Free Republic

Key Findings --America’s support for a Missile Defense system continues at an extremely high level (88%), a 2 percentage point increase from 2008 and a 5 percentage point increase from 2007. More than 3 out of 4 adults, 77%, feel “strongly” about their support, also a 2 percentage point increase from 2008 and an 8 percentage point increase from 2007. Currently, support ranges from 82% in the West and 83% in the Northeast to 91% in the South and 94% in the North Central region of the U.S. Men and women are at the identical 88% support level. Republican support...

The threat of a missile attack on planes using Nairobi’s main airport led to the cancellation of an inaugural direct flight between Kenya and the US. The Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta, Georgia, to Nairobi was called off at the last minute on Tuesday after an American Cabinet minister personally called the chief executive of the world’s largest airline, which was launching the only direct flight between the two cities. Prime Minister Raila Odinga was to officiate at the arrival ceremony at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya's capital Nairobi. But hours before the maiden flight, American intelligence learnt of...

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy says he is concerned about Russia's threat to deploy missiles near Poland and wants a summit on European security. "We really must move forward... to remove sources of friction," Mr Sarkozy said at a joint news conference with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The talks in Nice, in southern France, came just ahead of a global summit in Washington on the financial crisis. Mr Sarkozy also urged Russia to complete a troop pull-out from Georgia. "I told Mr Medvedev there will have to be more progress with regard to withdrawing troops," he said. France hosted the EU-Russia...

S. Korea, U.S. verifying reports on test of new N.K. missile in Iran: source WASHINGTON, May 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean and U.S. military authorities are trying to verify newly obtained intelligence that North Korea test-launched in Iran a new kind of missile that was only revealed to the public last month, a source here said Tuesday. Speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity involved, the source said North Korea doesn't appear to have tested the intermediate-range ballistic missile within its territory. "But we did obtain intelligence tips that the missile was test-fired in Iran. I understand that...

The top U.S. intelligence official warned Thursday that Russia is becoming a regional energy superpower and increasingly is pursuing foreign policy goals that threaten U.S. and Western interests. In his annual review of global threats, National Intelligence Director John Negroponte said high energy prices have allowed Russia to increase its assertiveness in foreign affairs. ... As Russia approaches a March 2008 presidential election, the government has been undermining its credibility as a partner with the West by stifling political opposition, Negroponte said. ... Negroponte said Russia is trying to use economic power stemming from its exports of the country’s immense...

On July 14th the IDF's best anti-air defense vessel was mission killed by a strike from shore off the Beruit, Lebannon coast. It appears that the vessel was hit by a guided missile, launched either by Iranian trained Hezbollah, or by Iranian Guards themselves operating out of Lebannon. Land-launched Chinese anti-shipping missile, C-802 The missile was apparently a Chinese-made C-802 which is a sub sonic surface to surface anti-shipping missile. The Iranians have purchased a lot of these from China, and is working with N. Korea to improve the design. The missile is capable of a sea-skimming approach, and reportedly...

London, IRNA -- The British government has listed a total of 28 countries possessing ballistic missile capabilities, but perceives only five, including Iran, as being a "threat." The list of countries operating ballistic missiles, drawn up by the Ministry of Defence, includes the five permanent members of the Security Council, France, Russia, China, the US and the UK. The rest are spread across Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The emerging theatre of ballistic missiles was presented as a memo to the parliamentary Defence Select Committee last month, but only recently has been made available on the internet. In...