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Europe
NATO backs US missile plan on eve of talks with Russia
2007-06-26
NATO's secretary-general mounted a stout defense of Washington's missile shield plan on Monday, the day before meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin when the issue is likely to top the agenda.

Russia has described United States' plan to place part of its missile shield in eastern Europe as a threat and the issue has divided European politicians with some saying it is vital for defense and others saying it is misguided. In echoes of the Cold War, Putin this month said he would order Russia to aim its missiles back at major European cities if Washington went ahead with the plan to site elements of the shield near Russia's borders. On Tuesday de Hoop Scheffer meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Putin.

"You don't have to be Einstein to understand that 10 interceptor rockets don't pose any threat to Russia and the Russian people"
"You don't have to be Einstein to understand that 10 interceptor rockets don't pose any threat to Russia and the Russian people," NATO's Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said via an interpreter in a debate on Russia's Ekho Moskvy radio station.

He underlined the shield was aimed at shooting down missiles fired by rogue states such as North Korea and Iran, and that Russia also shared these common enemies. "We were enemies and we tried to destroy each other but that era has now finished," de Hoop Scheffer said on Monday.

The United States wants to place part of the missile shield in Poland and the Czech republic.

As an alternative to the shield, Russia has also offered the United States use of a Soviet-built radar station in Azerbaijan. The United States said it would consider the offer although the Azeri radar station could not replace the main missile shield.
Posted by:lotp

#3  Partly the Russians' 'we're still relevant' attitude. Partly playing the salesman; trying to stay in the Iranians' good graces.
Posted by: Pappy   2007-06-26 10:06  

#2  And furthermore ..

Perhaps Putin has some inside information that Iran wants more missile technology should the US install this system. He could tell the Iranians that he would be able to shut down the radar if they had a mutual interest in attacking Europe, and that would forestall Iran asking for/demanding more and the resulting ill will if he had to tell them "Nyet".
Posted by: gorb   2007-06-26 02:07  

#1  He's probably worried about NATO suddenly or secretly raising the number of interceptors to 1000 or something like that. Also, instead of sending only one or two missiles to wipe out a target, now he has to send three or four.
Posted by: gorb   2007-06-26 02:01  

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