Extensive and Largely Accurate Media Coverage of Russian Nuclear Triad Test

October 21, 2012 • 11:04PM

Many news media around the world, representing elites in their respective countries, took strong notice of Russian President Vladimir Putin's government conducting successful tests of its nuclear triad on Oct. 19 under Putin's personal supervision. This is markedly different than the blackout in Western media of then-President Medvedev's and Gen. Makarov's warnings of the danger of nuclear war, approximately one year ago.

The coverage of the latest triad test ranged from Britain's Reuters wire service; to the U.S. New York Times; to Japan's NHK, National Broadcasting Corp.; and dozens of other press. The dangerous world circumstances, including the British-U.S.-NATO attempt to impose its missile "defense" shield, are noted as provoking Russia to test its nuclear triad.

Voice of America led its story Oct. 19, "Russia has test-fired two nuclear-capable cruise missiles, amid tensions between Moscow and Washington involving a proposed NATO missile defense shield."

The Reuters wire service, running its Oct. 20 article under the headline "Putin Flexes Muscle in Big Test of Russia's Nuclear Arsenal," asserted "President Vladimir Putin took a leading role in the latest tests of Russia's strategic nuclear arsenal, the most comprehensive since the 1991 Soviet collapse..."

The Drudge Report made the Russian nuclear triad test its lead story, with a large picture of Putin in a military cap superimposed on the background of a guided missile in flight.

Many of the articles described the tests, including the launch of an RS-12M Topol Intercontinental Ballistic Missile from the Plesetsk site in northern Russia, and a submarine test-launched ICBM from the Sea of Okhotsk.