国际英语新闻：Russia to adjust military plans

MOSCOW -- Russia will adjust its military plans by mid-January in accordance with U.S. plans to deploy a missile defense system in Central Europe, the Russian defense ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry will adapt its Armed Forces operational and tactical training by mid-January 2008 if the United States deploys its missile defense system in Central Europe, the RIA Novosti news agency reported, citing defense ministry officials.

"We will carry out the amendment (of the combat training plan) before mid-January, and after being approved by the supreme commander in chief (the Russian President), it will be brought to the attention of the public," the ministry's combat training department head Lt. Gen. Vladimir Shamanov said.

Russia would take a harder line in its defense policy if the United States goes ahead with its plan to station missile defense elements in Poland and the Czech Republic, Shamanov said.

"Since the world is changing we will change as well. We have been tolerant. We have been suggesting compromise options, but we won't do that unilaterally any more," Shamanov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

Moscow strongly opposes the planned U.S. missile defense system, which consists of a radar station in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland, considering them a threat to its national security.

Washington has insisted the missile shield is intended to stave off the threat of attacks from what it calls "rogue states."