US planning missile bases in Poland: report

AFP ^ | 25/9/2009

[maquiladora]

WARSAW — The United States aims to establish missile bases in Poland, after having scrapped plans fiercely opposed by Russia to deploy a missile shield in the country, a Polish newspaper reported Friday.

Citing Polish diplomatic sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, Gazeta Wyborcza said Washington aimed to set up a permanent short- and medium-range missile base as well as deploy mobile missile batteries.

The plan is set to take shape within days, said Gazeta Wyborcza, a leading daily that is considered well informed on the issue.

It said Andrzej Kremer, Poland's deputy foreign minister, was due to travel to Washington on Monday.

[Blueflag]

Not that i *EVER* want to be seen defending something Zero has done, I do recall that when the original “no missiles for Poland” articles came out, they made reference to not fielding the originally planned systems, but rather replacing them with Raytheon’s SM-3 (Standard Missile Block 3) land-based system currently under development for the US (and Israel). This actually makes sense. The SM-3 is currently deployed on certain US Naval fleet and theatre defense ships, and IS A PROVEN ballistic missile interceptor.

take a look at the following article I found on google —

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/SM3082409.xml

[Personal Responsibility]

Ah, I didn’t read it that way. Excellent point.

If it is the same effect though...why wouldn’t Russia react just as strongly against it? You think it’s just posturing?

[mewzilla]

Barry’s lying through his teeth. Talk is cheap. They’ll yak, yak, yak about missile defense while not doing a dang thing about it for real.

[jagusafr]

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

Colonel, USAFR

[Blueflag]

If you don’t feel like clicking on the article, here’s the relevant war-porn text. (note it is referred to as the Block 1A and 1B, not the Block 3 as I wrote):

“Raytheon’s ship-based SM-3 Block IA has been universally hailed by Pentagon officials as a success because of recent test-intercepts and the impromptu use of the three-stage missile to destroy a wayward intelligence satellite in February 2008. The MDA is planning to open a program office to manage the development of a land-based version here, where many of the agency’s program offices are located. The Army will likely operate it. SM-3 has a shorter range than the GBI, though program officials are working to increase the velocity at burnout to provide more engagement flexibility.

Using the 14.5-in.-dia. SM-3 Block IB, which is in development, six or seven batteries would be required to provide coverage to Europe. The IB will include a new divert-and-attitude-control system as well as a new two-color seeker. Michael Booen, a vice president at Raytheon, says the system could achieve initial operational capability in 2013 (far sooner than the fixed GBI site in Poland); the MDA requested $50 million to start work in Fiscal 2010. The IB is designed to counter short- and medium-range ballistic missiles and will likely provide some capability against intermediate-range threats, says Dean Gehr, Raytheon’s SM-3 program lead. It is not seen as intimidating to Russia’s long-range missiles, and thus could be more politically palatable.”

[SumProVita]

“...but rather replacing them with Raytheon’s SM-3 (Standard Missile Block 3) land-based system currently UNDER DEVELOPMENT for the US...”

Is this merely a delaying tactic?

[ichabod1]

CIC smoking the mike juliet again.

[jhpigott]

wonder if this isn’t a way for us to lean on Russia in order to get them behind a sanctions regime for Iran - lot of stuff happening

[Blueflag]

according to the article, the SM-3 can be deployed in Poland FASTER/SOONER than the GBI (ground based interceptors currently deployed in Alaska and Ca).

Like I said, I doubt Barry knows an SM-3 from a Hercules, but SOMEONE may have advised him well and he accidentally accepted good military advice.

[Grampa Dave]

“WTF does this mean?”

AFP may have about the same reliability as the NY Slimes and Compost. I will wait for comment until I see this from “more reliable” sources.

[jackv]

You mean bo is now using our troops as the shield ???
Shaking my head.

[jagusafr]

Bwaha! Rog that.

[SumProVita]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is AFP....and is it a reliable source?

[Zeppo]

More likely it's just something else that Obama can give away sometime down the road for nothing in return, as another meaningless gesture to help 'reset' the relationship with Russia.

Obama really wants the Russians to shake his hand and give him the proper respect that is his due as the man who is singlehandedly saving the planet from the ravages of modern civilization - if this doesn't work, he'll probably try bowing down to Putin like he did with the Saudi king (likely with the same non-result)...

[txmissy]

Exactly!!!

[ohioWfan]

As I see it, this is just another Obama attempt to create confusion. That's all he does.

The more confused we are, the more mixed his messages, the more he says one thing one day and another thing the next, the more potential chaos he creates, and the more power he believes he can accrue.

I think this is nothing more than a game to him. The whole thing is a Marxist game.

[Oldpuppymax]

Yeah. The US is ALSO planning a BORDER FENCE between Texas and Mexico. Odds are, the same guy will be working on BOTH...for another decade or so.

[popdonnelly]

Hey, when Reagan announced he was going to deploy missiles in Europe, there was an enormous uproar - financed in part by the Soviet Union. All the talk was of nuclear Armageddon. I can't wait to hear the American Left and their cohorts in the media howl about this action by Obama.

[Buckeye McFrog]

back to Mutual Assured Destruction....the minds of Bam and his people are hopelessly stuck in the 70’s

[Truth29]

Color me suspicious. This could be just to cause confusion and delay and to string the Poles along to keep their denunciations and statements about Russia down to a dull roar. It could also serve to divide Poland and The Czech Republic and prevent a united front against Obama’s decision.