Putin: US Using Nonexistent Russian Threat to Boost Defense Spending

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has made more harshcountries also believe, when he complained last week
comments about the Bush administration, accusing itabout what he described as the almost uncontained
of using what he calls a "nonexistent Russian threat"use of U.S. military force.
to get more defense spending from Congress.The White House called his remarks disappointing.
Mr. Putin said during a visit to Jordan Tuesday thatLast week, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates
the administration has used the "Russian card" tospoke to a congressional committee and identified
address its political problems, including the wars in IraqRussia as a potential threat.
and Afghanistan, and for the deployment of a missileSome information for this report was provided by AP
defense system.and Reuters.
He said he only expressed what many other