Holy Missile Shields, Batman!
The United States and Poland have agreed to terms on a missile defense shield. Under the agreement, the US will upgrade the Polish air defenses and increased military cooperation in return for rights to base the missiles in their country.
The agreement still needs to be finalized as Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski will meet with US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice next week. Then, the Polish Parliament and the US government must also approve of the deal. Democrats in Congress and the possible election of Barack Obama could prove to be a significant obstacle. If things proceed according to schedule, the shield will be online in 2012.
The Polish foreign minister said in a press conference, “only people of ill intent should fear this agreement.” The Russians consider the missile shield to be a threat.
Under terms of the agreement, the US would move an advanced Patriot missile battery, capable of intercepting aircraft or short-range missiles, from Germany to Poland. Also, the US would step up its military commitment to Poland, ready to deploy forces at a more rapid pace than the current NATO requirement. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said to Polish television, “Poland and the Poles do not want to be in alliances in which assistance comes at some point later — it is no good when assistance comes to dead people. Poland wants to be in alliances where assistance comes in the very first hours of — knock on wood — any possible conflict.”
The Bush administration maintains that the missiles are to protect from a country such as Iran, and the missiles would not be ‘aimed’ at Russia. Russia has responded by saying that they will target the American bases with their ballistic missiles. In addition, Russia also suggested that they might base Tu-160 Blackjack and Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers in Cuba. Just last month, the Czech Republic agreed to base the tracking radar site for the system. Russia then reduced their oil shipments by 50%.
Polish President Lech Kaczynski admitted that the Russian invasion of Georgia made a “very strong argument” for Poland’s decision. Kaczynski has pledged support for the Georgian government by permitting Georgia to disseminate information through his website. The Georgian government websites have been shut down by Russian hackers.