Stalemate:U.S. and Russia missile fiasco.

Antaletriangle · 11-13-2008, 01:51 PM

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/...le-Defense.php
US rejects scrapping missile defense plans
TALLINN, Estonia: U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has rejected a Russian suggestion that both countries scrap plans to place defensive missiles in Eastern Europe.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in a televised interview with French journalists broadcast Thursday that Moscow was willing to reconsider deploying Iskander missiles in its westernmost region of Kaliningrad if Washington did not place 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a missile-tracking radar in the Czech Republic.

Gates said that the proposal was not acceptable to the United States.

He also said the biggest threat to Russia's security was Iran and that Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad would lack the range to protect Russia from this danger.

Medvedev announced Moscow's intention to deploy the missiles a day after the U.S. presidential election.

Gates said Russia has nothing to fear from a defensive missile shield in Eastern Europe.

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has said it would be prudent to "explore the possibility of deploying missile defense systems in Europe," in light of what he called active efforts by Iran to develop ballistic missiles as well as nuclear weapons.

Iran said Wednesday that it had successfully test-fired a new generation of long range surface-to-surface missile — one that could easily strike as far away as southeastern Europe with greater precision than earlier models.

The Sajjil is a solid fuel high-speed missile with a range of about 1,200 miles, Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammed Najjar said on state television. At that range, it could easily strike Iran's arch-foe Israel and go as far as southeastern Europe.
Medvedev: ready to respond if U.S. ends missile plan
http://www.reuters.com/article/world...4AC1OD20081113
PARIS (Reuters) - Russia could cancel its deployment of missiles near the Polish border if U.S. President-elect Barack Obama scraps plans for a missile defense system in central Europe, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.

In an interview with French daily newspaper Le Figaro published on Thursday, Medvedev said Moscow had no choice but to react to U.S. plans to set up a network of missiles and radar systems near its own frontiers.

"But we are ready to abandon this decision to deploy the missiles in Kaliningrad if the new American administration, after analyzing the real usefulness of a system to respond to 'rogue states', decides to abandon its anti-missile system," he said.

"We are ready to negotiate a 'zero option'. We are ready to reflect on a system of global security with the United States, the countries of the European Union and the Russian Federation."

Washington says the missile defense system it plans to set up in Poland and the Czech Republic is needed to protect the United States against missile strikes from what it calls rogue states, notably Iran.

cont.on link above.

Medvedev Urges Obama to Rethink Missile Shield Plans (Update2)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...iZG6Q&refer=uk
By Henry Meyer

Nov. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev urged U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to reconsider plans to deploy a missile-defense shield in Europe, saying Russia's ready to drop its retaliatory measures in response.

Medvedev said his threat last week to deploy short-range Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad, a Russian region wedged between Poland and Lithuania, was a ``proportionate'' response to the ``unilateral'' U.S. missile-shield project promoted by President George W. Bush.

Russia is ready to ``reverse this decision'' if the new U.S. administration ``reconsiders all the consequences of the move to station missiles and radars and its effectiveness,'' Medvedev said in an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, published today on the Kremlin Web Site.

Obama's office on Nov. 8 said the president-elect had made ``no commitment'' to the planned missile-defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic. Russia has warned that the proposed shield, which the U.S. says is necessary to protect against attack by ``rogue states'' such as Iran, would threaten its security. The dispute has contributed to a post-Cold War low in U.S.-Russia ties.

`Cause for Hope'

Medvedev said the ``initial reaction'' from the incoming Obama administration ``gives us cause for hope.'' Russia is ready to resume talks on its proposal for a joint missile- defense system that would involve Russia, the U.S. and the European Union, he said.

``Our future partners are thinking about whether it's useful or not, effective or not,'' Medvedev said, referring to Bush's missile-defense plan. ``It looks like we have something to talk about.''

cont.on link above.

Antaletriangle · 11-14-2008, 05:30 PM

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5155680.ece
November 14th
President Nicolas Sarkozy pleads for halt to European missile row.

President Nicolas Sarkozy of France proposed a time-out today in the dangerous arms race prompted by Washington's plans to position a missile defence shield in Europe.

Speaking after hosting an EU-Russian summit in the southern city of Nice, Mr Sarkozy proposed that a security summit be held next summer at which Russia, the United States and Europe could hammer out a long-term security framework. He added that the proposed missile shield would do "nothing" to help European security.

Mr Sarkozy appears to have won the agreement of his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev, who threatened last week to site short-range nuclear missiles in the western enclave of Kaliningrad, on the borders of the EU.

"I have suggested that in mid-2009 we could meet within a framework to lay the foundations of what could possibly be a future pan-European security system," Mr Sarkozy said at a joint press conference with Mr Medvedev. "This would bring together the Russians, the American and the Europeans."

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Mr Sarkozy said that the pact could be discussed next year at a summit of the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), adding: "Between now and then, please, no more talk of missile deployment or anti-missile deployment."

Responding to the proposal, Mr Medvedev called for all sides in the dispute to avoid “unilateral measures” before the new framework is agreed. He also defended the Russian plans to site missiles in Kaliningrad, calling it “a response to various nations in Europe who, without consulting anyone, agreed to deploy new weapons on their soil”.

The missile row has helped bring about a major deterioration in US-Russian relations, which have returned to Cold War levels of frostiness.

cont.on link above.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-11-14-voa28.cfm
EU, Russia Discuss European Missile Defense
November 14th
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has urged his Russian counterpart not to carry out a threat to deploy tactical missiles in Russia's Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad.

Mr. Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev spoke Friday after a Russia-European Union summit in the French city of Nice. France currently holds the rotating EU presidency.

Mr. Medvedev last week said Russia will put missiles in the Kaliningrad region if the United States implements plans to place a missile defense system in central Europe. He later said he will cancel the deployment if the U.S. scraps missile plans for Poland and the Czech Republic.

U.S. officials say their planned system will defend against an Iranian threat.

On other issues, the French and Russian presidents reported reaching consensus on the global financial crisis. Both men will join other world leaders in Washington Friday evening for the G-20 summit.

The French president also said he wants to lay the foundation for a new European security accord, possibly at an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe meeting in mid-2009.

Mr. Sarkozy said Russia had to a large part complied with a French-brokered cease-fire that halted fighting after Russian troops swept into Georgia in August.

EU officials froze ties with Russia in response, but the bloc agreed this week to resume talks on a strategic partnership agreement.

But the union maintains its view that Russia's violation of Georgia's territorial integrity is unacceptable and it continues to reject Russia's recognition of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries.

11-13-2008, 01:51 PM	#1
Antaletriangle Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: U.K. Posts: 3,380	Stalemate:U.S. and Russia missile fiasco. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/...le-Defense.php US rejects scrapping missile defense plans TALLINN, Estonia: U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has rejected a Russian suggestion that both countries scrap plans to place defensive missiles in Eastern Europe. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in a televised interview with French journalists broadcast Thursday that Moscow was willing to reconsider deploying Iskander missiles in its westernmost region of Kaliningrad if Washington did not place 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a missile-tracking radar in the Czech Republic. Gates said that the proposal was not acceptable to the United States. He also said the biggest threat to Russia's security was Iran and that Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad would lack the range to protect Russia from this danger. Medvedev announced Moscow's intention to deploy the missiles a day after the U.S. presidential election. Gates said Russia has nothing to fear from a defensive missile shield in Eastern Europe. U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has said it would be prudent to "explore the possibility of deploying missile defense systems in Europe," in light of what he called active efforts by Iran to develop ballistic missiles as well as nuclear weapons. Iran said Wednesday that it had successfully test-fired a new generation of long range surface-to-surface missile — one that could easily strike as far away as southeastern Europe with greater precision than earlier models. The Sajjil is a solid fuel high-speed missile with a range of about 1,200 miles, Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammed Najjar said on state television. At that range, it could easily strike Iran's arch-foe Israel and go as far as southeastern Europe. Medvedev: ready to respond if U.S. ends missile plan http://www.reuters.com/article/world...4AC1OD20081113 PARIS (Reuters) - Russia could cancel its deployment of missiles near the Polish border if U.S. President-elect Barack Obama scraps plans for a missile defense system in central Europe, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said. In an interview with French daily newspaper Le Figaro published on Thursday, Medvedev said Moscow had no choice but to react to U.S. plans to set up a network of missiles and radar systems near its own frontiers. "But we are ready to abandon this decision to deploy the missiles in Kaliningrad if the new American administration, after analyzing the real usefulness of a system to respond to 'rogue states', decides to abandon its anti-missile system," he said. "We are ready to negotiate a 'zero option'. We are ready to reflect on a system of global security with the United States, the countries of the European Union and the Russian Federation." Washington says the missile defense system it plans to set up in Poland and the Czech Republic is needed to protect the United States against missile strikes from what it calls rogue states, notably Iran. cont.on link above. Medvedev Urges Obama to Rethink Missile Shield Plans (Update2) http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...iZG6Q&refer=uk By Henry Meyer Nov. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev urged U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to reconsider plans to deploy a missile-defense shield in Europe, saying Russia's ready to drop its retaliatory measures in response. Medvedev said his threat last week to deploy short-range Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad, a Russian region wedged between Poland and Lithuania, was a ``proportionate'' response to the ``unilateral'' U.S. missile-shield project promoted by President George W. Bush. Russia is ready to ``reverse this decision'' if the new U.S. administration ``reconsiders all the consequences of the move to station missiles and radars and its effectiveness,'' Medvedev said in an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, published today on the Kremlin Web Site. Obama's office on Nov. 8 said the president-elect had made ``no commitment'' to the planned missile-defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic. Russia has warned that the proposed shield, which the U.S. says is necessary to protect against attack by ``rogue states'' such as Iran, would threaten its security. The dispute has contributed to a post-Cold War low in U.S.-Russia ties. `Cause for Hope' Medvedev said the ``initial reaction'' from the incoming Obama administration ``gives us cause for hope.'' Russia is ready to resume talks on its proposal for a joint missile- defense system that would involve Russia, the U.S. and the European Union, he said. ``Our future partners are thinking about whether it's useful or not, effective or not,'' Medvedev said, referring to Bush's missile-defense plan. ``It looks like we have something to talk about.'' cont.on link above.

11-14-2008, 05:30 PM	#2
Antaletriangle Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: U.K. Posts: 3,380	Re: Stalemate:U.S. and Russia missile fiasco. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5155680.ece November 14th President Nicolas Sarkozy pleads for halt to European missile row. President Nicolas Sarkozy of France proposed a time-out today in the dangerous arms race prompted by Washington's plans to position a missile defence shield in Europe. Speaking after hosting an EU-Russian summit in the southern city of Nice, Mr Sarkozy proposed that a security summit be held next summer at which Russia, the United States and Europe could hammer out a long-term security framework. He added that the proposed missile shield would do "nothing" to help European security. Mr Sarkozy appears to have won the agreement of his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev, who threatened last week to site short-range nuclear missiles in the western enclave of Kaliningrad, on the borders of the EU. "I have suggested that in mid-2009 we could meet within a framework to lay the foundations of what could possibly be a future pan-European security system," Mr Sarkozy said at a joint press conference with Mr Medvedev. "This would bring together the Russians, the American and the Europeans." Related Links CIA says bin Laden cut off from al-Qaeda US drone strike kills 12 in Pakistan Realism about Russia Mr Sarkozy said that the pact could be discussed next year at a summit of the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), adding: "Between now and then, please, no more talk of missile deployment or anti-missile deployment." Responding to the proposal, Mr Medvedev called for all sides in the dispute to avoid “unilateral measures” before the new framework is agreed. He also defended the Russian plans to site missiles in Kaliningrad, calling it “a response to various nations in Europe who, without consulting anyone, agreed to deploy new weapons on their soil”. The missile row has helped bring about a major deterioration in US-Russian relations, which have returned to Cold War levels of frostiness. cont.on link above. http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-11-14-voa28.cfm EU, Russia Discuss European Missile Defense November 14th French President Nicolas Sarkozy has urged his Russian counterpart not to carry out a threat to deploy tactical missiles in Russia's Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad. Mr. Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev spoke Friday after a Russia-European Union summit in the French city of Nice. France currently holds the rotating EU presidency. Mr. Medvedev last week said Russia will put missiles in the Kaliningrad region if the United States implements plans to place a missile defense system in central Europe. He later said he will cancel the deployment if the U.S. scraps missile plans for Poland and the Czech Republic. U.S. officials say their planned system will defend against an Iranian threat. On other issues, the French and Russian presidents reported reaching consensus on the global financial crisis. Both men will join other world leaders in Washington Friday evening for the G-20 summit. The French president also said he wants to lay the foundation for a new European security accord, possibly at an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe meeting in mid-2009. Mr. Sarkozy said Russia had to a large part complied with a French-brokered cease-fire that halted fighting after Russian troops swept into Georgia in August. EU officials froze ties with Russia in response, but the bloc agreed this week to resume talks on a strategic partnership agreement. But the union maintains its view that Russia's violation of Georgia's territorial integrity is unacceptable and it continues to reject Russia's recognition of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries.