Poland is a Fall Guy for US Military Lobbyists
George Monbiot, The Guardian | August 19, 2008
By agreeing to host a US missile defence base Poland, like the UK and Czech Republic, became America’s groundbait and exposed itself to a possiblity of a nuclear attack. ++ In turn, the system is supposed to protect Poland as well. ++ Bad news is, MD will not work for at least another 50 years and it is doubtful if ever at all. ++ There is no rationale behind MD: it is only built to appease military industrial lobbyists who give donations to corrupt politicians. ++ This monstrous scheme can’t achieve what “diplomacy could do in an afternoon.”
Thu, Aug 21st 2008, 04:18
Gary Lewis
In the mid 80's, then President Reagan, PM Thatcher and Mr.Kohl decided to endorse the American initiative to deploy Pershing II intermeadiate range missles to central europe. The Russains threatened to both retaliate and walk away from the ongoing nuclear and it never happened. Matter of fact, about ten years later, they were in the proverbial toilet and quickly abdicating (no more like running as if their hair was on fire) their own security role in eastern europe.
All we are doing is protecting a new NATO ally, and most of europe, against an attack from a potential nuclear capable rogue nation. The MD poses no first strike threat to the Russians, unless of course they want to shoot their missles at europe first. What it does pose is a threat to the Russian tendency to initimidate and coerce former satellite, now NATO allies, Warsaw Pact nations like Poland.
Lastly, about MD, your recent history is lacking as well as your modern history when it comes to factual precedent. Sometime, back in Feb of this year, the US Navy demonstrated the capability to shoot down a out of control satellite that was threatening our PLANET by utilizing many of the same technologies that MD will most likely incorporate. So arguing the technology is not there is no longer a valid. We shot down a unpredictable, out of control and very dangerous piece of space junk, on the first try!
Finally, stop being so hysterically blind to the obvious benefits you and I currently enjoy, thanks in part to the US and allies like Britain and Germany. Think about it; Germany is whole, no more iron curtain or other barricades between european countries. That was not an accident. It happened because BOTH military and diplomatic means were employed.
It takes two to tango my friend. Chamberlains 1938 Munich farce was an example of over reliance on diplomacy, with NO desire to enforce an agreement or treaty.
The decison to deploy the Pershing II, like the decison by Poland to accept a missle defense shield, will help make diplomacy work with both the Russians and the potential nuclear armed terror nation.