Posted on 08/21/2007 11:08:26 AM PDT by kik5150
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's military chief told the Czech Republic it would be making a "big mistake" to host a U.S. missile defense shield on its soil and urged Prague on Tuesday to delay a decision until a new U.S. president is elected. The Czech Republic is discussing hosting a radar station which would form part of the U.S. missile shield -- a system designed to intercept and destroy missiles from "rogues states" but which Moscow sees as a threat to its security.
"We say it will be a big mistake by the Czech government to put this radar site on Czech territory," said Yuri Baluyevsky, the Russian military chief of staff, after meeting the Czech deputy defense minister, Martin Bartak.
He said the Czech Republic should hold off making a decision until after the U.S. presidential election, scheduled to take place in late 2008. Incumbent George W. Bush will not be running.
"A decision will be made by the Czech side only after the evaluation of all conditions, technical and otherwise," said Baluyevsky.
"I and my Russian colleagues simply ask that that process continue through to October-November of 2008, and I think you can all guess why."
Asked by a reporter to clarify, he said: "I do not exclude that a new administration in the United States will re-evaluate the current administration's decisions on missile defense."
The missile shield is the latest in a series of moves by Moscow's former Warsaw Pact allies to embrace NATO, effectively moving the West's military capabilities closer to Russia.
Baluyevsky said the Czech move was a political rather than a military decision.
"In my opinion it is a great disappointment that today's discussion sees no change in the last four months by the Czech government. You have taken a decision to continue construction of a radar site on Czech territory," he said.
"There are unfounded allegations that Russia is attempting to disrupt the peace and tranquility of Western Europe."
Bartak stressed that his government had not yet made a decision. "The most important thing I can say is that we have not yet said the final word on this and we will not until we have explored all avenues," he said.
Baluyevsky made his comments on the 39th anniversary of the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia to crush the "Prague Spring," when Soviet tanks ended an attempt by the government of the day to promote liberal reforms.
then
“The Czech Republic would be making a ‘big mistake’ if it permitted the facility, Interfax news agency quoted Baluyevski as warning Bartak.
In such a case, Russia would have to take ‘measures to protect its own security,’ which would effect the Czech Republic also, Interfax quoted Baluyevsk as saying.”
http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/news/article_1345854.php/Russia_threatens_Czechs_with_measures_against_radar_system__Roundup
and then: "There are unfounded allegations that Russia is attempting to disrupt the peace and tranquility of Western Europe."
Conclusion: The Russians are back into the Soviet mindset, i.e. they have a big inferiority complex and is behaving as a drunken teenager.
Soviet tanks enter Prague August 1968 - August 2007?
I think they’d be in for more than a bit of a shock if they tried.
Thank you for the ping.
Ping.
I'll second that.
IIRC, the Navy re-designated them during the 80s, during Webb’s push for a 600 ship navy.
I think that Russia needs to look across its borders at China as a threat. Russia’s population is declining very fast, and with 1.3 billion Chinese, those Asian Russian properties might just be too inviting.
Please add me
There are many here who have a very cavalier attitude towards Russia, as if they can do no damage to us.
The United States is not what it was. We are not united at all. For every Free Republic voter, there is another Daily Kos voter.
Just look at the 2004 election. Was anyone else surprised that almost FIFTY MILLION people voted for John Kerry?
Many of you are living in a dream world. America is headed down. The inmates are multiplying, and will soon be running the asylum.
Hillary will get elected, mostly because of Iraq, which Russia is keeping unstable. This will usher in another period of Clinton years - and we’ve already seen what kind of damage the first eight did.
2008 will be a huge year for Russia - with another Clinton in office, it and China will increase in stature and power. Just remember - Russia has been behind Iraq all this time.
I guess my outlook on life would be as dismal as yours if I lived in Massachusetts. Kerry and Kennedy’s, what a combo, only comparable to NY with Clinton and Schumer. We are not quitters son and Iraq is not on the mind of most of the rest of the country, I’m sure thats hard to imagine from your vantage point. So long as we have the Constitution and the Electoral College we can keep that filthy socialist out of the White House. Try joining the Friends of Fred and listening to Rush, you are in desperate need of some pep talk.
If his 2nd Term is over and he's not running then he's not an incumbent Chris.
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