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Europe
Nato chief proposes missile shield to include Russia
2010-03-28
Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen has called for a new missile defence system that would protect the US and its allies, and include Russia as well. Mr Rasmussen was speaking at the Brussels Forum - an international gathering in the Belgian capital.
I think I've seen this movie: Uncle Sugar pays for a major defense element that benefits Europe. And now we have to include the Russians in whatever we give away to the Y'urp-peons or the Rooskies will shut off the gas.
Mr Rasmussen said the threat of missile proliferation was real and growing and, in cases such as Iran, these missiles could threaten Nato territories. He said missile defence could bring Nato and Russia together.

The Nato secretary general said he saw a new Euro-Atlantic missile defence system, as he called it, as more than just a means of defending Nato countries against ballistic missile attack. Mr Rasmussen clearly believes that such a system could re-invigorate not just the European allies' relationship with the US but also Nato's whole relationship with Russia.

"It would be an opportunity for Europe to demonstrate again to the United States that the allies are ready and willing to invest in the capabilities we need to defend ourselves," he said.

But he also argued that such a step would create a new dynamic in European security. It would be a strong political symbol that Russia is fully part of the Euro-Atlantic family, he said.

It's a bold proposal. The US has tried to draw Russia into its missile defence plans with very limited success. Moscow tends to see the proposal as ultimately undermining its own nuclear deterrent. But Nato as a whole is increasingly interested in such defences and looks set to go ahead with them with or without Russia on board.
Posted by:Steve White

#2  TOPIX > [SecGen Rasmussen]NATO CHIEF: IRAN MISSLES CAN REACH ROMANIA, BULGARIA, GREECE, AND TURKEY. EUROPEAN UNION + EU SECURITY will remain a "Paper Tiger" unless EU Member-Sttaes can make more State(s)-specific "concrete contributions" to same on theor own behalf [as opposed to tote reliance on US includ GMD-TMD].

Read, $$$ + MEN + MATERIEL, BY THE EU FOR THE EU.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2010-03-28 21:13  

#1  Actually, Bush (cleverly, IMO) was the first to invite the Russians. IIRC W's proposal was to base the station in Azerbaijan, essentially in Ajad's backyard.
Posted by: lex   2010-03-28 02:33  

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