U.S. wants defensive missile system in Europe against Iran; report

Drudge Report ^ | 10/9/03

[areafiftyone]

Munich (dpa) - The U.S. government is sounding out the possibility of bilateral agreements with European countries to allow stationing of a defensive missile system directed against Iran, a leading German newspaper reported in its Friday edition.

Countries accepting the missiles would be rewarded by the U.S. with economic assistance, according to the report in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung citing unnamed U.S. State Department officials.

One ranking U.S. diplomat told the newspaper a joint project with European participation would be preferable, creating a missile-defence system to guard against attacks on both Europe and North America. However chances of obtaining NATO approval for the project were slim, the official said.

[philosofy123]

Why aren't we bombing the Iranian Uranium enrichment facilities. Why do we wait for Israel to do that? The Iranian government has been our archenemy from day one.

[tractorman]

I’m with you! I don’t see why we don’t just blow it up and blame it on an Iranian nuke accident.

[pawdoggie]

I’m with you! I don’t see why we don’t just blow it up and blame it on an Iranian nuke accident.

Great minds think alike, you sly devil!

[maestro]

Correct!

U.S. wants defensive missile system in Europe against Iran; report

The New 2004 (Sunni) 'EU' could call the defendive missile system "Death to the Shiite"...??

/sarcasm

[nuconvert]

"Why aren't we bombing the Iranian Uranium enrichment facilities."

One problem might be, that some of Iran's Uranium enrichment sites are under heavily populated cities, and we're not sure where. So blowing up nuclear reactors is only part of the problem.(which is what Israel has been talking about doing)

[Bon mots]

Are there no men left in Europe willing to defend it?

Europe is willing to fight to the last American to defend itself.

[Prodigal Son]

And they spit on American graves buried in their wretched soil.

All of 'em?

[Prodigal Son]

and then they will have nowhere to point their finger if they do get hit by Iran...

Well... Is Iran planning on hitting Europe? I haven't heard anything like this. Jeez, Iran has enough trouble just trying to keep down its own insurrection and worrying about its territorial integrity without pestering Europe with a missile strike. Seems like if they wanted to threaten anyone it would be Israel.

[Almondjoy]

To not piss Russia off for having yet another missle defense system errected.. espically in their backyard.

[Prodigal Son]

Here's some more on this (probably where Drudge is getting his info):

US 'mulls Iran defence missiles' (source- News.com.au)

From correspondents in Berlin October 10, 2003

THE US government is considering stationing defensive missiles in a number of European countries against a potential attack from Iran, Germany's Sueddeutsche newspaper reports.

The daily quotes a high-ranking US diplomat as saying the Americans want to develop a defensive missile network with Europeans, but doubted whether a deal could be reached quickly by NATO.

Because of these concerns, Washington may pursue bilateral agreements with individual European countries for the deployment, in 2006, of anti-ballistic systems in exchange for economic aid, the Sueddeutsche said.

The diplomat acknowledged that such an approach could lead to new tensions with some European countries following the rift over the US-led Iraq war, the report says.

US defence policy specialist Benjamin Schreer of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs told the newspaper that Romania and Bulgaria could be the "first choices" for such agreements with the US.

[Almondjoy]

Don't forget about all the U.S. troops there. We like to see a small nuke land in one of our bases? How would you feel about tens of thousands of American's dying because we were unwilling to spend the money to protect them?

[Prodigal Son]

Sorry, screwed the link up-

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7516405%255E1702,00.html

[Prodigal Son]

And the link to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung with the original article (it says the same thing):

http://www.sueddeutsche.de/ticker/iptc-bdt-20031009-738-dpa_4881306/

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Countries accepting the missiles would be rewarded by the U.S. with economic assistance, according to the report in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung citing unnamed U.S. State Department officials.

Long live the empire!

[per loin]

I don't see why we should be spending our tax money to have our troops in Europe protecting Europeans.

[toast]

The most likely target would actually be Israel.

I would suggest deployment on the soil of our new best friend Iraq.

[Stultis]

Is this thing going to destroy the missles entirely? 'Cause if it's cheaper to simply deflect them into France... (or even if it costs a bit extra...)

[Almondjoy]

Or having a large medical base in Germany that is serving to keep American G.I.'s alive? I'm not sure you understand the whole concept of logistics.

[Delbert]

Why not just destroy Iran? Wouldnt it be cheaper?

[blam]

"I’m with you! I don’t see why we don’t just blow it up and blame it on an Iranian nuke accident."

Nah, blame it on Israel and when TSHTF we'll have an excuse to clean out the whole middle east once and for all.