Kremlin 'red-squares' with cold war rival

Kremlin 'red-squares' with cold war rival

Every weekday morning, without fail, I wake to the sound of drums.

Moscow is gearing up for one of the biggest events of the year, the May 9 parade, the day when Russia rolls out its military hardware over Red Square. 

I happen to live across the road from one of the country's top military academies and with just over a month to go drum rehearsals have now escalated into a full marching band.

I now munch my morning muesli to the accompaniment of tubas, trombones and shrieks of command.

May 9 is a day when the nation bears its military muscle in the name of nostalgia but an event seen by many outsiders as a last ditch attempt to show the world who's boss.

A diplomat friend of mine prefers to compare the parade to the New Zealand Haka; a traditional performance comprised of shouts and feet stamping - a war dance designed to scare off opponents. 

But the Haka's also performed as a welcome to distinguished guests and like this year's parade - the 65th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany - a contingent of US troops is being welcomed into the fold.

This afternoon President [Dmitry] Medvedev ordered full media coverage of the parade. 

In the context of the "reset" in US-Russia relations, the Kremlin is more than aware of how striking the image of American and Russian troops marching together on Red Square will be.