http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/Putin_says_Iraq_shows_Russia_needs_strong_army.html?siteSect=143&sid=8326533&cKey=1192703904000&ty=tiMOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin promised on Thursday new nuclear weapons as part of Moscow's military build-up, saying the experience of Iraq showed the need for resource-rich countries to keep strong defences.
In a televised question-and-answer session with Russian citizens ahead of elections in December, Putin also told the United States to set a date for withdrawing all its troops from Iraq and warned Washington against using force in Iran.
"Thank God Russia is not Iraq," Putin told a questioner who asked about supposed U.S. intentions to gain control of Siberia's vast natural resources. "It is strong enough to protect its interests within the national territory and, by the way, in other regions of the world."
"... What we are doing to increase our defence capability is the correct choice and we will continue to do that," he added.