'저는 그들의 땅을 지키기 위하여 싸웠던 인디안들의 이야기를 기억합니다. 백인들이 그들의 신성한 숲에 도로를 만들기 위하여 나무들을 잘랐습니다. 매일밤 인디안들이 나가서 백인들이 만든 그 길을 해체하면 그 다음 날 백인들이 와서 도로를 다시 짓곤 했습니다. 한동안 그 것이 반복되었습니다. 그러던 어느날, 숲에서 가장 큰 나무가 백인들이 일할 동안 그들 머리 위로 떨어져 말과 마차들을 파괴하고 그들 중 몇몇을 죽였습니다. 그러자 백인들은 떠났고 결코 다시 오지 않았습니다….' (브루스 개그논)





For any updates on the struggle against the Jeju naval base, please go to savejejunow.org and facebook no naval base on Jeju. The facebook provides latest updates.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Text Fwd: Kurils: U.S.-Japan-South Korea Axis Also Aimed At Russia

* Text fwd from Rick Rozoff on March 1, 2011

Global Times
March 2, 2011
Russia gazes East with new defense plans
By Liu Qian

-To some Russian experts, the intensified military operations between the US, Japan and South Korea in the Asia-Pacific region not only aimed at intimidating North Korea and China, but also displayed their military might to Russia.

Russia seems to be tired of its recent verbal war with Japan over the disputed Southern Kuril Islands, or, as the Japanese term them, the Northern Territories. Now it's bringing the conflict to a new level.

On February 9, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called on Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to strengthen the defense of these islands, bringing a more military aspect to the territorial dispute.

When Medvedev met with Serdyukov and Viktor Basargin, Minister of Regional Development, he said that the Southern Kuril Islands were an inalienable part of and a strategic bulwark for Russia. He indicated that the forces stationed there should be equipped with up-to-date weaponry.

According to reports by the Russian press, the military equipment currently used by forces in the Southern Kuril Islands is seriously outdated. Alexander Khramchikhin, the Deputy Director of the Moscow-based Institute for Politics and Military, described them as "antiques even in the 1950s."

A senior member from the General Staff Department of the Russian Army said that troops on the islands would be equipped with anti-aircraft guns, anti-aircraft missiles and even the newest S-400 air defense system. On Friday, Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, said that one to two ships might also be sent to the Pacific fleet to deal with the security issues there.

After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia's strategic center has been moving toward the West. The Kremlin had to deal with an expanding NATO and had no time to develop its influence in the East.

When the Asia-Pacific region became the focus of world attention, with many countries enhancing their military and economic power there, Russia had to admit that it had fallen behind in the region. However, after Medvedev reached an agreement with US President Barack Obama in the missile defense, Russia had energy to develop in the East.

To some Russian experts, the intensified military operations between the US, Japan and South Korea in the Asia-Pacific region not only aimed at intimidating North Korea and China, but also displayed their military might to Russia.

Khramchikhin claimed that it is entirely possible for Japan to take military action if a radical crisis emerges in East Asia, as they have a territorial dispute with Russia. He added that the military forces currently stationed in the Southern Kuril Islands couldn't contend with Japan.

Russian actions, from Medvedev's visit to the islands to the current plans for rearmanent, show that the nation's strategic purpose is to rebuild its strategic position in the Asia-Pacific.

Other countries in the region are also involved to some degree. Russia has tried to draw other countries to its side on the issue, inviting Chinese and South Korean companies to tap business in the disputed area. The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the US not to intervene in the dispute.

If Russia enhances its naval and air abilities in the Southern Kuril Islands, and expands its Pacific fleet to strengthen the ability to launch marine attacks, the military forces in the islands will be capable of working in concert with military bases in Vladivostok and the Kamchatka Peninsula.

This will certainly affect the security strategy of neighboring countries, and even intensify the potential arms race in Northeast Asia.

The author is a Beijing-based journalist.
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