Well, it was a sarcastic comment. Sorry :) What I'm trying to convey is that it is not Russia that is a threat in the region. And hasn't been since the Soviets

Well, it was a sarcastic comment. Sorry :) What I'm trying to convey is that it is not Russia that is a threat in the region. And hasn't been since the Soviets dissolved. As I said elsewhere, the US unilaterally withdrew from the ABM treaty with Russia back in 2002. This treaty had been active since the 70s and attempted exactly that - decrease the amount of anti-ballistic missiles installed. There was no rational reason to put up a whole new defense system in Europe (under a false premise of the Iranian threat). It is in no one's interest except the US. And rightly so, many, including Russia, considered this move aggressive. If the past decade is of any lesson, the magnitude of the US influence and military presence in the world is a greater threat than anything else.