Bush & Blair Lay The Smackdown On Putin
Bush Defends Missile Defense Shield
PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) - President Bush and the Czech Republic's leaders on Tuesday defended plans to base part of a U.S. missile shield here despite fierce opposition from Russia.
"The people of the Czech Republic don't have to choose between being a friend of the United States or a friend with Russia," Bush said in his stop at this former Soviet satellite. "You can be both. We don't believe in a zero-sum world."
Bush, in the Czech Republic as part of an eight-day trip to Europe, spoke as Russia's opposition to the proposed defense system mounts. Russia believes the shield in Eastern Europe is meant for it, and says it has no choice to boost its own military potential in response.
Bush dismissed those concerns. He said he will make his case directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit.
"My message will be Vladimir - I call him Vladimir - that you shouldn't fear a missile defense system," Bush said. "As a matter of fact, why don't you cooperate with us on a missile defense system. Why don't you participate with the United States."
Bush Criticizes Democracy In Russia And China
We are also applying that lesson to our relationships with Russia and China. The United States has strong working relationships with these countries. Our friendship with them is complex. In the areas where we share mutual interests, we work together. In other areas, we have strong disagreements. For example, China’s leaders believe that they can continue to open the nation’s economy without also opening its political system. In Russia, reforms that once promised to empower citizens have been derailed, with troubling implications for democratic development. Part of a good relationship is the ability to talk openly about our disagreements. So the United States will continue to build our relationships with these countries – and we will do it without abandoning our principles or our values.
Tony Blair has stepped into the Russian missiles row by bluntly warning Vladimir Putin that he must decide whether he wants a 'constructive relationship' with the West.
The Prime Minister spoke out hours after the Russian president threatened to aim missiles at Europe if the U.S. presses ahead with plans to build a missile shield near Russia's borders.
Mr Blair insisted that the shield posed no threat to Russia but was intended to provide protection against 'rogue states' such as Iran or North Korea.
His official spokesman said the system was in the wrong location and had too few interceptor missiles to defend against an attack from Russia.
ThisIsLondon.co.uk posted a graphic on how would the missile defense shield work against Russia. I don't think it was the proper thing to do with all the crying Putin has been doing lately. But here it is.
(click to enlarge)
