President Bush and Russian President Dmitry

Medvedev at the G-8 summit in Japan, July 8.

 

 

Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Russia

Time for Kremlin to 'Reveal its Asymmetrical Answer' to U.S. Missile Shield

 

"The longer the talks went on, the more watered-down the pledges of the Americans became. Now is the time for the Kremlin to reveal to the world and the Russian public its 'asymmetrical answer' to the threat posed by America's third missile-deployment area."

 

EDITORIAL

 

Translated By Igor Medvedev

 

July 9, 2008

 

Russia - Nezavisimaya Gazeta - Original Article (Russian)

On the first day of the Summit of the "Eight" in Hokkaido, the Russian and U.S. Presidents held a very symbolic dialogue. Dmitry Medvedev raised with George W. Bush the issue of U.S. plans to install - in Lithuania - a base for the so-called anti-missile defense shield. Medvedev said that Russia could not accept American plans for such a base, after Warsaw's voracious financial appetite prevented it from being built in Poland. After their discussion, the U.S. President didn't reveal details to the press, limiting his remarks to a compliment typical for Bush: "He's a smart guy."

 

But a direct response to Russian concerns came from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Yesterday in the Czech Republic, she signed an agreement in which that nation agreed to host a radar station for the missile defense shield. The ceremony took place despite the backdrop of massive demonstrations in Prague and the overall disapproval of the Czech population. According to polls which are not disputed by Czech authorities, 70 percent of Czechs oppose the deployment of the radar station in their country. But backed by the pro-Western segment of the Czech elite, Washington rammed through the agreement.

 

 

Next on the U.S. agenda is an agreement to deploy the second element of the anti-missile shield. Rice, it seems, will not visit Poland this time, where the missile interceptors were to be placed. But she will visit Bulgaria. This may well be a way of exerting pressure on the Polish leadership, which has refused to scale down the financial and military demands it has made in exchange for hosting the missile interceptors.

 

Bush obviously couldn’t yield to the charms of his Russian counterpart, especially on a policy that entails major military and political issues. In a case like this, even aggressive negotiation and shuttle diplomacy often fail.

 

 

Yet Washington's initial readiness to discuss American missile defense plans with Moscow was perceived around the world as a sign of the "post-Cold War era." Back then, talks were held - at summits, ministerial meetings, including 2+2 events [defense and foreign ministers], and at special consultations with the participation of diplomats and military experts. And the longer the talking went on, the more watered-down the pledges of the Americans became.

 

Significantly, on the "basis of reciprocity," Poland is now talking of the possibility of allowing Russian inspections of missile interceptor sites in that country if they are deployed there.

 

[The Times, U.K.]

 

Nevertheless, if an agreement is signed for the stationing of this anti-missile base, Moscow will have to reflect on the usefulness of further consultations. It's no secret that diplomatic efforts like these have enabled Bush to obscure the policies he has pursued for the past six years, which included the liquidation of agreements on disarmament and arms control. The White House has managed to secure Moscow's support for American policies on a variety of issues. Such help should only be provided on the basis of reciprocity.

 

It appears that now is the time for the Kremlin to reveal to the world and to the Russian public its "asymmetrical answer" to the threat posed by America's third missile-deployment area [Lithuania or Bulgaria].

 

CLICK HERE FOR RUSSIAN VERSION

 

SEE ALSO:

 

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
Americans Must Show More
Concern for Polish Security

 

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
Prime Minister Calls
U.S. Offer on Missile
Shield 'Unsatisfactory'

 

Ceske Noviny, Czech Republic
Russia Warns Czechs
Over Stationing U.S.
Anti-Missile Shield ...


Kommersant, Russia
U.S. Offer to Russia on Missile
Defense, 'Knowingly Designed
to Be Unacceptable to Us' ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US July 9, 8:35pm]