Missile Shield Urgent says GWB

[star-warrior]

Bush seems to be rattling his sabre and preying on the fears of Americans like the way old Ronnie with his StarWars scheme did a coupla plus decades ago.

If your foreign policy is such a success, why is he fearing the middle east?

I wonder if there'll be a surge of interest in this rather expensive white elephant?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7058622.stm

Missile shield is 'urgent' - Bush

"Russia is not our enemy," said Mr Bush

US President George W Bush has said there is a "real and urgent" need for a missile defence system in Europe.
Mr Bush said the missile threat was from the Middle East, not Russia, which strongly opposes sites for the shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.
He warned that Iran could have a ballistic missile capable of reaching Europe or the US by 2015.
Earlier, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said the shield could be delayed while Russian concerns were tackled.
Iran threat
In a speech at the National Defence University in Washington, Mr Bush said: "The need for missile defence in Europe is real and I believe it's urgent."

We would consider tying together activation of the sites in Poland and the Czech Republic with definitive proof of the threat

Robert Gates,
US defence secretary

Q&A: US missile defences


He said the planned system was not designed to tackle missiles from Russia as it would be easily overwhelmed by Moscow's arsenal.
"The Cold War is over. Russia is not our enemy," he said.
Mr Bush said the US had invited Russia to "join us against an emerging threat that affects us all... we ought to respond to this threat together".
The president said if "rogue states" had less confidence their missiles would strike, they would be "less likely to engage in acts of aggression in the first place".
Mr Bush also attacked the US Congress for reducing funding to missile shield systems.
Earlier, Mr Gates had said activation of the European shield could be delayed until there was "definitive proof" of a missile threat from states such as Iran.
He said after meeting Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek in Prague: "We would consider tying together activation of the sites in Poland and the Czech Republic with definitive proof of the threat - in other words, Iranian missile testing and so on."

Map of US missile defence systems

The missile shield system would see a radar site set up in the Czech Republic and a missile interceptor base in Poland.
Russia has vehemently opposed bases on the territories of its former Warsaw Pact allies.
Mr Gates and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice received a frosty reception when they tried to sell the plan in Moscow this month.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow saw the shield as a "potential threat" to its security and wanted to "neutralise" it.
Russian President Vladimir Putin widened the debate by also threatening to abandon a key nuclear missile treaty.
He said it would be difficult to remain part of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty unless it was expanded to include more countries than just the US and Russia. US MISSILE DEFENCE: LONG RANGE THREAT PROTECTION

US wants to build defence system against possible missile attacks
Part of defences would be in Eastern Europe - which Russia opposes
Russia suggests US should use its Gabala, Azerbaijan base instead

 

[Just_Believe18]

Well we do need a Missle Defense Shield. That's inevitable technology. It would be stupid not to have one for the sake of "upsetting" other nations that want everyone to feel vulnerable 24/7

 

[star-warrior]

Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Besides, having a hefty Missle defence shield ain't gonna protect Americans abroad....

 

[kallipolis]

Terrorists have their way of delivering a suit case to its target, suited out with a nuclear device.

A missile shield will not save the United States or its allies from a reign of terror, imposed by those with a mindset that intends to return the world to the 6th century.

Putin's Russia will take years to modernise its armed forces to a level that can compete with western countries. Russia's current bomber force (The Bear) slumbers its way through the skies with the slickness of a snail slithering its way down our garden path, on a wet Sunday morning.

Bush should focus on creating a more friendly relationship with Putin's mafia run Russia. Putin is here to stay for some considerable time.

 

[chuck10x]

Why does the U.S. need a missile base in Poland?
Europe and Israel can take care of themselves, And it won't cost the U.S. anything.
My guess is, That it will be built when Russia has one in Mexico.

 

[Nishin]

I just don't see the point... If ennemies want to harm and see they can't do it with missiles, they'll just find another way... chemicals... viruses... computer hacking... there are many other ways available...
Why not try to prevent (don't ask me how) that futur disagreements result in deadly confrontations instead?

 

[jtilden21]

PRAGUE, Czech Republic - The United States might delay activating its proposed missile defense sites in Europe until it has "definitive proof" of a missile threat from Iran, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday.
Source: www.drudgereport.com

--------------------------------------------------

To me, this seems to be posturing.

Unfortunately, it seems that the burning embers of the old Cold War might be getting new wind. I hope not.

We have Putin visiting Iran -- a first for a Russian premier in many, many years.

We have Turkey arming against attacks from Northern Iraq.

We have the Speaker of the House (US) passing censure against Turkey for events that happened decades ago that seems to serve only to inflare relations.

We have China that is about to test anti-satellite war-technology.

There is a lot of testosterone flying about.

Lots of flexing of muscles, threats and promises.

It is all a big poker game, where, sometimes, a bluff yields more than a true hand.

 

[White Eagle]

I would think many of the terrorists don't have access to missiles anyway. Like kallipolis says, they will use suitcases. So why should we build a shield. And like chuck10x says let Israel and Europe handle it.

 

[lancelva]

Star Wars all over again...

 

[iman]

Iran would be annihilated if they attacked a European or mid east ally. The defense contractors love this as do the eastern European countries that still fear the Russians, but the Russians, which are a more important ally, hates it.

It is pointless.