Posted on 02/25/2007 10:57:04 AM PST by lizol
Poland, Czech Republic stand up to the bear
By Boston Herald editorial staff
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Two countries that have suffered more than most from the embrace of the Russian bear are the Czech Republic and Poland. It is gratifying to see their leaders refusing to be bullied by Moscow out of an important defense agreement with the United States.
The Czechs and the Poles have agreed to host anti-missile installations to guard against possible attacks from Iran. The plan calls for 10 interceptor missiles to be based in Poland and their radar guidance system in the Czech Republic.
If the installations go forward, said Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov, commander of Russia’s missile forces, his troops “will be able to have those facilities as targets.” Earlier, Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, chief of the general staff, said Russia could withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty which bans the basing of offensive missiles in Europe.
“You have to make it clear to them you won’t succumb to blackmail,” said the Czech foreign minister, Karel Schwarzenberg. Amen.
Iran has no missiles capable of reaching Western Europe and can’t develop any for 20 years, claims Russia. True, there is nothing in Tehran’s arsenals that can reach Europe, but Iran’s longest-range missile (800 miles) is built to a North Korean design. North Korea is working on the Taepodong-2 with a range of 3,800 miles, and North Korea will sell missiles and designs to anybody. That range would reach from Tehran across Europe to Iceland and beyond.
Iran’s nuclear weapon-seeking leaders have said they want to wipe Israel off the map. Israel has a good anti-ballistic missile (the Arrow), so Iran could see a broader threat as a means to keep others from helping an Israel under attack.
The system is not aimed at defeating a Russian attack, as shown by a simple fact: Ten interceptor missiles could easily be overwhelmed by the huge Russian missile fleet, or even by a few fired from Russia’s western provinces - the distance would be so short that the interceptors would have no chance of a hit.
Russia cannot claim surprise; its NATO observers were briefed last fall. Russia’s growling appears to be part of the anti-American rhetorical campaign of President Vladimir Putin, a campaign whose ultimate aim is, as it so often is with Russia, a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.
Have these people been playing with dead birds or something? Somebody take their temperature.
Two of our strongest allies who remain committed to the war against terrorism.
Don't confuse them with the Boston Globe. The Herald editorial is right-leaning.
Amen to that. One meaningful way to thank our best allies is to support them with American tourist dollars. Instead of someplace like, oh, France.
I'm planning to spend my 50th in Hungary, and Poland (where my grandparents came from) Yea!
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