Well here is the latest
QUOTE
RUSSIA'S Prime Minister has pledged to boost the country's military might, amid growing signs that he could emerge as President Vladimir Putin's successor next year. Viktor Zubkov, an old friend of the President who served as a low-profile bureaucrat until his recent dramatic elevation, spoke as British and Norwegian jets were again scrambled after two Russian bombers probed NATO air space in the latest of a spate of such incidents in the past two months.
Mr Zubkov, whose new position has been approved by Russia's rubber-stamp Parliament, becomes the first Kremlin heavyweight to declare an interest in contesting presidential elections in March. Mr Putin is constitutionally obliged to step down and Mr Zubkov seemed to win the President's support for his bid.
Mr Putin said there were five people with a "real chance" of succeeding him — but only mentioned his little known but ultra-loyal Prime Minister by name. The extraordinary hints surrounding Mr Zubkov's future have turned the former collective farm boss into a strong candidate for the succession. Yet, given the President's proclivity for convoluted mind games, analysts warn that Mr Putin could be playing a double bluff in order to confuse Kremlin apparatchiks and avoid lame duck status. He was reported to have refused to rule out a return to office after his successor steps down in 2012.
Questioned at a meeting with academics in the city of Sochi, he said he cared about Russia's stability, and its Government needed to continue his policies.
Keen to demonstrate his allegiance to his boss, Mr Zubkov told deputies that he would dedicate his attentions to advancing Mr Putin's favourite projects — the restoration of Russia's military might and the resurgence of Russia's energy-fuelled economy.
Since Mr Putin came to power in 2000, the Kremlin has poured large amounts of cash into Russia's rusting military in what appears to be an attempt to regain the nation's superpower status.
On Thursday British and Norwegian jets intercepted Russian military aircraft after they breached NATO air space close to Britain and Finland. Finland's Prime Minister, Matti Vanhanen, demanded an explanation from Moscow over the violation of Finnish air space, the latest in a spate of recent incursions.
Two British Tornado F3 jets intercepted two Russian long-range bombers, Britain's Defence Ministry said.
The Tu-160 Blackjack bombers were initially intercepted by Norwegian F16s before they entered NATO air space patrolled by Britain.
Last night, Mr Putin was scheduled to revel in a military display of a different sort, taking the salute in Red Square from troops participating in Moscow's first military tattoo. Sixteen regimental bands, including pipe bands from Australia, Scotland, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, are taking part in the tattoo, which runs for several days.
The extravaganza is replete with historical symbolism. The presidential regiment band and the central band of the Russian Army were to be bedecked in imperial uniforms not worn since the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. It is another sign of how Mr Putin, often seen as wedded to the country's Soviet past, has cherry-picked from both tsarist and Communist traditions to project Russia's might.
Mr Zubkov, whose new position has been approved by Russia's rubber-stamp Parliament, becomes the first Kremlin heavyweight to declare an interest in contesting presidential elections in March. Mr Putin is constitutionally obliged to step down and Mr Zubkov seemed to win the President's support for his bid.
Mr Putin said there were five people with a "real chance" of succeeding him — but only mentioned his little known but ultra-loyal Prime Minister by name. The extraordinary hints surrounding Mr Zubkov's future have turned the former collective farm boss into a strong candidate for the succession. Yet, given the President's proclivity for convoluted mind games, analysts warn that Mr Putin could be playing a double bluff in order to confuse Kremlin apparatchiks and avoid lame duck status. He was reported to have refused to rule out a return to office after his successor steps down in 2012.
Questioned at a meeting with academics in the city of Sochi, he said he cared about Russia's stability, and its Government needed to continue his policies.
Keen to demonstrate his allegiance to his boss, Mr Zubkov told deputies that he would dedicate his attentions to advancing Mr Putin's favourite projects — the restoration of Russia's military might and the resurgence of Russia's energy-fuelled economy.
Since Mr Putin came to power in 2000, the Kremlin has poured large amounts of cash into Russia's rusting military in what appears to be an attempt to regain the nation's superpower status.
On Thursday British and Norwegian jets intercepted Russian military aircraft after they breached NATO air space close to Britain and Finland. Finland's Prime Minister, Matti Vanhanen, demanded an explanation from Moscow over the violation of Finnish air space, the latest in a spate of recent incursions.
Two British Tornado F3 jets intercepted two Russian long-range bombers, Britain's Defence Ministry said.
The Tu-160 Blackjack bombers were initially intercepted by Norwegian F16s before they entered NATO air space patrolled by Britain.
Last night, Mr Putin was scheduled to revel in a military display of a different sort, taking the salute in Red Square from troops participating in Moscow's first military tattoo. Sixteen regimental bands, including pipe bands from Australia, Scotland, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, are taking part in the tattoo, which runs for several days.
The extravaganza is replete with historical symbolism. The presidential regiment band and the central band of the Russian Army were to be bedecked in imperial uniforms not worn since the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. It is another sign of how Mr Putin, often seen as wedded to the country's Soviet past, has cherry-picked from both tsarist and Communist traditions to project Russia's might.
Well they are back and they want the world to know it
And dont even consider the Arabs, a lot of them couldn't find their arse with both hands and a flashlight.
