Power Play

Is the Cold War coming back?

Russia's top diplomat accused the United States of launching a new arms race as the two nations traded barbs Wednesday over U.S. plans to erect a missile defense system in countries formally under Moscow's influence. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov complained that the U.S. rationale for the shield is thin and suggested that U.S. assurances to Russia amount to a brush-off. "All they are saying is, 'Don't worry it's not aimed at you,'' Lavrov said. He called the plan a threat to Russia and added, ``the arms race is starting again.''
...On Tuesday, Russia tested a new multiple-warhead, intercontinental ballistic missile, and Putin warned that the planned U.S. missile shield would turn Europe into a ``powder keg.''

Or, is Russia, and by Russia I mean the old Soviets like Putin, simply tired of being out of the game.