Before Bush’s visit, Czechs torn over U.S. missile defense plans

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

Monday, June 4, 2007 - Updated: 04:45 AM EST

STITOV, Czech Republic - Big politics rarely play out in little places like Stitov. That is no solace to Vaclav Hudec, whose tiny village is caught in the middle of an international debate over U.S. plans to build a missile defense system here and in neighboring Poland.

Hudec, the mayor, and most of the residents of Stitov - population 58 - are bitterly opposed to the idea of hosting a U.S. radar base at the Brdy military zone next door.

So is Russia, and President Bush will wade into the fray when he visits Prague this week.

Recent polls suggest more than 60 percent of Czechs oppose the missile defense plan, which the United States says would help shield it and Europe if Iran unleashed a rocket attack. Opponents fear it could touch off a new arms race with Russia and make the Czech Republic a target for terrorists.



"I was never into politics, but into the environment and the forests," said Hudec, 47, pointing to the bucolic surroundings of Stitov, nestled in verdant hills southwest of the Czech capital.

But last month, he sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Robert Byrd detailing why he and nearly two dozen other mayors do not want a U.S. radar installation on their doorsteps

Read more: http://news.bostonherald.com/international/europe/view.bg?articleid=1004742

[MrPrax]

1. Czechs Oppose Missile Shield, Want Referendum

Czechs Oppose Missile Shield, Want Referendum

Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
June 3, 2007

A majority of people in the Czech Republic oppose their government’s early commitment to participate in a United States missile defence shield, according to a poll by CVVM. 61 per cent of respondents are not in favour of building a base for the project inside their territory, and 71 per cent support holding a referendum to settle the matter.

In December 2002, U.S. president George W. Bush announced plans for the development of initial defence capabilities, which include ground-based and sea-based missile interceptors, as well as sensors located in space. Washington has explained the project as a means to defend the U.S. and its European allies from a potential attack by Iran or North Korea.

....

The Czech Republic—a member of both the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)—is expected to start negotiations with the U.S. on the construction of the radar base soon. Some EU officials have asked the Czech Republic to include the continental group in these discussions, but the government of Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek has so far declined to do so.

On May 31, Topolanek defended his willingness to go ahead with the plan, saying the project is "not primarily about a radar and 10 interceptors—it’s mainly about expressing the willingness to defend ourselves. Europe can survive without a radar, but without a will to defend itself, this civilization is lost."

Angus-Reid

Well the current leader of the Czechoslovakia is probably the only one interested in this, but who needs democracy or regional co-operation when there is civilization to defend.

"...The American demand was one of the first issues Mr Topolanek has had to handle after becoming prime minister. The Czech Republic has effectively been without a government since elections became deadlocked seven months ago.

The centre-right leader cobbled together a weak coalition and won a parliamentary confidence vote on Friday courtesy of two opposition defectors.

As soon as Mr Topolanek won the vote, the Americans tabled their request. "We are convinced that a possible deployment of the radar station on our territory is in our interest," he said...
Guardian

[tom_paine]

2. Poor Czechs: You just got away from the Communist Bloc, now the vile Bushveik Bloc

wants to use you like a condom, too.

Some things never change, eh?

Here's hoping you resist the Bushevik Tyrants more than you resisted the Bolshevik Tyrants.