Russia Warns Poland Against Missile Defense Program

VOA News ^ | 03 October 2006

[lizol]

Russia Warns Poland Against Missile Defense Program

By VOA News 03 October 2006

Russia has warned Poland against hosting any U.S. or NATO missile defense system in its territory. A Foreign Ministry spokesman says such a move would undermine the strategic balance and trigger a "corresponding" response from Moscow.

The Interfax news agency quotes ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin as saying Moscow could not rely solely on U.S. or NATO assurances that such systems would not be pointed at Russia.

Washington has repeatedly said the purpose of its planned missile defense system is to protect the United States and its allies from the threat of ballistic missiles from so-called "rogue" states such as Iran or North Korea.

Interfax quotes the Russian spokesman as saying Moscow would have to take measures to relieve any perceived threat. He did not offer details, but said the matter would be discussed in upcoming talks with Warsaw.

Poland, a former Soviet satellite, has become a key defense partner with the United States in the past decade.

[whitedog57]

The Russians still think it is the old USSR.

[kinoxi]

undermine the strategic balance and trigger a "corresponding" response from Moscow.

The response would be what, to stop cashing US aid checks?

[CWOJackson]

The Soviet Union of Russia has been threatening a whole lot of people lately. And Putin wonders why his neighbors want to join NATO.

[1rudeboy]

Alternate headline: Russia Gives Poland Reason For Missile Defense Program.

[G8 Diplomat]

Washington has repeatedly said the purpose of its planned missile defense system is to protect the United States and its allies from the threat of ballistic missiles from so-called "rogue" states such as Iran or North Korea.

Well if the Russian's weren't ARMING Iran and North Korea we wouldn't HAVE to put missiles there. It's the Russkies' own fault the missiles are there.

[FreedomNeocon]

Tell me what the Ruskies think they can do about it?

Absolutely nothing.

The only thing that stops us from walking all over them is our sense of politics and what we can 'get away with' in the form of hardline stances.

There is no 'trump card' held by them, and if we found the political fallout to be worthwhile, we could do MUCH worse things to them.

In this case there is just more political advantages to offset and mitigate the 'fallout' side, so we are, and will stay aggressive in our support of Poland (and all the E.European new democracies)

[ark_girl]

This is what they get for electing an ex-KGB officer for President. Ugh.

[TheCrusader]

"There is no 'trump card' held by them, (Russia)"

Except for helping our enemies, (Iran and N. Korea) build nuclear bombs. This way they nuke us by proxy and not be retaliated against. They also just sold another aircraft carrier to Communist China, increasing China's military threat to Taiwan. In a sleazy, creepy way, Russia does have trump cards; and the Russian government has always been sleezy and creepy.

[ryan71]

Cold war is heating back up.

Remember when they put missiles in Turkey? The Soviets were not happy. Pershing missiles, I think.

This could have been written 30 years ago, with slight changes to the names.

[LasVegasMac]

Pooty Poot.....

You say something?

[quantfive]

"Except for helping our enemies, (Iran and N. Korea) build nuclear bombs. This way they nuke us by proxy and not be retaliated against. They also just sold another aircraft carrier to Communist China, increasing China's military threat to Taiwan. In a sleazy, creepy way, Russia does have trump cards; and the Russian government has always been sleezy and creepy."

Your correct. They are playing a very dangerous game. The crazy leadership of Iran and North Korean regimes will not be controlled by Russia or China indefinately. Iran will likely use a nuke on Israel before the USA but I doubt our response will be light for this attack. We need a JFK to stand up and let the Russia's know that an attack by Iranian nukes will be considered the same as a direct attack by Russia. We should also begin helping the Polish build "peaceful nuclear technology" like Russia is doing with Iran. Then they might actually take notice and change course.

[GarySpFc]

Except for helping our enemies, (Iran and N. Korea) build nuclear bombs. This way they nuke us by proxy and not be retaliated against. They also just sold another aircraft carrier to Communist China, increasing China's military threat to Taiwan. In a sleazy, creepy way, Russia does have trump cards; and the Russian government has always been sleezy and creepy.

The aircraft carrier Varyag was sold to China by Ukraine, not Russia, and it is currently being refurbished by the Chinese. The Minsk was sold earlier by Russia to China, but it is a rust bucket, and only good for junk.

Pakistan helped North Korea make their nuclear bomb, not the Russians.

The fuel rods built for nuclear power are 3%-5% U235, and nuclear weapons are around 95%. As long as the Iranians give the rods back to Russia its impossible to turn these into weapons. The only way possible is to further enrich them, but if they were going to enrich 3% uranium to 95% they might as well enrich natural uranium which is only .7%, and Iran has that in abundance.

If Iran used nuclear energy more that means they have more oil to export.

The issue never was about Iran having a nuclear power plant - which she has a right to under treaty - but her wanting to take her natural uranium deposits and refine the material herself. That Iran also has a right to under treaty as do all nations that are signatories.

The reason why Russia supplying the nuclear rods to Iran is a good thing is that it allows for even easier monitoring of the spent fuel rods so its almost impossible to divert the rods to refine them in secret.

[Joe Boucher]

they're trying.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

The only thing that stops us from walking all over them is our sense of politics and what we can 'get away with' in the form of hardline stances.

No, what keeps us from treating them way we should is their counterpart here in the USA - the Democrat Party, the MSM, the labor unons, the government unions, the foreign financed NGO's, etc. Their friends, our enemy within, is very strong right here in the good old USA.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Lot's of good information I have not heard elsewhere.

[TheCrusader]

"The reason why Russia supplying the nuclear rods to Iran is a good thing is that it allows for even easier monitoring of the spent fuel rods so its almost impossible to divert the rods to refine them in secret."

My great-grandfather, born in the middle of the 1800's, always said, (I am told), "Never trust a Russian". His old saying holds true to our times, we cannot trust Putin and his old Soviet party communists.

[Moonman62]

For a system that the liberals and media said would never work, it sure gets some serious attention from our enemies.

[MinorityRepublican]

After getting screwed by the Germans and the Russians, it's no wonder that Poland is a loyal ally of USA.

[GarySpFc]

My great-grandfather, born in the middle of the 1800's, always said, (I am told), "Never trust a Russian". His old saying holds true to our times, we cannot trust Putin and his old Soviet party communists.

Obviously, there is a reason your thinking is at least 150 years in the past. Try reading, Russia is part of the West. Honest. You might learn something.