AP Exclusive: Czechs out of US missile shield plan

[kpete]

Source: Associated Press

AP Exclusive: Czechs out of US missile shield plan
By KAREL JANICEK - Associated Press

PRAGUE — The Czech Republic is withdrawing from U.S. missile defense plans out of frustration at its diminished role, the Czech defense minister told The Associated Press Wednesday.

The Bush administration first proposed stationing 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and an advanced radar in the Czech Republic, saying the system was aimed at blunting future missile threats from Iran. But Russia angrily objected and warned that it would station its own missiles close to Poland if the plan went through.

In September 2009, the Obama administration shelved that plan and offered a new, reconfigured phased program with an undefined role for the Czechs. In November 2009, the Czech Republic was offered the possibility of hosting a separate early warning system that would gather and analyze information from satellites to detect missiles aimed at NATO territory.

FILE - The June 4, 2007 file photo shows a Czech protester holding a banner against a possible radar base during a demonstration in Prague, Czech Republic. U.S. and Czech officials said the Czech Republic will no longer take part in U.S. missile defense plans. The Czech defense minister Alexander Vondra told the Associated Press Wednesday, June 15, 2011 that his country withdrew in frustration at a minor role in a new U.S. plan.




Read more: http://www.thestate.com/2011/06/15/1859724/czech-republic-pulls-out-of-us.html

[eppur_se_muova]

1. Probably a good thing.

I always felt the US should not place missiles quite *that* close to Russia's borders. Hairtrigger responses are that much more dangerous when travel time for missles is that short.

[Igel]

4. Only about 500 miles.

Far, far too close.

Then again, when a US sub is in the Baltic, or missiles based in Germany, the US has offensive missiles closer than the ABM missiles in the Czech Republic would have been. "Russia's" borders moved considerably east when the USSR broke up and Belorusia and Ukraine could no longer be considered "Russia."

Of course, when we had US missiles in Germany pointed at the Warsaw Pact countries like E. Germany and Poland the distance was even shorter.

[dipsydoodle]

2. See also

China and allies back Russia against U.S. missile shield http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/15/us-security-usa-missiles-idUSTRE75E2JZ20110615

[damntexdem]

3. Czech it out!

Now if all the others will just pull out.