DanS.

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— A top Russian general said Friday that Poland's agreement to accept a U.S. missile interceptor base exposes the ex-communist nation to attack, possibly by nuclear weapons, the Interfax news agency reported.

The statement by Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn is the strongest threat that Russia has issued against the plans to put missile defense elements in former Soviet satellite nations.

Poland and the United States on Thursday signed a deal for Poland to accept a missile interceptor base as part of a system the United States says is aimed at blocking attacks by rogue nations. Moscow, however, feels it is aimed at Russia's missile force.

"Poland, by deploying (the system) is exposing itself to a strike — 100 percent," Nogovitsyn, the deputy chief of staff, was quoted as saying.

He added, in clear reference to the agreement, that Russia's military doctrine sanctions the use of nuclear weapons "against the allies of countries having nuclear weapons if they in some way help them." Nogovitsyn that would include elements of strategic deterrence systems, he said, according to Interfax.

At a news conference earlier Friday, Nogovitsyn had reiterated Russia's frequently stated warning that placing missile-defense elements in Poland and the Czech Republic would bring an unspecified military response. But his subsequent reported statement substantially stepped up a war of words.

Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski was quoted Friday by the Polish news agency PAP as saying that Poland is open to Russian inspections because it wants to give Moscow "tangible proof" that the planned base is not directed against Russia.

U.S. officials have said the timing of the deal was not meant to antagonize Russian leaders at a time when relations already are strained over the recent fighting between Russia and Georgia over the separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia.

Russian forces went deep into Georgia in the fighting, raising wide concerns that Russia could be seeking to occupy parts of its small, pro-U.S. neighbor, which has vigorously lobbied to join NATO, or even to force its government to collapse.

"I think the Russian behavior over the last several days is generally concerning not only to the United States but to all of our European allies," said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman, when asked about Russian threats against Poland as a result of the missile defense agreement.

He also suggested that earlier U.S. offers for broad cooperation with Moscow on the missile defense program may be reevaluated considering the latest developments.

Under the agreement that Warsaw and Washington reached Thursday, Poland will accept an American missile interceptor base.

Washington says the planned system, which is not yet operational, is needed to protect the U.S. and Europe from possible attacks by missile-armed "rogue states" like Iran. The Kremlin, however, feels it is aimed at Russia's missile force and warns it will worsen tensions.

In an interview on Poland's news channel TVN24, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the United States agreed to help augment Poland's defenses with Patriot missiles in exchange for placing 10 missile defense interceptors in the Eastern European country.

He said the deal also includes a "mutual commitment" between the two nations to come to each other's assistance "in case of trouble."

That clause appeared to be a direct reference to Russia.

Poland has all along been guided by fears of a newly resurgent Russia, an anxiety that has intensified with Russia's offensive in Georgia. In past days, Polish leaders said that fighting justified Poland's demands that it get additional security guarantees from Washington in exchange for allowing the anti-missile base on its soil.

"Simply the existence of this installation increases Poland's security," Polish President Lech Kaczynski said Friday.

General News - Russia: Poland risks attack because of US missiles

Heretic

The Russian government have got to know the Scarecrow Defense Initiative doesn't even work, right. This is thinly disguised imperialism.

So, who wants to say the Georgain government is at fault here?

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"In space no one can hear you scream. in D.C. it won't matter..." -Clinton Resurrection: The Alien Queen lives!

Ptech

The irony is too thick here: we had a showdown with the Russians because they placed missles in Cuba, and now the roles are reversed.

I don't blame the Russians for objecting, and I would not blame them for striking the missle batteries once installed.

EvilMonkey

I don't blame Russia either. It's like the republicans just want to provoke every fucking country in the world and that shield is the last thing we need to be pushing. Bush can't get out of office soon enough.

DanS.

You wouldn't blame them for launching an attack on another country because they're pissed at us.......a nuclear one even?

DanS.

The difference is the missiles placed in Cuba were for attacking another country, the ones being placed in Georgia and Poland are for defending themselves against an attack by missiles.

EvilMonkey

They are protecting their interests, Poland is just a pawn used by Bush. I don't agree that we even need this shield and think it's just another example us trying to push the rest of the world around. Look how well that worked out for Rome and for Hitler. This country needs to be democratic for a change, talk with other world leaders and promote the use of the UN instead of casting them aside.

We always hear about how useless the UN is but it's because power hungry regimes (like Bush) cast them aside all the time, of course their not going to be taken seriously when they are just ignored. The UN was designed for a reason and nobody respects it. It will take the leadership of a person like Obama to start mending that fence, talk with other countries and stop with the iron fisted ultimatums.

If the United States wants to continue this course and make hypocritical demands on every other nation that does not fit "our ideals" of how their country should be ran then McCain is the one to elect. However, we should really consider the consequences of these actions because inevitably it will result in our downfall as history has proven time and time again.

DanS.

So if the tables were turned and Russia was offering the Iranians a missile defense, you would think it's justified for us to attack Iran? You see where I'm going? Russia is doing the same thing than what we blame Bush for. There were no ultimatums placed here....Russia is just being assholes, not everything is our fault. Poland as a sovereign nation should be allowed to pursue whatever defenses it wants without Russian interference....especially considering that they've got good reason to be scared of Russia given their past.

While I don't agree with what Bush has done, the UN is free to do whatever it wants. Them being ineffectual is their own doing, there are many examples of the UN living up to that image on their own without any US involvement.

EvilMonkey

I think that if Russia wanted to setup a defense shield in a neighboring US country that we would have a shit fit and would never allow it. See where I am going? The US has become a country of hypocrisy and domination, do as we say not as we do. It's not just Russia, we are imposing our will where and how we please. It does not have to be this way, what's so bad about talking with Russia before just spouting off our fucking mouths in the press? The lack of real diplomacy from our country is telling and what's even more sad is how many American's agree with shoot first ask later actions.

None of this had to come about, what Russia did to Georgia wasn't fair to them yet it was fair for us to invade and cease Iraq for much lesser reasons? We have no place there and it's not our business. When we are directly threatened, then it becomes our business and if you think we have the resources either financially or militarily to deal with all of these self imposed threats then you better think again.

DanS.

So which course of action do you think is correct then? I'm saying set up the shields and no attacks. You're saying have a shit fit over it and agree with attacks to stop it.

I've always hated our hypocrisy, and that is something that we can be faulted for. But in no way does it justify an attack on Poland. If we were to do the same thing Russia is doing we would be wrong as well.

Of course it isn't right what we did to Iraq, that's why I said in thread about the Georgia conflict that we have ZERO credibilty on the issue. But again, that in no way justifies what Russia is doing...