Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Nato secretary-general, wants member states to consider seriously a recently issued 10,000-page report I wouldn't even consider picking it up
that concluded that such a system would be feasible for Europe and added that the dangers posed by Pyongyang and Tehran were increasing.
But not as quickly as NATO's estimate of Ronald Reagan's IQ.
"We need to have an active debate within the alliance on missile defence to ensure that we have a common view and a common way forward," said his spokesman.
No, Jaap, you don't need an active debate. You need missiles. Yesterday.
This week, the 26 Nato ambassadors met to condemn North Korea's missile tests. They are soon likely to discuss the conclusions of the report, commissioned by a Nato summit in 2002.
Only four years to get the report done -- how's that Rapid Reaction Force coming, by the way?
Several European governments hope they can get protection in return for agreeing to base anti-missile interceptors, vital for the working of the system, on their territories.
Thanks so much.
But Nato officials believe that a Europe-wide system could complement the US's own military defence, and worry that the unity of the alliance could be fatally undermined if some but not all of the members were protected.
Ve are all in this together, nein?
| The Euros and Canadians couldn't be bothered with all this silly 'Star Wars' missile defense until the NKors started banging their spoons on their high chairs. Now they're scurrying to get into Dubya's good graces. |