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BBC: Missile shield 'threatens Russia'
BBC ^ | Monday, 22 January 2007, 14:47 GMT | BBC Staff

Posted on 01/22/2007 7:42:42 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach

Missile shield 'threatens Russia'

US missile test in 2000

The US has had mixed results from its missile tests

US plans to expand its embryonic missile defence shield to the Czech Republic and Poland are an "an obvious threat", Russia military officials say.

Poland has confirmed the US wants to negotiate the use of its territory to build part of its missile defence base.

On Sunday, the US asked permission from the Czech Republic and received the backing of Czech PM Mirek Topolanek.

Washington says it needs interceptor missiles in Europe to stop attacks by states like Iran or North Korea.

It hopes to build a radar station in the Czech Republic and to site interceptors in Poland.

Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski confirmed that Washington has approached Warsaw over the project and said: "We are now waiting for firm proposals."

It is very doubtful that elements of the national US missile defence system in eastern Europe were aimed at Iranian missiles

Lt Gen Vladimir Popovkin,
Russian space forces

But Moscow insists that the installation of US missiles in countries close to its western border would change the strategic balance in Europe.

Lt Gen Vladimir Popovkin, commander of Russia's space forces, said Moscow would interpret the move as a military threat.

"Our analysis shows that the deployment of a radar station in the Czech Republic and a counter-missile position in Poland are an obvious threat to us.

"It is very doubtful that elements of the national US missile defence system in eastern Europe were aimed at Iranian missiles, as has been stated," he said.

Moscow has warned of "negative consequences" if Prague agrees to host the missile system.

Political issues

Mr Topolanek, the Czech prime minister, has welcomed the US request.

Missile defence graphic


"We are convinced that a possible deployment of the radar station on our territory is in our interest," he said at the weekend.

"It will increase security of the Czech Republic and Europe."

However, Mr Topolanek could face a struggle having the plans approved by both houses of the country's parliament.

His three-party, centre-right governing coalition recently won a vote of confidence, but controls just 100 of 200 seats in the lower house.

There is domestic opposition to the scheme in the Czech Republic, with reports that 200 protesters rallied against the missile defence plans in Prague on Monday.

The US has already built missile interceptor sites in Alaska and in California, but says it needs to expand into Europe to counter growing threats from further afield.




TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: antimissile; geopolitics; iran; missilebases; missiledefense; poland; russia; shield
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To: RKV

Russia is still the Soviet Union in its insides.


21 posted on 01/22/2007 11:58:18 AM PST by Thunder90
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

[The Russian Federation keeps on acting as if the Cold War is still in force.]

Possum stew, anyone?


22 posted on 01/22/2007 12:06:31 PM PST by VxH (There are those who declare the impossible - and those who do the impossible.)
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To: rhombus
Don't you find that locking your door encourages buglers? ;-)

Damn those brass section musicians! And carollers too!

23 posted on 01/22/2007 1:55:52 PM PST by Androcles (All your typos are belong to us)
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To: All; lizol
From related thread:

*************************************

This is not about saving Europe, but most of all about saving eastern part of the USA.



America already has 2 such bases - one in California and one in Alaska - to protect the west coast against North Korean attack. This one will protect east coast against Iran.

And it will protect Europe, by the way.

24 posted on 01/22/2007 6:52:43 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; lizol

Thanks for the info and links. good stuff.


25 posted on 01/22/2007 6:55:47 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ...... California 2007,, Where's a script re-write guy when ya need 'em?)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
The West would be fools not having ICBM's pointing directly at Putin's strategic arsenal - pointing at US & other NATO nations.
26 posted on 01/23/2007 4:20:19 PM PST by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)
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To: stuartcr

By definition "interceptors" are not aimed at anything. They are designed to hit a moving target.

I'm not correcting you personally. I posted this just to clarify to anyone (DU Trolls, we can try to educate them) who may actually think our Missile Defense is "aimed" in a manner that ICBMs are "aimed".


27 posted on 01/23/2007 4:25:58 PM PST by American_Centurion (No, I don't trust the government to automatically do the right thing.)
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