http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/05/europe/EU-GEN-Russia-US-Missile-Defense.phpThe Associated Press
Published: March 5, 2007
Interesting for psychological reasons. The Russians continue to express their negative feelings about the proposed US anti-missile battery in Poland. Logically, this statement (story below) is a non-sequitor. Such an attack on our anti-missile battery would be an act of war by Russia on the US, something that would logically happen only as a prelude to an all-out nuclear attack from Russia on the US. No one even contemplates such a possibility at this time.
Psychologically, however, it is worth noting. Clearly, the Russians do not want the battery built. We say it is only directed at rogue states like Iran; the Russians feel it affects them. For the Russians, this has as much to do with Poland as it does with Iran. Make no mistake about it, the Poles feel the same way. They see this as a way to strengthen their relationship with the US on a number of levels. This is "defensive" to the Poles---except nothing is pure defense. The Russians feel that US power in their home neighborhood tends to expand without limit when they are too weak to oppose it---and they are now strong enough to begin doing something about it.
A currently weak Russia remembers that Poland once conquered much of Russia (yes, that possibility is still far away, but historical memory resonates. Few countries have had such an easy history as the US has, or for that matter, such a short history.)
The question is what the EU response will be to the situation. In this situation, even no response is a response that has significance---it would mean the EU is "letting it go" which would be tacit approval. However, I suspect the EU will respond, a response that will probably include a negative element, referring to the possibility that the missile battery will increase tensions with Russia, something the EU is quite concerned to avoid.
"MOSCOW: Russia's air force would be capable of easily knocking out missile defense sites the United States wants to place in Europe, news agencies quoted a top general as saying Monday in the latest bellicose remarks in response to the U.S. plans.
"Lt. Gen. Igor Khvorov, who is in charge of Russia's strategic bomber force, said the installations the United States plans to deploy in Poland and the Czech Republic will be an easy target for his aircraft, Interfax and RIA-Novosti news agencies reported.
"'Since missile defense elements are weakly protected, all types of our aircraft are capable of applying electronic countermeasures against them or physically destroying them,' Khvorov was quoted as saying.
"The statement follows a stream of other comments from Russian government leaders and military officials who have harshly criticized the U.S. plans. The head of Russia's missile forces said last month that his forces would be capable of targeting the putative facilities if the country's leadership decided to do so..."
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(267 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
