Chirac warns US on missile base plan

[Joanne98]

Chirac warns US on missile base plan
By Daniel Dombey and Bertrand Benoit in Brussels and Guy Dinmore in Washington

Published: March 9 2007 20:14 | Last updated: March 9 2007 20:14

Jacques Chirac bowed out of what might be his last European Union summit by warning that US plans to install missile defence bases in Europe could split the continent and provoke a fresh cold war.

The French president said Europe and the US needed to consider Russia’s concerns about the projected missile bases in Poland and the Czech Republic.

“We should be very careful about encouraging the creation of a new dividing line in Europe or a return of the order of the past,” he said.

His comments marked the first French intervention in the debate since the US formally requested the use of Polish and Czech bases this year. They were also the latest indication of deep concern among western European Nato governments that the plans will hurt ties with Moscow.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia has said siting the bases in the former Warsaw Pact states would break 1990s-era understandings with the US and lead to an “inevitable arms race”.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/89e6c97e-ce78-11db-b5c8-000b5df10621.html

Who in the Hell gave Bush permission to build new missle bases in Europe?

:wtf:

[Joe Chi Minh]

1. The military-industrial complex.

[Pavulon]

2. Europe did and still does request US presence

it is European policy to host massive numbers of us troops and equipment. We maintain equipment , up to and including nuclear weapons, to fight a cold war.

They can request we leave at any time. However, having been to Europe to participate in IFOR/SFOR, I do not believe that will happen.

The missile defense system is of no use against a massive power like Russia.

It could be handy against, say, Iran. France threatened to nuke them, publicly.

[Joanne98]

3. Western Europe doesn't want US protection...

And how much is this going to cost?

[Pavulon]

4. Western Europe can ask the US

to leave at any time. They will NOT. Western Europe could stop this it they really felt like doing something. They will not.

[Solo_in_MD]

6. Its not being forced upon them, and the host nations want it

Chirac's foreign policy is one of opposition not creativity. If he thinks it will diminish the perception of France, he is against it, a level of jingoistic nationalism not even Bush would employ.

[Orrin_73]

5. While at the same time france builds bases in cyprus