Posted on 08/04/2006 10:41:13 AM PDT by lizol
Eastern Europe Shuns Missile Shield
As the Pentagon scouts Poland and the Czech Republic for possible locations for its planned missile defense shield, locals are proving to be less than enthusiastic about the idea.
With its planned new missile defense system, sometimes known as "Son of Star Wars," Washington wants to create a battery of defenses capable of protecting the United States and its allies from oncoming missiles -- nuclear or otherwise. A working version of the defense system does not yet exist and a number of tests have resulted in failure, but Pentagon officials are already scouring Eastern Europe for potential bases for the defense system. The multi-billion dollar project, which could bring with it hundreds of jobs for Europeans, will use the most modern technology and entail the stationing of interceptor ballistic missiles for shooting down long-range missiles from rogue states before they can strike targets in the US or Europe.
Since any missiles launched from Iran or North Korea aimed at Western Europe would have to pass over Polish or Czech airspace, both countries have been seen by Washington as strategically valuable potential hosts for the defense system. But Pentagon representatives meeting last week with officials in Warsaw and Prague came up against unexpected resistance. The problem lies in the fact that Washington is insisting that any base be considered a sovereign US installation on foreign soil. American soldiers would not be operating under Polish law and the Polish military could only be given access to the bases with Washington's blessing. In addition, the exlusive decision-making on defense missile launches would be made by the Americans, despite the fact that Poland could also be accountable for any such actions under international law.
(Excerpt) Read more at service.spiegel.de ...
You are making a fool of yourself.
But, you didn't answer my question. You're deflecting. Wanna answer it?
comment #11: What do they need the missle defense for--their enemies are already within their borders. They can't launch rockets at their own cities-can they? /sarccomment #19: So you're saying radical islam doesn't spread from neighboring countries?
My post #25 was for you. Sorry.
They'll try to bargain with the devil. Same old, same old. Bomb somebody else, not us! See, we're not America's pals! We don't let them use our air space, we hold Hate America demonstrations, we'll sell them down the river. We're 'neutral' -- Until swallowed alive. Then they beg for the US to save them. Weak and envious, bad combination. (Like Fredo in The Godfather.)
Let me put it to you this way. If islamofacist started blowing up schools, malls and churches here...will our Missle Defense system help us? Now, just transpose that remark about us, to Chekoslovokia and Poland, and you'll understand my original comment.
Who's they?
Actually, I wasn't thinking of Eastern Europe when I made that Fredo/The Godfather reference. I was thinking of France in particular, Libya, and then those demonstrations against the stationing of nukes at the US airbase in the UK. It's a tough decision to let another sovereign nation put nukes/bases/defenses on your own nation's soil, but it's better than becoming a glass parking lot and another plus is that someone else is paying the bill.
See post 31.
My mind was wandering.
Transpose should be Juxtapose.
I have a greater inkling that there is more to fear from islamist inside a country wrecking havoc than a missile attack.
No argument there.
Before everyone gets too worked up about this, keep in mind that it was published in Der Speigel...not exactly a bastion of love for America.
This carefully crafted piece of propaganda leaves out a few key details. While it is true that a number of tests have failed , duh of course SOME did, it does not even mention the ones that succeeded. Also this soviet type news item makes a great deal more out of SECURITY against espionage such as requiring clearance or "the Americans blessing" to enter the sites. What good would a shield be if our enemies were allowed to inspect it. Spies come in every color and nationality, we have had our own American citizens ally themselves with our communist enemies and feed them secrets. So yes we would ask that you get clearance and "our blessing" to enter these vital and oh so secret sites. This article makes me shameful of my German ancestry, isn't it bad enough that my Mother is half french??
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