World

Russia Threatens Pre-Emptive Strike on Missile Sites

Russia Threatens Pre Emptive Strike on NATO Missile Sites

Chief of General Staff Nikolay Makarov speaks at Russian Ministry of Defense’s Conference on Missile Defense in Moscow on Thursday, May 3, 2012. President Medvedev last year threatened that Russia will retaliate if it does not reach agreement with the United States and NATO. Makarov on Thursday confirmed that stance, saying that that Russia will take "a decision on a pre-emptive use of destructive force" if "the situation aggravates." (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev)

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s top military officer has threatened to carry out a pre-emptive strike on U.S.-led NATO missile defense facilities in Eastern Europe if Washington goes ahead with its controversial plan to build a missile shield.

President Dmitry Medvedev said last year that Russia will retaliate militarily if it does not reach an agreement with the United States and NATO on the missile defense system.

Chief of General Staff Nikolai Makarov went even further Thursday. “A decision to use destructive force pre-emptively will be taken if the situation worsens,” he said at an international conference attended by senior U.S. and NATO officials.

Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov also warned on Thursday that talks between Moscow and Washington on the topic are “close to a dead end.”

U.S. missile defense plans in Europe have been one of the touchiest subjects in U.S.-Russian relations for years.

Moscow rejects Washington‘s claim that the missile defense plan is solely to deal with any Iranian missile threat and has voiced fears it will eventually become powerful enough to undermine Russia’s nuclear deterrent. Moscow has proposed running the missile shield jointly with NATO, but the alliance has rejected that proposal.

Makarov‘s statement on Thursday doesn’t seem to imply an immediate threat, but aims to put extra pressure on Washington to agree to Russia’s demands.

The two-day conference in Moscow is the last major Russia-U.S. meeting about military issues before a NATO summit in Chicago later this month. Russia has not yet said whether it will send top officials.

In a candid, lively exchange during a conference side session, officials talked about the high level of distrust remaining between the two sides.

“We can’t just reject the distrust that has been around for decades and become totally different people,” Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said in addressing U.S. and NATO officials. “Why are they calling on me, on my Russian colleagues, to reject distrust? Better look at yourselves in the mirror.”

U.S. State Department special envoy Ellen Tauscher responded that neither country can afford another arms race.

“Your 10-foot fence cannot cause me to build an 11-foot ladder,” Tauscher said. “It‘s going to have to take a political leap of faith and it’s going to take some trust that we have to borrow, perhaps, from each other and for each other, but why don’t we do it for the next generation?”.

At a later news conference, Tauscher played down Makarov’s comments on pre-emptive measures

“We’ve heard it before,” she said. “We think that’s off on the horizon.We think they were showing us what could happen. I think we’re far from there, but we‘re aware of what they’re saying.”

The Obama administration tried to ease tensions with Russia in 2009 by saying it would revamp an earlier Bush-era plan to emphasize shorter-range interceptors. Russia initially welcomed that move, but has more recently suggested the new interceptors could threaten its missiles as the U.S. interceptors are upgraded.

The U.S.-NATO missile defense plans use Aegis radars and interceptors on ships and a more powerful radar based in Turkey in the first phase, followed by radar and interceptor facilities in Romania and Poland.

Russia would not plan any retaliation unless the United States goes through with its plans and takes the third and final step and deploys defense elements in Poland, Antonov said Wednesday. That is estimated to happen no earlier than in 2018.

Russia has just commissioned a radar in Kaliningrad, its western outpost near the Polish border, capable of monitoring missile launches from Europe and the North Atlantic.

On Thursday, at the start of the conference attended by representatives from about 50 countries, Russia‘s Security Council secretary reiterated Moscow’s offer to run the missile shield together with NATO. Nikolai Patrushev said such a jointly run European missile defense system “could strengthen the security of every single country of the continent” and “would be adequate for possible threats and will not deter strategic security.”

NATO’s deputy secretary general, Alexander Vershbow, told the conference that the U.S.-led missile shield is “not and will not be directed against Russia” and that Russia’s intercontinental ballistic missiles are “too fast and too sophisticated” for the planned system to intercept.

Meanwhile, U.S. Senator John McCain, on a visit to Lithuania, lashed out at Russia’s plans in Kaliningrad.

McCain said using missile defense as an “excuse to have a military buildup in this part of the world, which is at peace, is really an egregious example of what might be even viewed as paranoia on the part of Vladimir Putin.”

Jim Heintz in Moscow and Liudas Dapkus in Vilnius, Lithuania, contributed to this report.

Comments (133)

  • Chrison
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:24pm

    Btw, isn‘t this the missile defence system Obama told the Russians he’d have “more flexibility” to negotiate when (not if… when!) he’s re-elected?

    If so, it seems the Russians either: (a) don’t trust Obama to keep his word if (not when!) he’s re-elected, or (b) don‘t think he’s going to BE re-elected! After all, if all they have to do is wait until Obama’s re-election to get their way (i.e. “more flexibility”), then why would they be applying pressure now?

    Just a thought!

     
    • Chrison
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:42pm

      I forgot to mention…

      Whichever assumption the Russians have made, they’re pretty astute as BOTH assumptions are fairly accurate… Obama may NOT get re-elected (we can certainly hope so!), and even if definitely CAN’T be trusted!

      Report Post »  
    • chazmo
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:58pm

      I think it plays in perfectly. Obama comes back after the election and says sure we capitulate. He is now the Hero that averted war with Russia.

      Report Post » chazmo  
    • conard3
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 4:16pm

      Well they obviously don’t understand the people here in the U.S. If they threaten us militarily, all they will do is push us more likely to vote for a republican. I say keep threatening us. Maybe we’ll vote for someone with a little courage in the face of punk leaders around the world.

      Report Post »  
    • cuinsong
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:01pm

      Let’s see NObama says that after the election he will have more flexibility to do what?
      Oh yea, I can guess now its to not build the missile shield yes that’s it.
      We should be glad that this technology has them that worried.
      It means they have no counter for it and if we build it they will lose their leverage over their neighbors.
      But if we give in and do not build it they will keep on threatening other countries including us!
      If NObama is re-elected then I think this song will come true!
      “The End Times” http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10381143

      Report Post » cuinsong  
    • fastfacts1
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:50pm

      DID YOU HEAR THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT WAS CONFRONTED ON OBAMA’S MESSAGE TO PUTIN. They dodged the question and wouldn’t talk about it, now we get this threat. The State Dept’s statement was a top story at http://www.americanparchment.com.

      Report Post »  
    • johnpaulkuchtajr
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 7:09pm

      My grandmother was Russian. I have always judged them to be good judges of character.

      If Putin thinks that the Ayatollah Obama is a slug, I’m certainly not going to argue with an ex-KGB guy!

      Report Post »  
    • poorrichard09
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 7:37pm

      What? Didn’t Medvedev give Vladimir the message??

      Report Post »  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 7:43pm

      This is just cover for O‘s slip with the open mic to make it appear as if it didn’t mean what we all know it meant

      Report Post » kaydeebeau  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:21pm

    You silly Russians don’t you know our Marxist in chief is working feverishly to transform us into a communist state? So why all the threats? the Marxist heathen is doing his best to emulate you.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:26pm

      One of my RINO Senators voted for the START treaty Slayer, right aafter I voted for him. Thanks Johnny Isakson. You better not plan on running again.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:21pm

    Russia may be getting worried that obama isn’t going to win the election, so his little nod nod wink wink wait until after the election can’t come through for them.

    Report Post »  
  • raderby
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:20pm

    hmmmm Makorov – - -his ancestor design the handgun? I’ll personally send Dimitry a Colt 45 so he can have an accident cleaning it.

    Report Post » raderby  
    • snufy
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 4:27pm

      I’m quite sure Mr. Demitry kows as much as you do about handguns.
      Has the world gone more mad? They surely know that if they launch, it would be met with a complete launch code against Russia. I used to be involved with launches of Minuteman missiles while in the Air Force, so I know their capabilities. Russia and their buddies in Iran and North Korea had better think long and hard before acting stupid. It could be the last thought they ever have.

      Report Post » snufy  
    • hidden_lion
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 10:38pm

      Snuffy, I guess you forgot Obama’s disarmament plan. Haven’t you noticed how many problems (the Air Force in particular) we have been having with our nuclear deterrent? We have had at least two major issues including loss of accountability of the weapons, in the last couple of years. Minot even failed their surety inspections multiple times. We are out of practice. I doubt if O pushed the button, it would actually do anything,. Maybe the button has unionized and will be on a coffee break.

      Report Post » hidden_lion  
  • Elvis
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:20pm

    Hmmmmm………if we build something for defense…..they will go on the offense….something ain`t right here!

    Report Post » Elvis  
    • SERUM
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:27pm

      Never got it either, if your neighbor has a garden hose ready to spray you, wouldn’t it be nice to have an umbrella to avert his attack?! Kink their hose!

      Report Post »  
    • ViewPointtt
      Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:38am

      Agreed, yet it is rather stunning that they dare to issue a threat for a mere measure of self-defense. So if a nation dares an attempt of protection against foreseeable aggression this is now sufficient reason for a threat of attack? Does this indicate that they are so certain of attacking the U.S. in the near-future that they find it imperative to hasten their planned attack before the U.S. has an enhanced chance of self-defense? Remember how pleased Soviet leaders were when obam announced in 09 that the defense shield was unnecessary and too expensive? The Soviet leaders were so full of glee that they could not refrain from giggling as they congratulated obam for his unprecedented wisdom. So, now they feel betrayed because obam previously assured them that the U.S. would not self-defend in a significant way? So, did obam go back on his word? As another poster has already said, it is far more likely that he is attempting to minimize the damage from his open-mic-wait-until-I-am-re-elected-to-completely-handover-the-U.S.-soveignty-to-you leak.

      Report Post »  
  • jackact
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:19pm

    Russia is bankrupt.
    China is running out of oil.
    Europe has suffered the wrath of rampant failed socialism.
    All we have to do is drill for oil here….Saudi Arabia collapses.
    What is so bad about our country?
    It is time we leave these despotic Mickey Mouse countries
    to themselves to wither and die.
    America first.
    Period.
    No more nation building.
    It is time to re-apply pressure and make them all shake in their commie boots

    Report Post »  
    • hidden_lion
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 10:39pm

      Didn’t you get the memo? We are the commies now. Obama has switched our place in the world.

      Report Post » hidden_lion  
    • ViewPointtt
      Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:47am

      Russia is the #2 exporter of oil, and the #1 exporter of natural gas.

      Report Post »  
    • 2Fedup
      Posted on May 4, 2012 at 9:00am

      Jack,
      hate to break it to u n the rest, but i was looking at a global map of countries and their debt the other day and russia is n a waay better situation than us and europe and many other countries. They apparently learned their lesson n the 80′s, while the politicians here did not. They prob can afford a war much more so that us.

      Report Post » 2Fedup  
  • raderby
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:17pm

    Really, Vlad, or is it Boris? Do it then. We’ll be coming for you, schmuckie. Count on it, comrade. Lyublyu Dr. Strangelove.

    Report Post » raderby  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:15pm

    Russia makes threats you need to ask the question of WHY?

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:15pm

    Don’t worry Russia, Obama will have “more flexibility” after the election. Da?

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • wbedding
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:13pm

    this dictator is more dangerous than any other president in our history. period. but the political process will win the day. just like hope and change did. #FAIL

    Report Post » wbedding  
  • 2SENSEWORTH
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:13pm

    Push, shove, push, shove, push, shove. What else is new.

    Report Post » 2SENSEWORTH  
    • FromSeaToSea
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:46pm

      First time in US history a known terrorist is in the WH. A terrorist with a nuclear shelter and with his hand on the trigger of every nuclear device the US has. Do you have a shelter? O’s in with all who are pushing for depopulating the world. War is the fastest way to get rid of 100′s of millions. How else can you go from 7 billion to less than l billion? Stay tuned. Russia has every US city over 10K targeted with warheads. Who you vote for in Nov. may for the first time in 50 years determine if you are and your neighbor are live a full happy life.

      Report Post »  
  • rixdaref
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:12pm

    Ellen Tauscher, a Demorat party hack from No. Calif is our special envoy to Moscow? (Try a web search on her name.) Obama‘s reward for her efforts to transform the US into a Socialist Worker’s paradise is for her to give away our store to the Russians! Call Medvedev’s bluff on this one, threatening military retaliation if we install a defensive weapon system.

    PS she could take her 10ft wall to our southern border to augment the fence not yet built.

    Report Post »  
    • DesertDave54
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:26pm

      Oh, lordy… we’ve been down this road before with Mother Russia!!! Anyone over the age of 50 knows. I was in the Intelligence Community during the Cold War. Is Russia any more powerful now than they were before? They DO have a great supply of petrol products and good bux that that brings… but they’re STILL Communists- and that will be their Achilles’ heel forever and a day. Their Army was bigger- ours was/is better. They had a bigger Navy- ours? No contest. They had a MUCH better Spy network in America and Western Europe… did THAT help them in the end? Nope. They’ll never learn. Nor will the Socialists HERE ever learn. They say, “It’ll work this time”- good luck with that. My kids saw the difference between a free, capitalist (well, somewhat anyhow) West Germany and Communist East Germany… It was SUCH a good lesson they learned.

      Report Post » DesertDave54  
  • SquidVetOhio
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:11pm

    Russia is a paper tiger. I believe the card board missle silos proved that. They aren’t going to attack squat, as Reagan proved. Russia was more powerful then than they are now. But, we know our CinC (Chicken in Chief) will not dare upset Comrade Vladimir.

    Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:18pm

      Russia on the verge of suicide. If they loose to the USA we will do some nation building. If Russia wins the war they will have received so much damage that the Chinese will begin flowing into Russia like the Mongol Horde. Today, Russia cannot sustain a war, its not 1960.

      Report Post »  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:21pm

      This is the BREATHING ROOM Obama begged for on his hands and knees. Millions of Americans feel that there is a High Treason Court Trial in Obama’s future.

      Report Post »  
    • NutterButter79
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:22pm

      There are far worse things going on here in America!
      Seriously read this, your survival might just count on it!
      http://revolutioninmedia.com/2012/05/03/shocking-re-education-camps-coming-soon/

      Why hasn’t The Blaze been talking about this?

      Report Post » NutterButter79  
    • raydg
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:32pm

      You are right in that Russia is a paper tiger. I just moved back to the US from Russia and lived there since Jan 2007. There military is a joke and if they were ever to get in a war, they will lose badly. Also all the money Russia makes is only on exporting oil. Their manufacturing is the pits and do import a lot of goods from China, which too is junk. Russians want to buy American and German made goods. As for their military hardware, it too is junk and have to rely on foreign countries for their military goods that work. This is only talk and they wont be stupid enough to strike any NATO base.

      Report Post »  
    • stockpicker
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:35pm

      Glenn doesn’t believe in these re-education camps.

      Report Post »  
    • hidden_lion
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 10:46pm

      RAYDG-
      Tell that to the US trained and equipped Georgians who had the Behinds handed to them in short order. Obama should be asking to get our equipment back that they acquired during that action.

      Report Post » hidden_lion  
  • contkmi
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:11pm

    It’s all part of the plan, kids. Remember how the president said he could be more flexible in his second term? This is the first part of the script: Russia says they’ll attack. Obama says, “Look, you have to re-elect me to deal with them.” After re-election, Obama pulls all the shield plans, fulfilling his promise to the commies and completing the script agreed upon behind closed doors.

    Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

    Report Post » contkmi  
  • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:09pm

    I say call them on their BS. Then call Iran on it’s BS. Then North Korea.. just for chits and giggles. Not all at once mind you.

    Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
    • FromSeaToSea
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:40pm

      Russia has stated a convention war with the US is unwinnable without nuclear weapons. Russia this very moment has every city over 10K in the US targeted with nuclear warheads. Obama has several nuclear shelters. Do you even have a bug out bag?

      Report Post »  
    • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:48pm

      SEA. Lol. Yeah, and the essential skills needed if the time comes…

      Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
  • SouEu
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:09pm

    Now what was it that the left said about Mitt Romney when he said that Russia was our #1 geopolitical foe? oh yeah, Romney has antiquated views. He‘s a throwback to the 80’s, etc, etc.

    Anyone that thinks that Russia is our friend, and that we shouldn‘t worry about them is an idiot who doesn’t want to face reality.

    Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:53pm

      An ” idiot?” Guess you must be referring to an Obama voter. You know, the ones that are filling the Occupy Movement ! So who do you think gets to be the boss when the ” American Autumn,” the anti-capitalist Occupy Revolution takes place here ? Obama or Putin ? I’m thinking Putin…. Obama will be appointed to be the Propaganda Chairman and Minister of The Teleprompter Speech Committee …

      Report Post »  
  • Zurich
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:08pm

    So either Medvedev forgot to tell Vladimir that Obama needs “more space” until election day or the top Russian Military Officer doesn‘t believe in Obama’s re-election and promised “flexibility”.

    Report Post »  
  • bassist237
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:08pm

    How about this, f”"” you Russia, for a response. Precisely the reason they need missile “defense” is because of all you commies trigger fingers.

    Report Post » bassist237  
  • Mutiny
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:06pm

    Hmm, so they are worried about us building something so they are going to attack us? Sounds like our foreign policy.

    Report Post » Mutiny  
    • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:17pm

      And Code-Pink has weighed in.

      Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
    • P8riot
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 4:52pm

      don’t worry Russia –

      according to mutiny and the other Paulistinians – Ron Paul REALLY has 5 million delegates and Romney only has 3 (and those three are REALLY going to vote for Ron Paul at the convention in Tampa) – THUS – Ron Paul will win the nomination, easily slide right through the primaries and will cut our military power into 1/100th of its current size (even though the Constitution’s ONLY mandatory federal government function is national security) and THEN you can attack us. :)

      Report Post » P8riot  
    • P8riot
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 4:53pm

      @TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12 –

      lol! that was the best comment of the day!

      Report Post » P8riot  
    • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 5:27pm

      P8RIOT. Lol. I‘m sure MUTINY’s out on the front lines with his Ron Paul signage, pink shirt (with Ron Paul’s face on it) and Medea Benjamin covering his 6 every chance he gets chanting NEO-CONS, NEO-CONS, NEO-CONS!

      Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
    • P8riot
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:23pm

      he’s also been pretty busy on the Jon Stewart/Mormon article here on the blaze bashing Mormons. That seems to be his second favorite passion after “Dr.” Paul.

      Report Post » P8riot  
    • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 8:35pm

      P8TRIOT. He’s a piece of work that Mouseketeer, er, Musketeer, er, Mutineer… lol.

      Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
  • MittensKittens
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:06pm

    Here we go Cold War 2.0

    Report Post » MittensKittens  
  • Mark0331
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:05pm

    …and Barry still thinks he can play nice with the AQ, Iran, North Korea, theTaliban and Russia…what an inept fool…Barry will ‘blink’ and remove protection from our allies, and Russia will roll into the Baltic once again….wait and see…our enemies are on the move because they KNOW we have a weak stupid ‘President’.

    Report Post » Mark0331  
    • raderby
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:28pm

      THANKS!
      finally- someone articulates the facts. Weak crapper for US prez? We get the roaches running out of the wallboards. Quite correct.

      Report Post » raderby  
  • Diablo4965
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:05pm

    Do that and the Kremlin wil be Crumblin!

    Report Post » Diablo4965  
  • lukerw
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:04pm

    And… there is Glee in ObamaVille for there shall be “peace on earth”… with One World under Communism!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • barber2
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:00pm

    Gee. Sounds like Obama’s friends in Russia and China are not making “ nice” with him! Darn. Guess he’ll have to re-set that old re-set button. Again. Gotta be flexible, you know !

    Report Post »  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:15pm

      THEN THERE WILL BE WAR RUSSIA.

      Russian airborne troops will be arriving in Denver in May for what the White House said was “Extensive” joint exercises directed against one of the CIA’s largest complexes. Now we have heard that this Extensive Exercise may be extended into Utah. Will Americans fly Old Glory or the French White Flag of Peace?

      Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:42pm

      TEA: Am sure the Russians find Obama to be joke. Unfortunately, so do we, but he is a joke at our expense and to our endangerment. ( I feel like a parent who has left an irresponsible kid at home with a full liquor cabinet and the keys to the family BMW )

      Report Post »  
    • Mark0331
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:49pm

      @Barber2….notice the trolls, for the most part, stay away from topics that have to do with a real Communistic threat?..they sling their Marxist BS when its ‘domestic and safe’ …but like ignorant kids,on the real world stage, they know nothing…intellectual cowards.

      Report Post » Mark0331  
    • barber2
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:56pm

      MARK : wonder if these kids even saw the photo of that lone Chinese student standing in front of the Chinese Communist tank in Tiananmen Square ? Do theses naive kids even know about the gulags ?

      Report Post »  
    • Mark0331
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 4:41pm

      They have not one clue about history….they think John Stewart is a respected ‘newsman’…enough said right there…

      Report Post » Mark0331  
  • blackyb
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 2:59pm

    I guess Russia wants a missle of our up their fat arses.

    Report Post » blackyb  

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