USA and Poland sign missile shield deal.

[sstein]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7571660.st...

russia said:

Russia's deputy chief of general staff, Gen Anatoly Nogovitsyn, said last week the plans for a missile base in Poland "could not go unpunished".

So will this show Russia to be all bark and no bite after them saying that they would attack Poland. The deal with the US states that if Poland was to be attacked then US would provide support.

bbc said:

That is why it demanded - in exchange for hosting the base - short-range Patriot missiles for its own air defences and a guarantee that the US will come to its assistance in the event of an attack,

Does the technology even work?

-

Stuart

Edited by sstein on Wednesday 20th August 18:35

[SeeFive]

Anyone here old enough to remember the Cuban missile crisis? Sounds pretty similar but the other way around this time. Better take the doors off an whitewash the windows

[FourWheelDrift]

Seriously what difference is there really between the USA putting missiles in Poland and the Soviets putting missiles in Cuba in the 1960s for which the US got all upset about as well?

The US do not need to put missiles in Poland and it's incredibly stupid to do so, although that's just a reflection of the idiots currently governing the US at the moment.

Edited to add as above....

Edited by FourWheelDrift on Wednesday 20th August 18:30

[sstein]

Well, reading the BBC article, the missiles that the US are putting in Poland don't have warheads. They seem to rely on the speed of impact to destroy the attacking missile.

However, if the technology isn't proven you have to think it is to a certain degree the US trying assert some dominance over Russia and show that it will not attack countries like Poland.

-

Stuart

Edited by sstein on Wednesday 20th August 18:35

[Morningside]

Must dig out the video 'When the Wind Blows'...

May be quite topical.

[FourWheelDrift]

The US should concentrate on protecting themselves not start messing about pretending to protect others like the World Police they think they are. I mean why would Iran even fire missiles at Poland or anywhere else in Eastern Europe, the area that these short range missiles can hit. Patriots aren't they, the ones that didn't work despite the hype in GW1?

[SeeFive]

Morningside said:

Must dig out the video 'When the Wind Blows'...

May be quite topical.

Search for Threads - it's much better.

[Dunk76]

As my old Politics Professor, who was as Communist as you could get without actually calling yourself Stalin, used to say: "It's when the Bear doesn't growl, that's when you need to worry..."

Edited by Dunk76 on Wednesday 20th August 19:07

[KANEIT]

When GWB stated there was no option of debating whether S Ossetia and Azkhabia could break away from Georgia, that they were to remain part of Georgia, he shot himself in the foot. If it's none of Russia's business then it's not his either. It's for the Azkhabians, S. Ossetians and Georgians to decide and if not then a decision for the ICJ. The decision should be to benefit them not for another nation's energy requirements or sphere of influence (Russia or the U.S).
The U.S is trying to expand some hold or influence over ex soviet nations to keep Russia in check and to secure energy highways. What became of Russia's offer to host the missile defence station? I'm sure the U.S promptly swept that under the carpet. All we will see is a return to the MAD era. If the U.S keeps prodding Russia then Russia will want to have a go in return, no matter how the U.S tries to disguise its scheme as protection against Iran and North Korea.
Does Europe really want missile defences? If not then we should say to the U.S 'no thanks, we'll be O.K, keep your missiles at home and look after yourselves'. Otherwise the best thing the E.U can do is to get off our arses and build own own bloody missile defence stations. Poland can rely on the U.S all it likes but as soon as it does anything that doesn't toe the U.S line they will know about it.

I predict a new era of tit for tat politrickery and proxy 'wars'. I think the Russians will probably end up planning missile bases in Venezuela as 'an appropriate and balanced reaction' to see how the U.S reacts.

BTW for the thickos my statement is neither pro Russian nor anti American. It is, however, anti GWB!

[willmcc]

FourWheelDrift said:

Seriously what difference is there really between the USA putting missiles in Poland and the Soviets putting missiles in Cuba in the 1960s for which the US got all upset about as well?

The US do not need to put missiles in Poland and it's incredibly stupid to do so, although that's just a reflection of the idiots currently governing the US at the moment.

Edited to add as above....

Edited by FourWheelDrift on Wednesday 20th August 18:30

missile shield is defensive, Cuban missiles were offensive, admittedly in the stakes of MAD defensive upsets the balance and therefore can be seen as a form of offense. Not really the same thing though what is identical is that they are both a form of negotiation and not a real tactical weapon...

[odyssey2200]

when the Cuban Missile crisis took place the USA and USSR were at the height of a cold war.

That is " supposed" to be over now and we are all friends (ish)

So

Why would Poland feel threatened and need protection?
Who do the Americans feel the Poles need protection from?
The threat of Mutually Assured Distrucion prevented anyone from pressing the button so far,

Sdly it would seem that since the old cold war days the "ballance has been lost and a load of loose cannons (no pun intended) have come out of the woodwork