U.S. builds a missile defense platform in Poland 27 replies

President Bush risks further angering Russia today when he meets the Polish President to plot details of the proposed US missile defence shield in central Europe.

The meeting comes a day after Russia withdrew from a key Nato arms-control treaty in protest at the plans. The White House made clear that Mr Bush would not be deterred by President Putin’s withdrawal from the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty. He would go ahead with his meeting with Lech Kaczynski, and the plans to place ten missile interceptors in Poland, said officials.

Russia has voiced outrage over the missile shield plan, and this month threatened to deploy rockets in the European Union’s backyard in retaliation for the American proposals, which also include a radar station in the Czech Republic.

The Kremlin said that the decision to withdraw from the treaty was due to “extraordinary circumstances . . . which effect the security of the Russian Federation and require immediate measures”.

Mr Putin’s decision boosts his standing at home and raises the stakes in the Kremlin’s dispute with Nato over the American plans. He gave 150 days’ notice of withdrawal from the treaty, effectively giving Nato until December to resolve the missile defence stand-off before his authority begins to drain away as the election campaign to succeed him in March gets under way.

Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet leader who signed the treaty, said that Mr Putin’s move was an “urgent call. . . to constructive dialogue” with Nato.

One man who will be encouraged by the Russian move is Sergei Ivanov, the hawkish First Deputy Prime Minister, who is a contender for Mr Putin’s job. As the candidate of the siloviki, the military and security service faction in the Kremlin, his prospects will be strengthened by patriotic appeals to defend Russia against "Nato aggression”.

Source:

Halpin, Tony, and Tim Reid."Bush missile meeting adds to tension between US and Russia." Times Online July 16 2007. october 10 2007

Basically the united states has decided to build a series of missle defense platforms on Polish soil. Various sources also say that the reason we're building them is in case Iran decides to launch a missle attack against the U.S. or European countries.

I don't think this is a very good idea at all. Iran's new president may not be the brightest crayon in the box, but I don't think he's going to start a war that the U.S can't adequately defend against from were it's currently located, or one that Europe can't defend against on it's own.

A missile defense platform has more risks than advantages. Russia sure as hell doesn't like having it's former enemy putting a missile platform next door to them. Honestly, an attack from the Russians would be far more dangerous than an attack from Iran, and alot more people would get killed.

Also If Iran decides to suddenly attack is also big "if." I don't think it's logical at all to risk agression with the Russians (and possibly even the Polish) over something that could be delt with using non agressive negotiations with Iran.

I mean, we've worked so hard to make a Peace treaty with Russia since the cold war. And now we're pushing the envelope with another idiotic idea that could very well start a war with them. Pushing the progress that's been made back a few decades.

So in conclusion, I don't think it's intelligent at all to risk a costly war with the Russians just to put some extra security around a country that "might" attack.

What are your thoughts on this?

the missile pods in europe means that if chemical weapons are fired and shot down over europe then we get the chemicals over us, russia probably more worried about that then the threat of missiles from US. if us scared they gonna get bombed they should have defenses on there own soil. not europes fault usa pisses the world off.

The Kaczyński twins scare me.

The missile base in Poland is a completely unnecessary provocation against Russia. There's a difference between pro-active defence and deliberate aggravation.

Missiles coming from Iran would fly over Turkey (westwards), or Pakistan (eastwards). If the intention was to stop missiles from Iran, either country would be willing to accept bases there. Russia could have been placated by using its radar bases in the Caucasus - which would have sent a clear message to Iran from the US and one of Iran's 'friends' Russia, as well as improving relations with Russia.

It's an enourmous fuck up but I don't think we'll go to war over it.

I don't get it. If someone launches a missile at the US, is another missile supposed to shoot that one down, is that the idea?

n88tr;3978500I don't get it. If someone launches a missile at the US, is another missile supposed to shoot that one down, is that the idea?[/quote]Yes, the US wants to build a missile tracking station in the Czech Republic and missile platform in Poland. [quote=masked_marsoe]Missiles coming from Iran would fly over Turkey (westwards), or Pakistan (eastwards). If the intention was to stop missiles from Iran, either country would be willing to accept bases there.

I don’t know the physics of it but from what I’ve heard, like when the Russians offered the base in Azerbaijan the US government said that it was too close for the system to work effectively. Plus Turkey is rather pissed at the United States right now and Pakistan, that would start all this shit all over with India.

I dont think putting missiles in Poland was one of GW's better ideas. In fact I put this down as another of his historic fusterclucks.

The US should have accepted Putins offer of a existing missile base in southern Russia. The US gas offered Russia the interceptor technology so why not set it up and have it jointly manned?

At the minimum he should have waited more than 24 hours to refuse Putins offer if only out of respect and politeness.

IMHO the interceptors are too far north to affect Iran but are positioned well to defend south and east.

I can see why Russia feels provocated.

Geez...and I thought this idiotic nonsense was confined to US citizens. "OMG We won't be able to launch our nukes at those yanks without them shooting them down! OMG LET'S SUE SO WE CAN MAKE WAR"

Missile defense systems won't even work. It takes a big stretch of the imagination to see them as being practical, even with all the secret high-tech such and suches. Not to mention that in the event of an attack, they'd send up a load of dummy missiles to render the system useless.

It's a needless provocation against Russia. Can you imagine the US's reaction, if Russia started planting their "missile defense" systems on or near US borders?

Can you imagine the US's reaction, if Russia started planting their "missile defense" systems on or near US borders?

Yeah. It was called the Cuban Missile Crisis.