NATO says still backs plan for U.S. missile shield

Reuters ^ | November, 17, 2008 | David Brunnstrom

[Red Steel]

BRUSSELS, Nov 17 (Reuters) - NATO reaffirmed on Monday its backing for a planned U.S. missile shield in Europe after French President Nicolas Sarkozy said it would bring no extra security on the continent.

NATO leaders including Sarkozy welcomed U.S. plans to deploy the missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic as a "substantial contribution to the protection of allies" at a summit in Bucharest last April.

Washington says the shield will protect the United States and its allies from attack by "rogue" states such as Iran and North Korea and rejects Russia's argument that it is a direct threat to its territory.

But after talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday, Sarkozy said that deploying the U.S. anti-missile system would do "nothing to bring security and complicates things".

NATO spokeswoman Carmen Romero said the alliance's position had not changed.

"The decision taken at Bucharest is very clear and we are continuing to analyse different options relating to missile defence," she said, referring to options such as a proposal for NATO to complement the U.S. shield with additional components aimed at reinforcing its coverage of southeast Europe.

At an EU summit with Russia on Friday, Sarkozy said he had won Russian backing for talks on security in Europe next year and urged a freeze in missile deployments by Moscow and the United States until then.

GLOBAL MISSILE SYSTEM

Russian has threatened to deploy missiles near NATO's borders in Europe if Washington goes ahead with the system.

Moscow hopes U.S. President-elect Barack Obama will be less enthusiastic about the project than President George W. Bush.

Russian officials say they have been encouraged by early signals and in Washington at the weekend Medvedev suggested Moscow might accept something less than cancellation of the shield.

[icwhatudo]

Not to be picky but who wrote that crappy title at Reuters?

How about

NATO says it still backs plan for U.S. missile shield
NATO still backs plan for U.S. missile shield
NATO still supports plan for U.S. missile shield

But it went with:

NATO says still backs plan for U.S. missile shield

Yeeesh.

[08bil98z24]

Not to be picky but who wrote that crappy title at Reuters?

Crappy reporting, crappy writing, the crappy title fits. ;-)

[Allegra]

NATO Says Raftiffa Skipper Dell-Dell Reuben and There are Puppets on the Lawn.

[JasonC]

Yeah but, who is going to actually run it?

Let's have Charles Rangle shoot down incoming missiles with his breath. It'll be great.

None of the American fighting men you've all been spitting on for five years straight are going to lift a finger.