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The Bush administration reiterated Thursday that the missile defense system it plans to build in central Europe is not directed against Russia. The comments follow a reported warning that Moscow might withdraw from a Cold War-era arms reduction agreement if the U.S. plans go forward. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.Officials here say Russia has been consulted at various levels about the U.S. missile-defense plans and intentions, and they say they are puzzled by the repeated caustic comments about the envisaged system from Moscow.The Bush administration announced last month it was opening formal negotiations with Poland and the...

WARSAW, Poland - The United States has entered a decisive phase in a plan to set up missile defense sites in Eastern Europe — a system Washington says is aimed at protecting itself and its allies against potential attacks from the Middle East. But the prospect of sophisticated U.S. radar and interceptor systems in formerly communist Eastern Europe has led Russian military leaders to warn of a new arms race. The system "would create a clear threat for Russia," Col. Gen. Vladimir Popovkin, the chief of Russia's Space Forces, warned Monday. The United States told Polish leaders it wants to...

Missile shield 'threatens Russia' 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...

Gone fission: Iran offers visits to nuclear plantsAfter the surprise announcement by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear facilities will be opened to tourists, Persian Voyages says it is “awaiting formal instructions” on how to arrange visits, but is considering including nuclear plant stop-offs in its next trip in December. Nasrin Etemadi, managing director of Persian Voyages, the UK’s leading tour operator of trips to Iran, said: “We were very surprised by the announcement. I think it was made to show that Iran is a peaceful place. If even tourists can see nuclear facilities then it...

U.S. Must Move to Full Missile Defense by Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.Posted Oct 09, 2006This week, HUMAN EVENTS begins an occasional series of exclusive articles in which leading conservatives who served in the Reagan Administration explain how they believe the principles of Reagan conservatism ought to be applied today and in the coming years. This week, Frank Gaffney, who served in Reagan’s Defense Department, addresses the issue of missile defense. Ronald Reagan is now esteemed around the world for having the vision and the leadership skills to bring about the demise of the Soviet Union. He is less widely appreciated...

Poland wants US pact in exchange for missile silos WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Poland wants a bilateral pact and improved air defenses as part of any deal to become the first ballistic missile-defense hub outside of the United States, its defense minister said on Wednesday. There would be "downside" to hosting such a facility, Radoslaw Sikorski told a forum during a visit to the United States by Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski. The United States is seeking to put up to 10 interceptor missiles in underground silos in Poland or the Czech Republic to shoot down long-range missiles that could be launched...

CONTROVERSIAL SHIELD By W.Z. 6 September 2006 The location of part of the U.S. National Missile Defense (NMD) system in Poland, known as "the shield," remains an open issue. Although politicians of the governing coalition stress that the project would bring Warsaw even closer to Washington, voices opposing the construction of such military structures in Poland are equally vocal. According to the Pentagon, the shield is meant to defend the United States and their allies against a limited missile attack by any of the so-called "rogue states," such as North Korea and Iran. The system consists of ground-based radar and...

8/15/2006 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Their mission is simple: save the lives of troops on the ground in Iraq by providing an electronic shield around them. That is the job of the 43rd Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron. Known as the Bats, they take to the air every day of the week to actively support coalition warfighters in harm's way by providing electronic combat coverage. As one of only a few electronic combat squadrons in the Air Force, the 43rd EECS's special skills are in high demand. When not deployed, the 43rd ECS and its sister squadron, the 41st ECS,...

Shanghai builds vast bunker to shield against terrorism attack (Filed: 31/07/2006) The authorities in Shanghai, which is the Chinese financial hub, have built a huge underground shelter against the eventuality of terrorism or industrial accidents. The vast 968,400sq ft subterranean complex could accommodate 200,000 people for up to 15 days.It is linked to government offices, commercial and residential areas and the transport system by a labyrinth of tunnels. The bunker can protect occupants from "nuclear radiation, poisonous gases, explosions and other disasters," the state's news agency Xinhua reported yesterday. "In peacetime, parts of the bunker could be used as garages,...

In the wake of two especially brutal attacks in Australia, ocean-lovers can try a new invention to ward off the toothy terrors This year got off to a bad start in Australia, which had its first fatality in January when 21-year-old Sarah Whiley died from shock and blood loss after being savaged by up to three bull sharks while swimming off a Queensland beach. A short time after, Bernie Williams was mauled on the elbow by a Great White, diving not far from Perth. The animal then proceeded to stalk him while he hid in a crevice on the ocean...

A victory for Hamas in Wednesday's Palestinian election will strengthen the Right in Israel and harm Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima Party, MKs on the Israeli Right said on Tuesday. They said a Hamas victory would serve as a wake-up call for the Israeli public that would begin a process of support shifting from Kadima and Labor to parties further to the Right. "Hamas is a terrorist organization that wants to destroy Israel, and it was strengthened by the disengagement," Likud chairman Binyamin Netanyahu told reporters outside the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. The head of the Likud's...

Ok, Vic Mackey fans. This year Forrest Whittaker tries to do what David Acevedo and Glenn Close could not---tame Vic Mackey. Also, 24's new season should be starting soon! Man I'd love to see Jack Bauer and Vic team up for a little whoop-@ss on terrorists!

India has decided on a synergised land and air-based missile defence system, and the US, Russia, France and Israel would be invited as technology partners, should they agree, and on the Indian side, DRDO, ISRO and BARC will participate. Following a US presentation weeks ago, the government mulled the offer of outright purchase of a missile defence system, and rejected it, given the peculiar nature of the threat to India, with in-flight missile time from Pakistan being merely 3.50 minutes and from China seven minutes. After considerable brainstorming, the government has decided to split the missile defence system with a...

Some bad ideas look even worse at second glance. That's true of legislation that would potentially protect rogue police officers from scrutiny. The measure has been reintroduced in the Legislature, where it died last year. It deserves the same quick burial this time. Under the bill, statements made by law enforcement officials in internal investigations would no longer be subject to the state's Freedom of Information Act. The statements could be disclosed only if the individual responsible for them gave written consent or if a court subpoenaed them. The first is highly unlikely, the latter an unnecessary obstacle to the...

The IDF has revealed a revolutionary new protective shield system for its armored vehicles that intercepts and destroys missiles and rockets with a shotgun-like blast just before they hit. The system is called Trophy and was shown in public for the first time during this week's arms fair at the Tel Aviv Exhibition Grounds during a conference on Low Intensity Conflict sponsored by the IDF's Ground Forces Services. The Trophy was developed by RAFAEL together and Israel Aircraft Industries' Elta Group and General Dynamics. Known as an "active protective system" (APS), it is seen as a major milestone in weapons...

This comes as no surprise, but our do-nothing neighbors to the North have declined participation in the missile defense shield. Apparently, the support just isn't there within the House to "risk" the Liberals losing future elections over. The fact that this issue is so charged that Canadians would vote them out of office if they supported it should give us all a little into the mindset of our "allies." I don't know how else to read it other than Canadians prefering to bind our hands when it comes to defense. Does the majority of Canada prefer to see more destruction...

The Lompoc RECORD First missile interceptor to be installed at VAFBBy Janene Scully - Associate Editor12/5/04 Countdown clocks ticking off minutes, hours and days will hit zero with this week's installation of the first missile defense interceptor at Vandenberg Air Force Base.On a remote section of northern Vandenberg early Tuesday morning, crews expect to begin lowering the first missile defense interceptor to its underground home.Rain or heavy wind could force the crews to postpone their work, officials warned.The missile, and a second to be added this month, join six already in place in silos at Fort Greely, Alaska, for the...

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - New research provides further evidence that substances in kale, spinach and other green vegetables help protect aging eyes from cataracts. In an experiment, investigators found that human eye cells treated with antioxidants called lutein and zeaxanthin showed less damage after being exposed to ultraviolet rays, the sunlight ingredient considered a major contributor to cataracts. Cataracts occur when proteins in the eye's lens begin to clump together, forming a milky cloud that obscures vision. Currently, around 20 million Americans have cataracts, and research suggests that the more sunlight you are exposed to in life, the greater...

In the first step toward erecting a multibillion-dollar shield to protect the United States from foreign missiles, the U.S. Navy will begin deploying state-of-the-art destroyers to patrol the waters off North Korea as early as next week. The mission, to be conducted in the Sea of Japan by ships assigned to the Navy’s 7th fleet, will help lay the foundation for a system to detect and intercept ballistic missiles launched by “rogue nations.” Washington hopes to complete the network over the next several years.

Kobe Bryant Ruling a Step Towards Equity in Rape Trials By Glenn Sacks A Colorado judge issued a highly controversial decision late last month on a matter that should not be controversial. Judge Terry Ruckriegle ruled that Kobe Bryant, who is facing four years to life in prison for an alleged rape he claims was consensual sex, can introduce evidence that his accuser had other sexual encounters in the 72 hours before her medical examination for the alleged assault...