Medvedev claims his country needs to modernize its defense systems, but the world knows Russian officials are angry about our country’s planned missile defense bases in Poland and the Czech Republic. This so-called modernization effort is Russia’s way of building its arsenal not to defend itself, but to intimidate weaker countries and irritate the U.S.

Polish and Czech Republic inspectors want to inspect Russian missile bases, and Russia has refused to allow it. But the country wants to discuss assigning its observers to future bases in Poland and the Czech Republic.

A Russian official released a statement:

“The U.S. missile bases are being deployed near our borders and they demand that we must open access to our strategic sites for U.S. allies – Poland and the Czech Republic. There is no even a trace of logic in such demands. All we can see in these demands is the unwillingness to hold a professional dialogue aimed at getting concrete results. It seems that neither Poland nor the Czech Republic is interested in the constructive dialogue at this point.”

(Sources: Times Online and RIA Novosti)