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Putin Suggests Azerbaijan as New Missile Shield Site | ||||
2007-06-07 | ||||
Interesting idea. Has its bad as well as good points, but intriguing.
Bush has proposed putting the radar and rockets in the Czech Republic and Poland. After weeks of increasingly acrimonious rhetoric from Moscow about the new shield, Putin's proposal to put the system in Azerbaijan was a surprise. Putin said the facility, built during Soviet times, is still available for Russia's use under a continuing agreement between Russia and Azerbaijan. Appearing together before reporters, the president spoke before Putin and did not mention the alternative presented by his Russian counterpart. He only said that Putin "had some interesting suggestions." The two leaders agreed to further discuss the issue during two days of talks beginning July 1 in Kennebunkport, Maine, at the Bush family's oceanfront compound. Lower-level officials in both governments also plan to explore it. "We both agreed to have a strategic dialogue," Bush said. "This is a serious issue." The Russian leader said the proposed relocation would alleviate Russia's concerns about a missile shield based on its doorstep in Eastern Europe. "This will make it unnecessary for us to place our offensive complexes along the border with Europe," Putin said. He laid out several other conditions, as well: _Taking Russia's concerns into account."Then we will have no problem," the Russian leader said. He also warned the United States not to go ahead with building the system as planned while negotiations with Moscow take place. "We hope these consultations will not serve as cover for some unilateral action," Putin said.
Hadley did not rule out the possibility that the end result would be some mix of the Russian and the U.S. proposals. "We asked the Russians to cooperate with us on missile defense, and what we got was a willingness to do so," Hadley said after the Bush- Putin meeting. Both sides portrayed the idea—far from becoming a reality—as proof that the U.S.-relationship has not fallen so far as people have speculated amid the dispute. The leaders said they agreed that Iran and the suspicions that it is developing a nuclear weapon is the threat to focus on, not each other. "We have an understanding about common threats, but we have differences," Putin said. He declared himself "satisfied with the spirit of openness" he encountered in Bush. The U.S. president said they had demonstrated they share "the desire to work together to allay people's fears." The two leaders, locked for weeks in a testy dispute over the shield, appeared friendly as they spoke on the grounds of the upscale resort here where the summit is being held. They stood so close they often touched. "I'd like to confirm what the president of the United States has said—except for one thing: I've not said that friends do not act in this way," Putin said, to which both laughed heartily and jostled each other. | ||||
Posted by:Glenmore |
#5 I hope we don't fall for this ploy. We currently have plans for interceptors in Poland then main stationary radar in Check republic and finally a forward stationed mohbile radar to be placed in Georgia. Puty wants US to put both interceptors and stationary radar in Azerbajan were they will be vulnerable to Iranian short range ballistic missiles. Also puts all our eggs in one basket and a added bonus of having US pay for Puty's own front line BMD free of charge. Also BMD in Azerbajan will only be good for Iran were as Poland/Check/Georgia/Israel line will fully secure Europe from all Arab launched systems short N Africa which is low threat potential at this point and could be added with say Iraly or Spain added. Horrible so called DEAL compromise. But I gotta give it to Puty its a balsey move and will play well with the sypathetic LLL's and the weak on our side. We should hold solid, Russia's billergent threats are not something they cannot back up and just shows Europe and our weak that Russia is back sliding bad. |
Posted by: C-Low 2007-06-07 20:28 |
#4 Bush's called Putin's idea an "interesting proposal Back when I did labor contract negotiations, "an interesting proposal" was shorthand for "are you out of your tiny mind?". |
Posted by: Dopey Tholuth4047 2007-06-07 17:08 |
#3 Is Putty arranging things of other countries now? I'd think the Azerbaijanis might like a say. |
Posted by: mojo 2007-06-07 14:46 |
#2 And of course, Azerbaijan is between Moscow and Iran. But that would have nothing to do with it... |
Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-06-07 14:44 |
#1 A Shield is no good if the other side can keep you from using it... |
Posted by: Ptah 2007-06-07 13:31 |