Russia official warns of pre-emptive strike against U.S.-led Europe missile defense

Haaetz | AP ^ | 3/5/12

[LibWhacker]

Moscow rejects Washington's claim that a planned missile defense system is solely to deal with any Iranian missile threat and has voiced fears it will eventually threaten Russia.

Russia's top military officer has threatened to carry out a pre-emptive strike on U.S.-led NATO missile defense facilities in Eastern Europe if Washington goes ahead with its controversial plan to build a missile shield.

President Dmitry Medvedev said last year that Russia will retaliate militarily if it does not reach an agreement with the United States and NATO on the missile defense system.

Chief of General Staff Nikolai Makarov went even further Thursday. "A decision to use destructive force pre-emptively will be taken if the situation worsens," he said at an international conference attended by senior U.S. and NATO officials.

[ClearCase_guy]

It’s sort of like a reverse Cuban Missile Crisis, with Barry having the role of Kruschev.

[SpinnerWebb]

I guess Obama isn't caving fast enough for them.

[beethovenfan]

The Russians are upset about DEFENSIVE weapons. That can only mean that they plan to use their OFFENSIVE weapons. Of course, Barry Noballs will cave.

[Pearls Before Swine]

A huge difference between this system and the Cuban missile crisis is that the anti-missile weapons are not nuclear.

[Andrei Bulba]

Just wondering, what chance is there Russia will launch WWIII over some defensive missiles in Europe?

Imho this is meant as clumsy cover for Obama, to justify his “flexibility”.

[Sequoyah101]

I think it has been said but how do you threaten anyone with defensive weapons?

[tom h]

"Russia's top military officer has threatened to carry out a pre-emptive strike on U.S.-led NATO missile defense facilities in Eastern Europe if Washington goes ahead with its controversial plan to build a missile shield. "

Awww ... but I thought that Hillary Clinton "reset" relations with the Russians in 2009, and that the Russians were now to be trusted, and that pink ponies with wings could fly ...

[humming Kumbayah to myself now as I dream of world peace and whirled peas].

[tom h]

The Russkies have seen how well the Arrow system works in Israel and they are terrified to think that their offensive capability might be neutralized.

[BenLurkin]

It's almost as if the Russians see Obama as being weak.

Very weak.

[Justa]

Actually, it’s the RIM-161 Standard Missile 3.

“On July 3, 2010, Poland and the United States signed an amended agreement for missile defense under whose terms land-based SM-3 systems would be installed in Poland. This configuration was accepted as a tested and available alternative to missile interceptors that were proposed during the Bush administration but which are still under development. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, present at the signing in Kraków along with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, stressed that the missile defense program was aimed at deterring threats from Iran, and posed no challenge to Russia.

-From Wikipedia.

[Dead Corpse]

Didn't we once offer them access to the same technology to help set up their own missile shield? I thought I remember that as something from the Reagan era...

I could be mis-remembering though...

[redgolum]

You don't understand Russians. They just might attack over this. The fear is that they would not be able to respond to an attack.

Russia has been attacked by every “friend” they ever had. They do not trust us, and never will trust anyone. Put the missile systems in Western Europe, outside their sphere of influence.

Russia will attack otherwise.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Imho this is meant as clumsy cover for Obama, to justify his “flexibility”.

DING DING DING!

[rlbedfor]

what an election setup. our wonderful leader will show such strength and diplomacy and save the day. wanna bet?

[NFHale]

This is insane...”pre-emptive strike” on NATO?

They must be feeling their gonads or something...