It's about time ,they give the USA -the right hand of GOD- a break !!! Far to long we -the USA -the super powers of the world-the Police of the world ,get a break. Europe must open your eyes now as weather patterns change and climates heat up and fail ,and waters of overfishing =ARE NOT GETTING BETTER -IT's GETTING WORSE AND Will not improve so it's about time they cross the stick in the mud and police there part of the world. I feel it's way to late for us but.,we could relax our selfs when,the world calls for help next,China and Russia are closeure to you

Mike , bklyn., NY USA

Far too long have the other powers that be - EU, Russia, China let the US get away with it. The Yanks have been pulling above their weight for far too long. EU GDP is larger than that of the US, so our army and military weight should be larger too. Why has it not been? Because we prefer to spend money on welfare state rather than on protecting our interests as the US are around the world.

The Chinese economy is also going to be larger than that of the US in 10 to 20 years time and so will be their military. Russia has always been a military power and if they can solve their declining population problem then given their vast territories and resources they will be another large player.

I think since the end of the Cold War people in the world had enough of US antics and its about time military reflect the true importance of the power blocs around the world.

The Yanks are recognising this and are trying to use their military unopposed while they can to secure oil (Iraq, Iran, etc.).

Wolf von Papenburg, Frankfurt, Germany

The brief period of this friendship nonsense between the u.s./u.k. is over. The fact is that the U.K. is a nobody and 15 h bombs would leave a hole in the ocean where Britain was.The U.S. ridiclulous dream of dominating the world and messing in other powers back yards is going to be its undoing . It's navy is good for intimidating third world countries. Russia/China can sink the entire U.S. fleet in about 45 minutes in a preemtive strike. The United States sixth fleet and the puny British navy are not going to realistically intimidate anyone in the Asian seas. Weapons like Aegis cruisers can be overwhelmed with modern hypersonic anti-ship missiles and the same for the entire carrier group. England for one better watch its mouth and remember what a b ear can do to a b ulldog. One munch and its over . One keeps hearing this word "dominate" by the U.S. military; I don't think so, not when push comes to shove. The rest of Nato has had enough of war and could/would not fight anyone.

rex rychliski, houschton, georgia usa

The U.S. Navy was unprepared for a terror attack on their warships. Now they are installing more defenses on warships like the Cole, and crew members are now more highly trained. A similar attack will not probably happen, unless the people in the rubber boat want 20mm round in them...

Andy, Arizona,

Mike from Tennessee:

You must not read history much? The biggest and greatest military powers in history have ALL failed and had their day come. The Romans fell to hoards, the mighty British fell to U.S. terrorists during the Revolutionary War, the greatest military power in World War 2 the Germans fell to the Russians in early 1942, the U.S. was mighty but could not secure Vietnam, NATO could not even put a dent in the Serb army, the U.S. barely controls half of Afghanistan and Iraq is so messed up and even the mighty Soviets could not win in Afghanistan.

Power, money and technology mean squat! Look what happened to the USS Cole, a tiny rubber boat packed with bombs made a multi-billion $ warship useless!

And the U.S. would be the last place God was visit and save, why? A nation of greed and power that seperates church and state is not high on God's priority list! Wealth and a military will not buy you safety from God's wrath!

Pete, Chicago, U.S.

an authoritarian bloc opposed to democracy?

Sounds like Britain, Europe and America to me.

Henry Adams, MANCHESTER, uk,

Shocked and horrified, CK? For what reason? When you consider it in comparison to the GDP it's not that much different from the others - US runs at about 4%, China 3.8%, UK 2.4% and many of the regions formerly belonging to the USSR run at about 3.5%+ of their GDP. So the US spends a little more, percentage wise, but nothing unusual. Compared to the others..., well, let's just say it's not exactly apples to apples. There are many reasons - far too numerous to go into too much detail, but ask yourself this - how many of these countries have bases that they maintain and - yes unfortunately - pay rent on around the world? That alone is very expensive - hence some of the base turnovers since the USSR fell. Now add in maintenance of ships, aircraft, etc.... The US military wants a smaller fighting force that can be more effective than a larger force - this means technology and that means higher cost. Nothing is truly free, especially freedom.

Kevin, London, KY

Worry not to! Here is the one and only USA. No rival, no match. Russians and Chinese? Let them play their beach games, child playing with the yoyo in the sand.

One Great Nation, EL MONTE, California

Of course, war is peace, black is white, warm is cold. This is government speak. Their all the same.

Bonanzaman, blaine, wa

They're being outspent 9 to 1, and that's with US industry not mobilized to fight a war. A rival to NATO? To accomplish what? Whatever your political views, keep the facts in mind: America toppled two govt. on the other side of the world in a shockingly short period of time, and has sustained operations there over four years with minimal domestic impact. At no time has the country truly been on a war footing. Enormous amounts of excess/redirected capacity could be brought to bear if necessary. Russia and China know this and aren't looking to pick a fight. They just want to show that they aren't pushovers. Fair enough.

Mike, Houston,

a short lived marriage. are you a fool. they have caught on to us , the rockefeller/rothchilds have lost them and now we are seeing the freedom of those countries asserting their power against the power mongers.

jerry, vancouver,

Thought India was an ally of ours if so why are they observing at this conference.

corey, manhattan, KS

I wish the CSO and CSTO all the luck in the World as it is the only standing force that can restore peace and justice in the near future. The sky is under thunderous clouds right now in the western hemisphere. The NAU/SPP are what will end freedom in America and it is only a few days away from being signed. Canada and Mexico are sold out to corporate interests.

Michel Tr., Montreal, Canada

Hey Opagene - Jesus was a fairy tale mate ...."turn or burn" ha ha ha you crack me up!!!!

Ripley, Stellenbosch, South Africa

I think it is right thing for any country in the world to develop its own military might. Why? Take a look at the data in the end of the article. Look around what going on in the world. Tomorrow it can happen that your country is not democratic enough. So you need to be liberated and properly democratized.

Russian Ivan, Moscow, Russia

It is not only the SCO being formed to counter ever-expanding US hegemony, but alo the European Union which has for many years been feeling inadequate militarily because they buy most of their most advanced systems from the US, and want an internal military industrial complex for themselves so they can exert some authority in the world, and be on par with everyone else. Countries want a say in world affairs, and only those with military might, unfornuately, have any real say. Unless there is some balance, where multiple super powers exist, like during the Cold War, there will be no semblance of peace anywhere. The United States cannot be trusted to run the world by itself. No nation can.

Wesley, San Jose, CA

It could be said that Tony Halpin is such a poor reporter of fact but a great one for pushing 'his own' endless opinions. This isn't the role of a foreign correspondent, surely, to ceaselessly work to paint a country (in this case Russia) black? What happened to presenting both sides of the story and letting the reader decide?

Mr Halpin would have us believe in the idea of a new confrontation (read his articles), mostly so he can blame Putin for the world's woes (why would he do that?). I would think it more likely that a country spending 535 billion dollars, and with a poor grasp of international law, is more of a threat to any status quo. Why does the US want bases in Romania and Bulgaria, for one?

Jamie Northam, Newcastle, UK

The very reason the SCO was founded was because there are people like Mike from Tennessee in charge of the US defense complex.
If Iran were to join the SCO, it would have a near monopoly on world reserves of natural gas, petroleum, manufacturing capacity, population (emphasis on younger population), cargo capacity, strategic missile assets, and geostrategic territorial control. India, surrounded by SCo members , would probably join as well. The sco would then have roughly 60% of the planet's population.

Marc, Staten Island, New York

These are hardly the first CSO military exercises. They had previous exercises in 2003 and 2005.

Paul Heikkila, New York, NY

If a nation doesn't have a strong military and good equipment, eventually that country will fall if attacked. Russia or China doesn't have anywhere near our nuclear sub technology. We can destroy anyone in the world if we had to but our stupid politicians won't let us because they are to worried about what other nations think when their words are not worth hearing. I don't think the U.S. will ever be attacked or invaded by a foreign nation. If we do they will eventually loose die. If we go under eventually Russia and China will go under because their economy is based on ours because we buy and trade a lot. If it were up to me I wouldn't give Russia anything because you can't trust them but they have theirs coming when God will destroy their military and those with them for attacking Israel in the future. Read Ezekial chapters 38 and 39. If a nation wants to invade us go ahead, we will savagely kill every foreign fighter without mercy and any one that helps. I will kill a lot myself.

mike, milton, U.S.A./ TN.

The rest of the world understands you either prepare to defend yourself or the U.S. military will be sent in to bomb you into submission to the Neocons' New World Order - multiracial, border-less plantations

Tim, Tampa Fl,

End Time Players of the Bible are geting together. \
Even so, "Come Lord Jesus". PTL.............
Either, Turn or, Burn!

Opagene, Boston, AMERICA

Rival to Nato? Cold War II. Can't wait for the Hollywood blockbuster.

Farrukh, Woking, UK

Operation Enduring Freedom

Ann, Hong Kong, China

How could America spend so much money on military $535 billion??? I am absolutely shocked and horrified!!!!

CK, London,

A short-lived marriage of convenience? This world is too small for both of them. It won't last long because both sides have their aces up the sleeves and they are all bluffing.

Eli, Taipei,

Peace Mission 2007
Why call a military training mission a Peace Mission? Militarys never train for peace.

Chris McMahon, Palm Springs, CA