It's Official: U.S. To Build Missile Defense Shield In Europe
Let the Communist crying commence.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the Bush administration is not willing to replace its plan for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe with Russia's counterproposal for a radar site in Azerbaijan.
That's the blunt message Gates was to deliver to Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov during a private meeting Friday at the NATO gathering in Brussels.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Gates said that despite strident Russian opposition, the U.S. will proceed with its plans for a radar system in the Czech Republic to watch for missile threats and 10 interceptor rockets in Poland to shoot down any missiles.
Gates dismissed any notion that Russia's push for joint use of a radar station in Azerbaijan could replace the broader U.S. plan. And he expressed doubts that there could be any agreement with the Russians by next month, when President Bush is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Kennebunkport, Maine.
"I was very explicit in the (NATO) meeting that we saw the Azeri radar as an additional capability, that we intended to proceed with the X-Band radar in the Czech Republic," Gates said during a press briefing.
For those don't think this was the right idea and failing in diplomacy with Russia, someone may change your mind. One of my favorite blogs, In From The Cold, gives expert analysis of why the missile defense shield based in Azerbaijan isn't a good idea. There's many points he makes in his post, so it's not feasible to cite it. You will have to read it all.
