Why Russia Is Embracing Nuclear Weapons

Topol-M road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile.(RIA Novosti / Syisoev)

Simon Shuster, Time: Why Russia Is Rebuilding Its Nuclear Arsenal

Vladimir Putin skipped the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington last week—one more sign that Russia isn't interested in cutting its arms.

On Friday evening, at the end of the final nuclear security summit of his tenure, President Barack Obama took a swipe at his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for standing in the way of nuclear disarmament. Obama’s remark was pointed, calling out Putin by name, and it cast a rare bit of light on the personal clash between the two presidents on an issue that both of them see as central to their legacies.

“Because of the vision that he’s been pursuing of emphasizing military might,” Obama told reporters at the summit, “we have not seen the type of progress that I would have hoped for with Russia.”

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WNU Editor: The Russian position today mirrors the U.S./NATO position during the height of the Cold War. Because Warsaw Pact forces had a conventional military advantage at the time .... the U.S./NATO  solution was to deploy nuclear weapons (i.e. cruise and Pershing missiles). Today .... the roles are reverse .... and the same arguments are being used .... but by the other side. If you live long enough .... you can always see history repeating itself.