Putin Reappears After 11 Days of Being Missing; Says He Considered Putting Nuclear Forces on Alert Over Crimea Matter

Where was he for 11 days? He's not saying. But he jokes that life wouldn't be as interesting without gossip.

Independent Russian TV channel Dozhd reported that one possible cause of his absence may be that he had the flu and sealed himself off at his residence in the Novgorod region. Meanwhile, Kurier, an Austrian newspaper, said he is being treated in Moscow by an Austrian orthopedist for back problems. The Kremlin has not commented.

"Discussing the President's health is the same thing as aiding the enemy," said Alexei Makarkin, vice president of the Moscow-based Center for Political Technologies. Makarkin said such secrecy was one legacy of the former Soviet Union.

Meanwhile, over the weekend, Putin appeared on state TV and revealed that he considered putting the Soviet Empire's (yes) nuclear forces on alert during his invasion of the Crimea, I guess to war off any possible Western intervention.

The Soviet Empire also has put its North Sea fleet on alert, but this could just the typical crap they do when NATO conducts exercises.

s the U.S. and several Eastern European NATO countries conduct a series of military exercises near Russia's border, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his Northern Fleet "to full alert in a snap combat readiness exercise" in the Arctic, state-run media reported Monday.

At least one Russian leader described the drill as routine and unrelated to the "international situation."

The fleet got its orders at 8 a.m. Monday, according to Sputnik, launching a land, sea and air drill that will involve 38,000 troops, 41 ships, 15 submarines and 110 aircraft, according to Sputnik.

Hey remember when we had the End of History and Bill Clinton gave us the "peace dividend"

that was awesome

posted by Ace at 04:12 PM

| Access Comments