Gates: Russia considered in missile defense

[unhappycamper]

Gates: Russia considered in missile defense
By Anne Gearan and Vanessa Gera - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Feb 20, 2009 13:06:30 EST

KRAKOW, Poland — Washington will take Russia into account when it decides on a European missile-defense plan, the U.S. defense secretary said Friday in comments welcomed by Moscow but certain to worry the former communist countries that agreed to host the system.

Robert Gates said at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Krakow that President Barack Obama has not yet decided whether to carry through with a Bush administration-backed project to put missile-defense bases in Poland and the Czech Republic, a plan that outraged Russia.

Gates said Washington would review the plan “in the context of our relationship with both Poland and the Czech Republic, our relationship with the NATO alliance, the commitments we have made as members of the alliance in terms of European missile defense — and also in the context of our relationship with the Russians.”

The language marks a departure from the tone of the Bush administration, which enthusiastically promoted the plan and signed deals last year with Warsaw and Prague. The Bush administration offered to be transparent with Moscow as it proceeded with sites in Russia’s backyard — but never suggested that Russia’s position could play a role in the system’s fate itself.

Washington maintains the planned sites are meant to defend the U.S. and Europe from possible missile launches from Iran. Russia has said the system could upset the traditional balance of power in the region and proposed working with the U.S. in setting up a joint missile defense system.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_nato_missile_defense_022009/%2e