Word: russian
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...Both sides are playing down the significance of this transfer of power. The symbolism could be painful for the Russians. With Mir scheduled to de-orbit in March, the nation that has always led the world in long-duration space flight may now take a backseat to a "partner" that was once its bitter rival. The ISS blueprint calls for more Russian segments to arrive, including a power station and science lab of their own. But while most of the U.S. components are complete and waiting to be launched, and European and Japanese segments are at least funded, the Russians...
...Back home on CNN, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice added accidentally-fired Russian missiles to the list of reasons necessitating the shield. But that's not going to help sell it to the Russians. After all, in the realm of the hypothetical, it has to be considered as likely that Moscow could "accidentally" launch 200 missiles as it could "accidentally" launch one. All of which feeds the Russian suspicion that even the proposed limited missile defense scheme is simply the precursor of a Star Wars revival...
...more comprehensive system using weapons launched either at sea or in space. While the latter option is backed by those most fervently carrying the Star Wars torch, in a more limited version it also has the support of a number of Senate Democrats, Europeans and even the Russians - a sea-launched "boost phase" system designed to intercept missiles before they leave the atmosphere, rather than the current ground-based system designed to intercept an incoming warhead in space. (Moscow like it because it could effectively neutralize "rogue" state missiles, but not ICBMs fired from deep inside the Russian heartland...
...Moscow In a move meant more to calm criticism abroad than at home, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial troop withdrawal from the troubled region of Chechnya, where rebel guerrillas continue to take their toll on weary Russian armed forces. While Putin did not specify troop numbers, officials said that as many as 80,000 soldiers could leave Chechnya in the coming months. The pullout, however, remains merely a declared intention. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe welcomed the statement and restored full voting rights to Russia, which were suspended in April last year over Russia...
...Baikonur A Russian cargo vessel launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan docked with the beleaguered Mir, as part of an elaborate plan to destroy the 15-year-old space station. The successful docking of the unmanned Progress M1-5 ship, which is carrying twice its normal fuel cargo, was slightly behind schedule?however, Russian officials still anticipate that Mir will be destroyed, as expected, in early March. If all goes according to plan, the cargo ship will help lower the space station?s altitude, causing it to burn up in the earth?s atmosphere in what Moscow insists will...