West needs new missile shield against Iranian nuclear threat, Nato chief says

The Telegraph ^ | 9/11/2010 | Nick Meo in Brussels

[bruinbirdman]

Anders Fogh Rasmussen claimed that a new defensive 'shield' could be set up in cooperation with Russia

Anders Fogh Rasmussen told The Sunday Telegraph he has full American backing for a proposed €200 million (£165 million) defensive "shield", which he hopes will be agreed in November at a summit of members in Lisbon.

He was speaking after weapons inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned last week that Iran had passed a crucial nuclear threshold which took it nearer to being able to arm ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads.

"Based on their public statements we know that Iran already has missiles with a range sufficient to hit targets in Europe, and they don't hide the fact that they want to further develop their capability," Mr Rasmussen said.

"If Iran eventually acquires a nuclear capability that will be very dangerous, and a direct threat to the allies. That is the reason why I am now proposing a new and effective Nato missile defence system."

He claimed that the new system could be set up in cooperation with Russia, which has angrily opposed previous American attempts to set up missile shields in Europe.

Iran's longest-range ballistic missiles, such as the Shahab-3 and the Qiam-1, have ranges of around 2,500 miles and could hit targets in Turkey and Greece.

Some will see the plan for a new missile shield as a tacit admission that America has rejected the risky option of launching air attacks on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, and given up hopes of deterring Iran from building a bomb, as Western governments believe it is trying to do.

Europe's anti-missile defences at present largely consist of American-made SM-3 missiles, based on US warships, which would attempt to shoot down attacking ballistic

[bruinbirdman]

€200 million is not much, especially since Barak Hussein bin Obama al-Kenyata has put the nix on foreward positioned ABMs.

[jessduntno]

“€200 million is not much, especially since Barak Hussein bin Obama al-Kenyata has put the nix on foreward positioned ABMs.”

I’m worried about missiles ... but what about a suitcase bomb detonated from a height of ... say ... 13 stories, just two blocks from the killing grounds in lower Manhattan at the former site of the World Trade Center after it’s rebuilt.

10 am on a weekday morning, when everyone is there and the kids are all in the little playrooms and preschools and there are 60-70,000 on the site.

There might be a building that close that would be full of folks sympathetic to the cause and willing to help make it happen.

[jonrick46]

"the new system could be set up in cooperation with Russia."

No way. We cannot trust Russia or any other country. We must build our own system. The trouble is, Zer0 is not interested in the safety of our nation. He wants this nation to go down.

[himno hero]

... the great Iranian enabler

Iran should have been take out long ago instead of allowing the yap to grow. The longer we wait the greater the price that will be paid by all.

the joys of having a great president.

.....ever wonder why zero is popular with the muslims?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2585916/posts?page=27#27

[Olog-hai]

Ain’t it great what you get when you let the European Union take over NATO?

[mmercier]

not even worth reading in entire.

so the soviet russian pigs will let the one assess american taxpayers two hundred million dollars that they will be responsible to pay back to china, to defend the soviets and their maggot legion from medium range Iranian nuclear missiles that the russians helped the iranians develop with the intent of blowing our $hit into the wind...?

the one will go for this idea.

[rfp1234]

The best shield is regime change.

And the Iranian ayatollahs should be overthrown, too...

[bruinbirdman]

"but what about a suitcase bomb detonated from a height of "

Maybe that's why the Rooskies are going along with the ABMs? A little diversion?

yitbos

[rbg81]

Instead of spending tens of billions of dollars on a missile shield that may not work (and certainly not work perfectly), why not spend tens of millions taking out the Iranian capacity. Bomb their nuke facilities into dust. Just my 2 cents.

[Flavius]

Yes let’s call it maginot line 2.0

[LibWhacker]

He claimed that the new system could be set up in cooperation with Russia

If they're going to do that, they might as well set it up in cooperation with Iran. What a farce.

[SunkenCiv]

Anders Fogh Rasmussen is Danish (looked it up, the article excerpt doesn’t say). Thanks bruinbirdman.

[SunkenCiv]

NATO wants to work with Russia on missile defense
Reuters | September 18, 2009 | David Brunnstrom, Timothy Heriate and Dale Hudson
Posted on 09/18/2009 4:22:48 AM PDT by myknowledge
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2342681/posts

Turkey defies allies over new NATO chief
Canada.com | 4/4/2009 | Crispian Balmer
Posted on 04/04/2009 5:23:49 AM PDT by a_Turk
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2222161/posts