Poland
Cancel Polish missile defense system. Turn Poland back to Russia - American Senator
Warsaw, Poland - 5 June, 2008 The third ranking Democrat in the United States Senate has proposed to gain Russian cooperation on Iran by canceling the proposed Polish missile defense system and allowing Russia to restore hegemony over Poland plus the remainder of Eastern Europe. His proposal includes the dismantling of the antimissile site and economic incentives in the creation of a diplomatic partnership in the region in exchange for Russia joining the economic boycott of Iran.
In a piece published in the Wall Street Journal, the Senator said in part,
Two years ago, under NATO auspices, Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania agreed to build an antimissile defense site to thwart the threat of a nuclear missile attack by Iran. The threat is hypothetical and remote, and the Bush administration's emphasis on pursuing the antimissile system, without Russia's cooperation, still baffles many national security experts.It also drives Mr. Putin to apoplexy. The antimissile system strengthens the relationship between Eastern Europe and NATO, with real troops and equipment on the ground. It mocks Mr. Putin's dream of eventually restoring Russian hegemony over Eastern Europe.
Dismantling the antimissile site, economic incentives and creation of a diplomatic partnership in the region - in exchange for joining an economic boycott of Iran - is an offer Mr. Putin would find hard to refuse. It is our best hope to avoid a nuclear Iran, because a successful economic boycott would certainly force the Iranian regime to heed Western demands more than anything attempted so far. Russia Can Be Part of the Answer on Iran By CHARLES SCHUMER http://engforum.pravda.ru/showthread.php?t=217201
The Senator, Charles Schumer of New York (Democrat), is a long time opponent of missile defense systems. In the year 2000 he sent a letter to President Clinton asking him to " resist pressure to deploy a national missile defense system at this time." In 2004 he attempted to prevent the spending of money on missile defense systems. Schumer Problem http://www.nysun.com/editorials/obamas-schumer-problem/79289/
He may have future powerful support. Cutting back on missile defense is in line with the Democrat presidential nominee Barak Hussein Obama's past statements and who offers a generational change to support the causes of retreat abroad and unlimited government at home. Obama commands respect http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/06/020677.php
For background, Senator Obama's general views on defense spending and specific views on missile systems are recorded on this video.Obama’s YouTube Defense Talk ‘Bizarre,’ Analyst Says http://www.masterpage.com.pl/enr/world-news/obamas-youtube-defense-talk-bizarre-analyst-says/
The support for a pull back and reduction in US spending in Europe is not limited to the Democrat party. Republican Senator William Turner feels that the US military should be completely withdrawn from foreign soil.
"If we slashed our military budget in half we would have funding for fuel cell plants, homeland defense, and universal healthcare. Germany, Japan, South Korea -- 3 of the wealthiest nations on earth. Why is our military defending them?" Tired Super Power http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13279
Cancellation of the base would affect Nato forces in Europe and not the US mainland. US mainland protection is provided by land-based systems on the North American continent and will apparently be supplemented by sea-based systems. A test of the sea-based system is to be carried out again using a cruiser and a new type missile. U.S. plans sea-based test of missile defense http://www.masterpage.com.pl/polishnewsroundup/foreign-relations/us-plans-sea-based-test-of-missile-defense/
A sea based system would not protect Europe. The farther west than missile defense system is located the less area of Europe can be defended. Because of its location in the East, Poland was chosen for the missile base as it would provide best defense coverage for Europe.
The Polish government has decided that it would wait until the November 2008 elections in the United States to try and get a better deal on the installation of the missile defense system in Poland. Poland Gambles Missile Defense System On US Elections
But after those elections, it may be that Poland is negotiating with a country whose president is against missile defense systems and military spending in general and who is supported by a Congress that is interested in spending money at home rather than abroad.
And if Mr. Schumer has his way, Poland might find itself once again under some form of Russian domination.
Go here for more information About Senator Schumer http://www.senate.gov/~schumer/SchumerWebsite/about_chuck/ac-about_chuck_main.html
