Russia warns U.S. over Czech missile defence base

[Mike Baker]

Russia warns U.S. over Czech missile defence base
Updated Sat. Jan. 20 2007 6:50 PM ET

Associated Press

PRAGUE -- The United States has asked the Czech Republic to host a radar base that would be part of a global missile defence system, the prime minister announced Saturday, drawing a warning from Russia of retaliatory actions.

U.S. officials contend the system could defend Europe against intercontinental missiles fired by states such as Iran and North Korea. But the Kremlin warned that the military balance in Europe could be at stake and said the development risked a new arms race.

Independent defence experts have said the ground-based missile defence system is still years from being able to protect against long-range missile attacks.

Washington declined comment on Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's statement. But the United States has been negotiating with Poland and the Czech Republic, both former communist states now in NATO, as it explores setting up missile defence sites in Eastern Europe.

The United States has missile interceptor bases in Alaska and California. It activated a powerful X-band radar site in northern Japan as part of the system last September, but so far has no anti-missile weapons based outside U.S. territory.

The U.S. request that the Czech Republic host only an X-band radar facility could indicate Washington is considering putting launchers for anti-missile missiles in Poland.

Czech authorities refused to comment on Poland's possible role. Topolanek said only that he would discuss the issue with his Polish counterpart, Jaroslaw Kaczynski.

Topolanek said his government would name a committee in the next week to consider the U.S. request and a decision could take several months. Czech opposition parties have spoken against the defence system, and the premier's governing coalition does not have enough parliament votes to pass measures on its own.

In Moscow, Andrei Kokoshin, the former Russian Security Council chief who now heads parliament's committee for ties with former Soviet bloc countries, warned that Czech approval of the plan would "not pass without consequences.''

Russian legislators dealing with security issues "will recommend taking retaliatory measures'' that would "help maintain strategic stability and ensure the national security of Russia and our friends and allies,'' Kokoshin was quoted as telling the Interfax news agency.

A State Department spokesman, Edgar Vasquez, told The Associated Press he could not confirm that the Czechs had been asked to host the radar site and Poles the missile interceptors. He only repeated that negotiations were underway.

"Depending on the result of the discussions, the U.S. will seek to field a limited number of ground-based missile defence silo launchers, with their associated interceptors, similar to those currently fielded at Fort Greely, Alaska, and to deploy an X-band radar for midcourse tracking and discrimination of ballistic missile threats out of the Middle East,'' he said.

Vasquez would not specify which countries in the Middle East are considered a threat, but U.S. officials and others worry about Iran's development of long-range missiles that can reach Europe.

The missile defence system is intended to begin tracking missiles early during their boost phase and then guide intercepter missiles that would destroy the threatening missiles in flight.

So far, the U.S. military has deployed only a small number of interceptor missiles, at least 11 at Fort Greely and two at Vandenberg Air Force Base on the central California coast.

Topolanek said that if the Czech Republic approves the U.S. request, some 200 American specialists would be deployed here and the base would become operational in 2011.

"We are convinced that a possible deployment of the radar station on our territory is in our interest,'' he said. "It will increase security of the Czech Republic and Europe.''

Interesting article.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070120/missile_defence_070120/20070120?hub=World

 

[FredDaHead]

It seems like the US don't understand that even in this post-Cold War era, screwing with Russia's sphere of influence is not a good idea. Between encroaching into Eastern Europe, trying to get former Soviet republics into NATO, and everything else they're doing in the region, they're starting to push Russia. Now, President Putin is a smart man, and he know not to react too harshly. However, push him too much, and he'll make you regret it.

Just look at the energy situation in central Europe. Russia is shutting off it's supply to certain countries to make them bend. While it would likely not affect the US directly, if it's allies in Europe start telling them to back off, and stop cooperating fully, it would cause some problems for US foreign policy.

 

[JesseWZ]

I wasn't aware the Russian Federation or whatever they're calling Russia now had the economic power to even mention another arms race. The last one gutted the USSR's economy did it not?

 

[FredDaHead]

I wasn't aware the Russian Federation or whatever they're calling Russia now had the economic power to even mention another arms race. The last one gutted the USSR's economy did it not?

Different economic system.

Also, with energy prices going up and Russia being a massive exporter of various energy products, they could probably bankroll an arms race. Besides, who says the US has the economic power to sustain one?

 

[JesseWZ]

Good point.

 

[JackD]

I live in Poland, kow-towing to the Russian Bear's growls is not what the majority of people here like to hear. telling Putin and company to f-off is what we in Central Europe like to hear. After-all Central Europe has had to endure the Bear's embrace longer than most. Now the German's, they are the one's who are uneasy... Build the base!

 

[Mike Baker]

Well it seems that Poland has yet to say anything regarding U.S. missles within their country

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland said on Sunday it was still in talks with the United States about the possibility of allowing it to base an anti-missile system on its soil, and had no comment on a report a final deal had been agreed upon.

Washington is investing $10 billion a year in developing the system, which would use rockets to shoot down hostile missiles.


Diplomats say Poland is considered one of the best potential locations for rocket batteries. The Czech government said on Saturday the United States had asked permission to build a radar base on its territory that would form part of the defense system.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/070121/world/international_poland_usa_missiles_dc

 

[JackD]

Yes, the wonderful Polish government is renowned for its ability to make in-decisions. Better though for us who live here, for them not to make decisions - rather than make decisions... I believe however, that the same could be said for most governments.The hold-up I am sure is in negotiating how much each member of the sejm will make on the deal.  I hope this site is built - as building the site means improving the road network to the site - Polish roads being renowned for their in-built speed retarding devices (read "Kettle" holes).

 

[Bigmac]

Top Russian general says Moscow may unilaterally leave arms reduction treaty

MOSCOW (AP) - A top Russian general says Moscow may unilaterally opt out of a Soviet-era arms reduction treaty with the United States.

Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, chief of the Russian military's General Staff, says a lot depends on Washington's proposed missile defence system, parts of which the U.S. wants to deploy in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Baluyevsky told Russia's ITAR-Tass and Interfax news agencies that U.S. actions may force Russia to could pull out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

The treaty was negotiated between Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1987.

It eliminated an entire class of medium-range missiles that had been based in Europe.

Baluyevsky's comments come in the wake of severe criticism last weekend by Russian President Vladimir Putin about aggressive U.S. foreign policy, with its heavy reliance on military action.

Putin said Saturday that the INF treaty no longer serves Russia's interests.

    It definitely looks like we are heading into another Cold War, only this time there will be a lot more players involved.

 

[Mike Baker]

     It definitely looks like we are heading into another Cold War, only this time there will be a lot more players involved.

Oh joy, I was here right after it went in the toilet, now I will have to go though one? 

 

[JackD]

Cold War? Not really, there are too many trade connections now - The  Russian organizations that count also have too much to lose - I mean the Russian mafia (a war would surely decrease their annual profits from money laundering, racketeering, prostitution, and smuggling). Has Eastern expansion benefitted NATO? Aren't Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Romanian troops involved on NATO operations. Isn't it every country's right to choose what organizations to belong to? Stuff the Bear. Anyway - if they invade and drive towards Germany they'd have to go either by railroad or road. The railroads are electrical - just cut off the juice - (they are also of a different gauge as well); if they do so by road, they have to cross Poland, and they wouldn't get 10 km before their vehicles fall to pieces due to encounters with the numerous potholes...

 

[midget-boyd91]

Oh joy, I was here right after it went in the toilet, now I will have to go though one? 

I think it would be more likely for Putin to be replaced by an ultranationalist in Moscow who would want the ways of the old Soviet back. Resulting in many more "small" conflicts like the one in Chechnya and more attacks inside and just outside of Russia. (Attacks meaning bombings, and sieges like the school hostage taking)

 

[Edward Campbell]

I think the Russians have a good case for rearming, but not to counter American/Western/NATO 'threats.'  Russia is in steadily growing danger of losing even more of its former empire.  The "Stans" have already slipped away from Russia and are firmly in  China's orbit.  Ditto Mongolia.  Russian influence with North Korea is, essentially, gone.  Russia's former friends in India are now our friends and the Afro-Asian block looks, now, towards Beijing, not Moscow.

The 'prize' is the resource treasure-house of Eastern Siberia.  For our Chinese friends:

• Everything East of the Yenesey* River is Asian;

• Russia is not an Asian country; and

• The East is (still) Red.

---------

* Or Yenisey or Yenisei or, or, or ...

 

[Baloo]

I believe that the Russian Federation is definitely overplaying their hand in this regard. Not only do they not have the economic capacity to significantly 'challenge' the United States or NATO in terms of military might, but their former sphere within the Eastern bloc and Asian nations has dropped away sharply. Now, I would not even contemplate T-series main battle tanks crossing into central Germany, but that their medium-range missiles to respond with this deployment to Poland or Czech Republic is overreacting and straining relations where perhaps they should be looking more towards their eastern borders, as Edward has already pointed out. Their star is fading fast, if not already out of sight, and they are trying to make their regional power status more significant. Rearm to counter the Chinese perhaps, but not the Americans. That should be the farthest policy from their aims, with Chechnya and possible economic, diplomatic and border conflicts with China brewing.

 

[JackD]

In that case surely Russia should spend their oil/mineral wealth on building and maintaining decent roads? There is the odd website around that shows pictures of a few of these  'roads' - ah yes, found it - this site: http://thrillingwonder.blogspot.com/2006/11/most-dangerous-roads-in-world.html . Not to denigrate a nation, but being married to a beautiful Polish lady, and living in Poland for the last  ten years, I'd say the Slavic nations cannot organize a .... you can add your choice of simile here.... as for their construction abilities.... I stripped the wallpaper from my apartment's walls and discovered in many places there was no wall behind the wallpaper... each wall is at a different angle and don't ever get me started on the electrical installation... and roads, well, Poland is a staunch Catholic nation - and it shows - even the bloody roads  are holey - and the futher east you go, the worse it gets...

 

[Bigmac]

US defense chief sees problems in Russian withdrawal from INF16.02.2007, 06.30

WASHINGTON, February 16 (Itar-Tass) -- US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said a possible Russian withdrawal from the Soviet-American 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty would pose problems for the United States and Europe.

“I think it's a problem for us. I think that the Europeans will have special problem with it,” he told a press conference on Thursday commenting the statement of Russian Chief-of-Staff Yuri Baluyevsky that Moscow may withdraw from the treaty that banned medium-range nuclear missiles depending on US missile defense actions in Europe.

But Gates does not believe the Russian move was prompted by US plans to deploy ballistic missile defense systems in Poland and the Czech Republic.

“If they pull out of the treaty, it has nothing to do with ballistic missile defense. They know perfectly well that the ballistic missile defense that we're contemplating and proceeding to negotiate in Europe is no threat to Europe, is no threat to Russia,” Gates said.

“I think that they are concerned about the developing medium-range ballistic missile threat to their south and to their east. And I think if they have concerns with the INF Treaty, it probably derives from that,” he added.

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11257558&PageNum=0

    Perhaps the Russians are beginning to feel more insecure now that the bear has been reduced to a cub since the fall of the USSR!

 

[time expired]

Get over it guys, we are not heading for a new Cold War,Putin is on his way to the Middle East
and an anti American rant will score him a few points for his trip.
                                    Regards
PS If I am wrong about this send me an E-mail as I an sure I can find you a nice apartment in Lahr
after they intern all the Russians here.

 

[Mike Baker]

(tinfoil/hat/on)This may not be about Russia, but I never wanted to start a new topic for this(make it one if needed). http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/02/17/wld02.asp Some how, these violent conflicts may involve Russia in some way(AK-47 in mentioned). (Tinfoil/hat/off)

 

[Bigmac]

Czech leader favours U.S. missile defence system; Russia responds with threat

VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

MOSCOW (AP) - In a statement reflecting the growing distrust between Moscow and the West, a top Russian general on Monday warned that Poland and the Czech Republic risk being targeted by Russian missiles if they agree to host U.S. missile defence bases.

The stark threat, by missile forces chief Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov, was one of the most bellicose comments yet by Russian officials on the issue, which 10 days ago led President Vladimir Putin to warn of a "new Cold War" in a speech in Munich that shocked western governments.

"If the governments of Poland and the Czech Republic take such a step ... the Strategic Missile Forces will be capable of targeting these facilities if a relevant decision is made," Solovtsov told reporters in Moscow, asserting the U.S. plan could upset strategic balance of power in the region. Solovtsov spoke as Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek and his Polish counterpart, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, both in Warsaw, suggested they were ready to move forward with a plan by Washington to put 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar site in the Czech Republic.

Topolanek said both countries will probably agree to the basic U.S. proposal, though they must still work out the details. "I think it is in our joint interest to negotiate this initiative and to build ... the missile defence, " he said.

U.S. officials say that the 10 proposed interceptors - which they say are designed to stop a launch from the Middle East - are not aimed at Russia. Moscow, with its huge and sophisticated nuclear arsenal, could easily overwhelm such a small system simply by launching more than 10 missiles.

Putin has said he does not trust U.S. claims that the missile defence system was intended to counter threats from Iran. He has warned that Russia could take retaliatory action.

http://www.recorder.ca/cp/World/070219/w021981A.html

        Here we go again!

 

[Bigmac]

    More from the Russian side of the story. Russia now wants a meeting with NATO over the missile defense plan. The Russians are going to stall this as long as possible.

Russian Threat Convinces Poland and the Czech Republic
// Eastern Europe Opens Its Doors to US Missile Defense System
Washington has again confirmed its desire to establish bases in Eastern Europe as part of its missile defense system. In response, the Russian military has threatened to aim rockets at US facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic. American officials insist that the missile defense system is necessary for defense against Iran and North Korea, but Washington's plans are attracting criticism not only from Moscow but from Berlin and London as well. In Poland and the Czech Republic, however, threatening rumblings from Moscow have only increased support for the expansion of the system.
The USA is Coming

http://www.kommersant.com/p745368/Doors_US_Missile/