In my article earlier this year i raised this.

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/02/363630.html

Condy Rice has now called his concerns ludicrous.Not a good idea considering in the past few months Russia has updated it's missile capability considerably.To tell him it's to protect the west from rogue states is ludicrous to Putin.Analysts say Russia is too dependent on the west with it's gas contracts with it. to threaten Europe with targeting of it's missiles.They do not understand the Russians of late.Most of the Russian population is disolutioned with capatilism and want the "old way".Putin has even hinted he is the old way without the Stalinism.If pull comes to push the Russian people will gladly return to communism and unite together against any enemy that threatens them,especially the USA.That is something the USA and UK need to understand.Russia is still capable with it's nuclear arsenal of destroying most of the planet,certainly making it uninhabitable to any life form.The rest of the world should pay attention and take him serious and stop the positioning of radar and missiles in Eastern Europe.If it ever came to launch the USA would willingly sacrifice the UK and Europe.