U.S. Steps Up Missile System Push In Eastern Europe

[Hissyspit]

Source: LA Times

U.S. steps up missile system push in Eastern Europe
The effort may escalate the issue into an international dispute, depending on Moscow's reaction.
By Peter Spiegel, Times Staff Writer
7:59 PM PDT, April 3, 2007

The Bush administration has begun to step up its efforts to build a controversial missile defense system in Eastern Europe, launching a public push in recent weeks to counter bitter opposition in Russia and to overcome fears of a new arms race elsewhere on the continent.

The move, coming ahead of a major NATO meeting on the project this month, could escalate a simmering diplomatic issue into a significant international dispute, depending on Moscow's reaction and the administration's next moves in its effort to base 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar center in the Czech Republic, both formerly part of the Soviet Bloc.

The senior Pentagon official responsible for overseeing the plan said Tuesday in a briefing that the administration hoped to damp Russian opposition, but that Moscow would not be allowed to derail the project if no agreement was reached with the Kremlin.

- snip -

The missile defense system, which would be operated by American soldiers stationed in the Eastern European countries, has become one of the thorniest points of contention between Russia and the U.S., and rhetoric has escalated since December, when Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates gave the go-ahead to seek formal negotiations.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-missile4apr04,0,4371774.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[Theduckno2]

1. Your post sent me downstairs for a book to reread.

"The Private Manufacture of Armaments" by Philip Noel-Baker.

I fear that this missile defense system will set in motion a ridiculous arms-race. Once started, the ensuing escalations based on real AND IMAGINED information will only consume this world's all too precious resources.

I applaud those countries that resist and reject the incessant fear mongering. I see this system as evidence of the unbridled military-industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned us of.

People have to realize to so long as there is money to be made in armaments, one needs to independently assess the threats posed and not depend only on the salesmen for those assessments.

[Miss Chybil]

2. Hey, if there is somebody to get pissed off at the US,

Bush will be there to make sure it gets done. He's a gitterdun kinda guy.

[Supersedeas]

3. PUSHING a missile system to overcome fears of an arms race--HUGH!?!

[donkeyotay]

4. Disaster is sure to follow. It's not "may" it's "will"

"The effort may escalate the issue into an international dispute..."

He's going to destroy us one way or another. He is beyond the worst president ever. If the arms race doesn't kill us outright, the damage to the environment will. Has anyone calculated the carbon footprint of the Iraq war, or am I a terrist-sympathizer for asking?

[pigpickle]

5. This is inevitable, regardless of which party is in power.