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NATO gives OK to European missile shield
Published: 21 May 12 08:35 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20120521-42651.html
NATO leaders on Sunday gave the go-ahead for the new European missile shield, provoking anger in Russia. The US air base in Ramstein, western Germany, will host part of the system.
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Initially a US warship carrying missiles will be installed near Turkey in the Mediterranean, followed by an early-warning radar system at the US air base in Ramstein. Further bases are planned for Spain, Romania and Poland.
"Missile defence is indispensable. We are faced with real missile threats," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on the eve of the summit.
"Against a real threat we need a real defence," he said, adding that 30 states are known to either have or seek ballistic missile technology.
The decision was not greeted warmly by Russia though, as Moscow fears the system could neutralise its own nuclear shield. The country's government quickly called for joint control over the system and for NATO to sign a legally-binding guarantee that it is not aimed at Russia.
But NATO rejected both demands, insisting on keeping two separate systems and refusing to sign a legally-binding document.
"This is not a project targeted against Russia, but a project we want to push forward with Russia in the interest of Europe's security," said German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. "And therefore the door for Russia will stay open."
The United States has tested missile defence technology for years but analysts have questioned whether the shield is a full-proof defence against incoming rockets from rogue states.
AFP/DPA/The Local/jcw
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Your comments about this article:
Is it just to keep the weapons industry in business.
Money would be better spent on Schools, Hospitals etc etc.
Sucker indeed if you don't think Russia would have to roll over Western Europe at the start of a World War lets hope we never find out .
But unlike you I still know we in Europe still should be thankful to all Yanks that came to the aid of freedom in WW2 many who did not return stateside.
Of course the Russians are making rude noises. Now their allies Iran and Syria will be countered by the new missle system making the Russian's job of threatening the west more difficult in the future.
Yes we should be thankful as many of those soldiers were German and by far the largest ethnic majority in the US at that time and remain so today!
You hit the nail on the head. It's the US that will once again pony up the cash and resources to protect Europe. Russia is anyting but peaceful. I'm not saying they are going to launch WWIII, or try to conquer Europe again, but their intentions in this world are less than peaceful. Anything that makes them squirm, and puts them in thier proper place, is worth it. Especially now with dictator-in-all-but-name Putin back in charge.
Hope Germany many not receive the first nuke from the East in case of real hostility while her western allies could protect themselves with preemptive strikes on those nations from where WMD's threatened their security flying out from mirages of hot sands.
Indeed the Russians, animosity and ideology apart in my opinion, did have more respect for defeated Germans, whose failure benefited them during the last war for gaining a better foothold by Russians in middle Europe.
Why is Iran always the bad guy? I have not seen or read where Iran has attacked anyone and why would they? The shield is not to protect Europe from Iran maybe from Russia, as the Russians have claimed all along.
I would like to see how and who is paying the Lions share of this expensive and questionable project.