Large Missiles, Angry Russians

The U.S. proposal to place radar and interceptor sites for a new missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic has caused an explosion of controversy across Europe. The main purpose of the shield is to protect against long-range rocket attacks from "rogue" states, in particular North Korea and Iran. Russia, however, has virulently condemned the plan, saying that the shield threatens Moscow's security. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that, "Washington failed to respect its European partners because it devised the scheme unilaterally, then tried to impose it on them." President Vladimir Putin added, threateningly, that these tactics are very "Cold War," and that Russia would have absolutely no problem developing counter-measures.

Although mainly Russia has been feeling the heat from the missile shield proposal, other European countries have been speaking out against the plan. In a Washington Post article, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany warned the United States not to try to divide the shaky bonds between European countries, or even worse, spark a new arms race. Polish parliamentary member Radek Sikorski stated that the proposal could potentially weaken NATO, deepen Russian paranoia, and ultimately, "cost the United States some of its last friends on the continent."

The Bush Administration originally sought to have amicable relations with Moscow. Now, for the sake of national security, the shaky ties are now strained. Even worse, new allies (particularly ex-Eastern Bloc countries that have now become EU members, i.e. Poland and the Czech Republic) are beginning to wonder if it's in their best interest to support the U.S. Relations with Russia were going in a positive direction; it would be unwise to destroy that now.