Europeans Want Missile Defense Too

Space War ^ | September 13, 2005 | Martin Sieff

[Kaslin]

Many of Europe's governments may be skeptical about America's ambitious ballistic missile defense development program but their publics are not. A new study sponsored by advocates of BMD found that more than two-thirds of Europeans want NATO to deploy such systems to protect them.

Some 71 percent of Europeans favor the deployment of a NATO missile defense capability able to protect the continent from attack by missiles bearing weapons of mass destruction, according to a poll that was jointly sponsored by the George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies and Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, the two organizations announced in Rome last week. By contrast, only 16 percent think that NATO should not have this capability.

"It is clear from the survey that the threat is real, urgent and needs to be addressed. In addition, there is a strong belief that NATO nations need to be at the forefront in finding a ballistic missile defense system capable of providing security for the nations in the region," said John Rose, Director of the Marshall Center in Garmisch, Germany

[AppyPappy]

The closest thing they have is the Astor 30 unless they bring the Patriot online.

[gogogodzilla]

Those Europeans that want our help need to elect governments that work with us, instead of stabbing us in the back.

Till then, tell 'em to @#$! off.

[Kaslin]

It looks to me you are misreading the article

[europride]

which help?

[KarlInOhio]

I would like to see what questions were asked for this poll. To get those percentages from Europeans I expect the question was "Would you rather have A) The US provide a missile defense system to protect Europe for free or B) die from radiation poisoning from an Iranian nuclear missile?"

If I am skeptical of polls without listed questions when they are skewed against us, I should be equally skeptical of polls that unexpectedly skew for us.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"A new study sponsored by advocates of BMD found that more than two-thirds of Europeans want NATO to deploy such systems to protect them. "

Protect them against what? They want to sell weapons to the Chinese, they approve of Irans nuke program and they are partners with the Russians.

The only thing I can see them wanting a ABM system for is to protect them after they throw their support behind the Arab world when they attack Israel.

[snowrip]

"Many of Europe's governments may be skeptical about America's ambitious ballistic missile defense development program but their publics are not. A new study sponsored by advocates of BMD found that more than two-thirds of Europeans want NATO to deploy such systems to protect them."

Most of the EU governments are openly critical about every aspect of the US BMD program. I guess you could read this article as: Europeans, who by and large hate the United States, want US BMD protection but can't lower themselves to ask the US for help. Instead, they want NATO to cover their asses, but will never admit that it's United States technology, money, and experience that carries NATO from start to finish. In the meantime, they'll continue to sell weapons systems to the Chinese and the Middle East, and support Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

I think it's about time we told most of Europe to quit bitching and save itself.

[gogogodzilla]

The articles states that the majority of the European people want our missile defense... Yet the majority of European governments do not want missile defense and bash us for it.

Ergo, if the Europeans want our missile defense, they need to elect a government that wants our missile defense.