Why US-Poland missile deal rouses Russian bear

The Christian Science Monitor ^ | August 19, 2008 | Gordon Lubold

[lizol]

Why US-Poland missile deal rouses Russian bear

US officials say the system is merely a protection against rogue states like Iran.

By Gordon Lubold | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

from the August 19, 2008 edition

Washington - Russia's strident objections to the deal between the United States and Poland on a missile defense system are largely unfounded.

That's the view of American officials and analysts, who say Moscow's aim in the controversy is to divide NATO and drive a wedge between the US and its allies.

Moscow reacted angrily over the weekend to the agreement between the US and Poland to put a missile defense system comprised of 10 interceptors in Poland. American officials have long maintained that the system will protect Israel and US bases in the Middle East against a rogue nuclear missile strike from the likes of Iran, and does not pose a threat to Russian security. Russia sees the site as a threat and fears greater intrusion into its traditional sphere of influence.

But analysts in Washington widely believe Russia is using controversy over the agreement within Europe and NATO to further divide the US and its allies.

"I think that the Russian argument is a disingenuous one, and everyone knows it," says Chris Hellman, a policy fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, a policy group in Washington. "It really isn't targeted at those guys."

[lizol]

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[marron]

When Russians threaten to nuke Poland, they remind people why they just might need an anti-missile system.

“We need an anti-missile system to defend Europe against Iranian missiles.”

“You are exposing yourself to a Russian nuclear attack by doing so.”

“Well, then, I guess we need them even more that we previously thought.”

[MNJohnnie]

Russia is doing everything wrong here. They have totally messed this up from the start. Trying to bully Poland is utterly stupid. Poles know the bear and are not afraid of him.

[Billthedrill]

The Soviet objection to U.S. anti-missile missiles was always specious - it was essentially that such a defense was destabilizing because it would give the U.S. the ability to launch an all-out nuclear attack and be immune from a counter-attack. The weakness in that logic lies in precisely who would be protected - it isn't the United States and never was.

We are hardly likely to be launching attacks from Poland or the Czech Republic. Why the continuing vulnerability of those countries to incoming missiles (which might, after all, just as likely be Iranian as Russian) is important to the new Soviets is painfully transparent - no bully wants to see a potential victim able to defend himself.

What astonishes me is how very blatant and crude the new Sovietism is in practice. It has managed the unbelievable feat of making the old Soviets seem smooth by comparison. It may also manage the unbelievable feat of revitalizing NATO and persuading the Europeans to invest more than pocket change into their militaries. This isn't quite the result that the "genius" Mr. Putin was looking for.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

The Russians don’t want these in place because a mixture of energy blackmail and missile threats from proxy armies in places like Iran and Syria is their currently strategy for getting Europe to isolate itself from the US.

[bicyclerepair]

I feel like reading the Bible is like reading a different language. I wish I understood gog, moogog etc..

[WellyP]

“...That's the view of American officials and analysts, who say Moscow's aim in the controversy is to divide NATO and drive a wedge between the US and its allies...” What could happen is this. Several members of old Europe will bow out of NATO and new Europe will embrace it. The NATO hospitals will stay in Germany but the military bases will move east and south out of Germany, closer to the problems that appear to be in our near future.

[what's up]

Russia is furiously jealous that the US has been able to extend its influence half-way around the world into Russia's traditional spheres of influence.

Russia always wanted to be a major player on a par with the western powers, but now its territory has shrunk to a fraction of its former size. And all that can be seen on the horizon is more and more US influence.

The Russkies just aren't able to bear what the future holds and so are lashing out in frustration and fury.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The Rooskie has bullied its neighbors for the past 500 years. They've hit Poland more times than John Edwards has hit on Reille Whatsername...

[omega4179]

Bomb 50 russian tanks tomorrow. What would they do in response? nothing.

[NoLibZone]

exactly,

Ossetia would be a great test of what they have.

An air demonstration would show just how big a difference there is between their 60’s technology and ours.

[Thunder90]

Russia/Soviet/Coldwar2 PING!!!

To be added or removed from this list, please FReepmail me...

[Thunder90]

Gog=Russia and the USSR
Magog=China

IMHO.

[Straight Vermonter]

The problem is that Putin wants to sell missile technology to Iran et al. A missile defense system makes their sale pitch much more difficult.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thanks for the ping to this thread.