MOSCOW, Aug. 15, 2008
U.S.-Poland Missile Deal Roils Russia
Russian General Threatens Strikes; Doesn't Rule Out Nuclear Option
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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the United States agreed to help augment Poland's defenses with Patriot missiles in exchange for placing 10 missile defense interceptors in the Eastern European country. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
American and Polish officials stuck firmly by their deal, signed Thursday, for Poland to host a system that Washington says is meant to block missile attacks by rogue nations like Iran.
Moscow is convinced the base is aimed at Russia's missile force, however, and the deal comes as relations already are strained over the fighting between Russia and U.S.-allied Georgia over the separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia.
"Poland, by deploying (the system) is exposing itself to a strike - 100 percent," Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn, the deputy chief of staff of Russia's armed forces, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.
He noted Russia's military doctrine sanctions the use of nuclear weapons "against the allies of countries having nuclear weapons if they in some way help them." Nogovitsyn said that would include elements of any strategic deterrence system, according to Interfax.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the deal "absolutely clearly demonstrates what we had said earlier - the deployment has the Russian Federation as its target."
However, speaking at news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Medvedev appeared to take a softer position than Nogovitsyn's on the Polish base, saying that "it is sad news for all who live on this densely populated continent, but it is not dramatic."
Condoleeza Rice responded to the Russian threat from the Georgian capital, accusing the Russians of refusing to accept U.S. assurances that the missile defense system is not aimed at them and not their business, reports CBS News Chief Foreign Correspondent Lara Logan.
"Poland is an independent country. And it's an ally of the United States. And it's a democratic country, to whose security the United States is committed" through NATO, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said during a visit to Georgia's capital, Tbilisi.
"Russia should welcome having democracies on its border, not threaten them," she said.
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said Poland was willing to let Russia inspect the future missile base to give Moscow "tangible proof" that it is not directed against Russia's arsenal, the Polish news agency PAP reported.
At a news conference earlier in the day, Nogovitsyn reiterated Russia's frequently stated warning that placing missile interceptors in Poland and a linked radar post in the Czech Republic would bring an unspecified military response. But the general's subsequent reported statement substantially stepped up the war of words.
Russian troops went deep into Georgia in the fighting, raising wide concerns that Russia could be seeking to occupy parts of a small, pro-U.S. neighbor that has vigorously lobbied to join NATO, or perhaps force the Georgian government to collapse.
"I think the Russian behavior over the last several days is generally concerning not only to the United States but to all of our European allies," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said when asked about Russian threats against Poland.
He also suggested that earlier U.S. offers for broad cooperation with Moscow on the missile defense program might be reevaluated considering the latest developments.
The missile deal, struck Thursday after more than 18 months of talks, must still be approved by Poland's parliament and signed by Rice during a future visit to Warsaw, possibly next week.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the United States agreed to help augment Poland's defenses with Patriot missiles in exchange for placing 10 missile defense interceptors in the eastern European country.
He said the deal also includes a "mutual commitment" between the two nations to come to each other's assistance "in case of trouble." That clause appeared to be a direct reference to Russia, whose resurgent muscle worries Polish leaders.
"Simply, the existence of this installation increases Poland's security," Polish President Lech Kaczynski said.
Making a visit to Russia, German Chancellor Angela Merkel suggested Russia be included in the missile defense system.
"From my point of view, this deal is not directed against Russia," she said in Sochi at a joint news conference with Medvedev. "We will continue to advocate that talks be continued on how we can convince Russia of this and also ... include it," she added.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 569 CommentsClearly the Russian leadership doesn''t give a *** about meaningful progress. Screw em.
maybe we should return to our time-tested principle of staying OUT of other country''s business - as long as ours aren''t in question.
Posted by u-r-right at 07:57 AM
He''s just coming off R & R time in Hawaii and is about to report to the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Clearly the Russian leadership doesn''''t give a *** about meaningful progress. Screw em.
Posted by smurfcrusher at 07:46 AM : Aug 15, 2008
This is NOT necessary and is NOT in the best interest of this nation. The Neocon''s and their arrogance is going to start yet another war.
Posted by tbweb at 08:01 AM : Aug 15, 2008
If Russia were putting a "Missle Defense System" in Cuba how would YOU feel?? It''s time we were honest with ourselves. We have a LYING scumbag for a leader... NO ONE in this world trust him or believes him. Sieg Heil McSlime
Posted by MCVet-1
i''ll second that, third it, fourth it......
and McBush II is no better
If Russia were putting a "Missle Defense System" in Cuba how would YOU feel?? It''''s time we were honest with ourselves. We have a LYING scumbag for a leader... NO ONE in this world trust him or believes him. Sieg Heil McSlime
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Posted by MCVet-1 at 08:04 AM : Aug 15, 2008
+ report abuse
wow mcvent Excellent comments boy ,you must have slept well....honesty is the best policy certainly...
Posted by MCVet-1
i''''ll second that, third it, fourth it......
neoconRcrazy
Aren''t you being just a little presumptious that Obama will win ?
Posted by mr2258 at 08:29 AM : Aug 15, 2008
And so will we, Stupido!
It''s quite amazing. These same missiles, if you ask Poland about them, are to defend Poland from Russia. But if you ask the U.S. about them, specifically they are not about Russia at all....not at all, when installed in Poland, rather than Alaska.
Amazing missiles that.
C''mon, of course the U.S. is going to use these missiles when they want, as they choose. And the hot heads in the Bush administration just gave away the negotations. Poland isn''t paying the U.S. for their defense...the U.S. is paying them.
And to get the escalation in place in time to be an insult during the Georgian crisis, they had to give away the farm to the Polish.
Outmaneuvered and outplayed by the Polish. Good job Bush. It''s a good thing you have unlimited money to spend, otherwise, this would have been a really foolish, hot headed type of deal.
They calculate that the U.S. strength is largely based on it''s economic might.
If any of that holds true, then look at the money being spent. If everytime Russia spends $1, we spend $10, that could be a long term issue.
What is the national debt now, 10 trillion or something. Russia has the 3rd largest POSITIVE reserves in the world. Granted, its nothing compared to China....but still, its another consideration in these moves.
While gas is so high and the economy so crunched, that meals on wheels can no longer serve the demand for elderly who need food...with waiting lists in the thousands, we have a government, that is giving aid to Georgia (no bill), that just blew the negotations with Poland (we pay them)...seemingly at every crisis, we have more money to give foreignors.
Yes I cannot wait for Bush to go, and....I''ve admitted before I don''t like Obama, but I see no other choice. McCain, 100 years in Iraq, and "I''ve been to South Ossetia" (he''s seen it in a helicopter being hosted by henchman Saakashvili...thats quite different from being the guest of the peace loving people of Ossetia)...Mr. "we are all Georgians" McCain....is not getting my vote now, end of story.
Posted by mr2258 at 08:39 AM : Aug 15, 2008
Show me where they said that, O.K.?
The cold war has been reignited. This country can continue to pi$$ trillions of dollars away over the next few decades for absolutely no domestic benefit to this country. Good job Bush and all who voted for him.
Posted by mr2258 at 08:58 AM : Aug 15, 2008
I am going to vote for OBAMA. My wife says she is going to vote for OBAMA. ARE YOU CALLING US COWARDS? If you ever said that to my face, you would live to regret it very much. It''s easy to be brave behind your computer key board isn''t it?
Yep, and BUSH blunders ahead and does the deal ANYWAY, restarting very likely a new cold war with Russia at the very least, this screwball and his regime are LUNATICS and they need to GO in Novemember!
"U.S. officials have said the timing of the deal was not meant to antagonize Russian leaders at a "
Oh NO, of course not, just overlook the REPEATED warnings from RUssia of consequences if we do this, and we do it anyway, now if Poland is hit with a nuke it will be because of OUR arrogant stupidity, as usual. AS usual we are great at causing problems like this around the globe.
Posted by leftyintexas at 09:00 AM : Aug 15, 2008
from the article:
"Poland, by deploying (the system) is exposing itself to a strike - 100 percent," Nogovitsyn, the deputy chief of staff, was quoted as saying.
He added, in clear reference to the agreement, that Russia''s military doctrine sanctions the use of nuclear weapons "against the allies of countries having nuclear weapons if they in some way help them." Nogovitsyn that would include elements of strategic deterrence systems, he said, according to Interfax.
Fortunately, after November, the missile agreement will be dumped by someone who has his head on straight. Forget that he may not have a great deal of foreign policy experience-he is not insane.
Guess they have to nuke themselves for helping IRAN!
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Posted by leftyintexas at 09:06 AM : Aug 15, 2008
COWARD!
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Posted by tpraskac at 08:49 AM : Aug 15, 2008
I''ll buy you the plane ticket.
Posted by mr2258 at 09:13 AM : Aug 15, 2008
I knew a lying little creep like you couldn''t furnish ANY news sources. You make up krap, then believe it, and then print it out as fact. God, you people give me the creeps. You and the other bushites are like a bunch zombies who never question what our government does. YOU shallow every thing that they feed you without question. You make me sick!!
Posted by mbcsmith at 09:16 AM : Aug 15, 2008
Being called a ''coward'' by a toe tapping little fairy like mbcsmith is hilarious. Hahahaha! Just don''t EVER try doing it to my face, Toe tapper. OBAMA IN 08!!!
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Posted by shazam113 at 09:27 AM : Aug 15, 2008
That in turn shapes their approach to diplomatic and international relations.
They assume that once they have "spread democracy" and slapped on "the golden handcuffs" of our version of "trade", you are under their control forever, because you will have discarded "old-fashioned" ideas like nationalism and patriotism and begun playing their single-minded game of exploiting labor and the earth wherever you find them in your pursuit of the only goal that they believe to be worthy of attention: Wealth accumulation.
And so of course you will be peaceful, because violence interferes with "business", as our increasingly rapacious brand of capitalism is still known.
Sometimes it makes them look stupid, eh?
"Poland, by deploying (the system) is exposing itself to a strike - 100 percent," Nogovitsyn, the deputy chief of staff, was quoted as saying.
He added, in clear reference to the agreement, that Russia''''s military doctrine sanctions the use of nuclear weapons "against the allies of countries having nuclear weapons if they in some way help them." Nogovitsyn that would include elements of strategic deterrence systems, he said, according to Interfax.
Posted by theUSA1st at 09:12 AM : Aug 15, 2008
I''ll assume you are furnishing me a legitimate news source. As I read it, ''exposing itself to a strike'' means in the event of a war between the two sides, they would be targeted. I don''t believe they would attack Poland outright for their deployment. Instead they would undermine Poland''s government and attempt to subvert them and install a pro-Russian government like they did in the closing days of WWII.
This is insane. Is Bush trying to re-start the cold war? We don''t need missle defence because we have enough missiles to destroy any country that attacks us. It''s called mutually assured destruction. This missile defense insanity will only make a bad situation worse.
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