Posted on 06/07/2007 1:40:01 PM PDT by BradtotheBone
Russian President Vladimir Putin, bitterly opposed to a planned US missile shield in Europe, told US President George W. Bush on Thursday that Moscow would drop its objections if the radar-based system were installed in Azerbaijan.
Putin told Bush he would not seek to retarget Russian missiles on Europe if the United States agreed to put the system in the central Asian nation of Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic.
Bush's National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley called it an "interesting proposal."
"Let's let our experts have a look at it," Hadley said.
Bush has proposed putting the radar and rockets in the Czech Republic and Poland.
"This will create grounds for common work," Putin told Bush as they met on the sidelines of a summit of the world's eight major industrialized democracies being held at this seaside resort.
Bush, speaking before Putin, said that the Russian president had presented some interesting suggestions and that they would pursue the issue during two days of talks beginning July 1 in Kennebunkport, Maine, at the Bush family's oceanfront compound.
"We both agreed to have a strategic dialogue," Bush said. "This is a serious issue."
Putin's proposal to put the system in Azerbaijan was a surprise.
The Russian leader said the proposed relocation would alleviate Russia's concerns about a missile shield based in Europe. Moreover, he said an Azerbaijan-based system would cover all of Europe rather than part it.
Hadley did not rule out the possibility that the end result would be some mix of the Russian and the US proposals.
Hell, why not put it in Moscow and be done with it?!.........
I knew all that bluster was for setting the stage for a bargaining proposal.
Putin is just attempting to save face while back tracking from his snit.
Americans! Save me from the nukes I am helping the Iranians get!!!!
Azerbaijan (sp) may be workable but I would like at least another module outside of the former CCCP that can work independently.
It’s OK, but we need a “back-up” in a safe country. UK or even Germany?
Hmmmmn. As was just pointed out, Putin is playing Bush for either a fool (who doesn’t mind helping his sworn enemies), or a strategic partner (who is looking for a long road rather than immediate gains.) Either way, Russia (Putin) wins.
If we put the missile shield SOUTH of Moscow, but north of Iran/Iraq/Syria/Pakistan/India (and between Moscow (industrialized north/European-Russia and Iraq/Iran/Syria/Pakistan/India), we’d are better able to protect Moscow’s most vulnerable areas from their most likely foes.
And, if we are south of Moscow, the Russian missiles are out of THEIR target zone quicker compared to an Eastern European overflight/overhead missile site. And, the closer to Russia, the easier it is to neutralize our site.
Of course, that only assumes that Russia would ever want to consider either putting our launch site under surveillance, or under short range attack, prior to Russia going to war.
Yes, but do we win as well ? Are we protected from rogue missiles launched from terror states, or even from Russia and China ?
pretty much sums it up doesn’t it. the hell with Europe, protect my ass from my stupidity is more like it.
You, dear sir, are asking the wrong question.
/sarchasm - that gaping hole between truth and a liberal/socialist’s knowledge of the world.
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