U.S. rejects Putin's stinging criticism

Last Updated: Sunday, February 11, 2007 | 9:24 AM ET

CBC News

U.S. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates on Sunday downplayed criticisms from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who told a security conference in Munich the U.S. is making the world a more dangerous place.

Gates, speaking a day after Putin at the conference, did not respond directly to the comments, which he called "very candid," but chose to deflect them with diplomatic humour.

"As an old Cold Warrior, one of yesterday's speeches almost filled me with nostalgia for a less complex time. Almost. Many of you have backgrounds in diplomacy or politics. I have, like your second speaker yesterday, a starkly different background, a career in the spy business. And I guess old spies have a habit of blunt speaking."

Gates, who was appointed defence secretary two months ago, went on to say "one Cold War was quite enough" and that he has accepted an invitation to visit Russia.

In his speech, Putin accused the U.S. of provoking a new nuclear arms race by its domination of global affairs. He said Washington was inciting other countries to seek nuclear weapons to defend themselves from an "almost uncontained use of military force."

"One state, the United States, has overstepped its national borders in every way.
This is very dangerous. Nobody feels secure anymore because nobody can hide behind international law," Putin told the annual Munich Conference on Security Policy.

In Washington, the White House on Sunday rejected Putin's criticism of U.S. foreign policy.

"We are surprised and disappointed with President Putin's comments. His accusations are wrong," spokesman Gordon Johndroe was quoted in U.S. media reports as saying.

"We expect to continue co-operation with Russia in areas important to the international community such as counter-terrorism and reducing the spread and threat of weapons of mass destruction," Johndroe said.