidence of Moscow’s strategic nuclear buildup and continuing aggressive espionage and influence operation.“No…, I don't see Russia as a threat,” Gates told the state-run Interfax news agency when asked about Moscow’s strategic nuclear missile buildup.
“I see Russian-U.S. relations being those of normal states now. We're partners in some areas and competitors in others. But on important things, we are cooperating. The effort to deal with terrorists, we are cooperating, the effort to deal with the Iranian nuclear program. We're cooperating as evident in the U.N. Security Council resolution. We're working together on issues such as counter-piracy.”
Gates said Russia’s missile buildup highlights a “great benefit” of the new START arms treaty because it will provide transparency and predictability. “And so modernization programs that take place within the framework of new START are completely legitimate. We will have our own modernization programs,” he said.
The comments highlight the Obama administration’s conciliatory policies toward foreign adversaries that are aimed at seeking better relations through concessions, a policy that in the past has been misperceived by enemies as weakness and that has led to conflict.
Gates spoke Sept. 14 after several Russian naval jets conducted threatening aerial passes over the U.S. Navy frigate USS Taylor after a ship visit to the northern port city of Murmansk.
According to Navy spokesmen, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead discussed the matter during a meeting with Russian Adm. Vladimir Vysotskiy.
CBS News reported that Russian maritime patrol aircraft, probably a Tupolev Tu-95 Bear bomber, made two low passes over the Taylor with its bomb bay doors open, in a fly-by that officials said was like those conducted during the Cold War. The following day a Russian warship appeared on the horizon and launched a helicopter that circled Taylor at close range.
The incidents took place in international waters in the Barents Sea.
Roughhead played down the threatening maneuvers telling reporters that the Russians were “just stretching their wings” and he noted that “this was something that was really quite common in the days of the Soviet navy.”