US military rejects Russian worries
(AP)
Updated: 2007-01-26 09:31
Washington - Proposed US missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech
Republic will not affect Russian security but will be designed to
intercept missiles planned by Iran that would be capable of reaching
Eastern Europe, a senior defense official said Thursday.
California in a 2003 file photo. The United States has fallback
options for missile-defense sites in Europe if coming negotiations
with Poland and the Czech Republic fail, senior Pentagon officials
said on Thursday. [Reuters]
Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry A. Obering, director of the Missile Defense
Agency, rejected Russian claims that the US plan would upset the
security balance. Russian officials have warned of the possibility of
countermeasures.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Wednesday that US systems
being considered could not be directed against Iran because that
country has no intercontinental ballistic missiles and will not have
any in the future.
Obering, speaking to reporters in a telephone briefing, said that
while Iran poses no long-range threat to Eastern Europe today, "we
have to stay ahead of what we think that threat is."
Beyond that, Obering said, the interceptors the United States plans
for Poland and the Czech Republic are insignificant compared with
Russian capabilities.
"There is no way, shape or form that 10 interceptors can neutralize
the hundreds of missiles in the Russian arsenal," Obering said. "I
can't be any more plain than that."
He said US defense officials have traveled to Russia to explain US
intentions and plan more such consultations in the future.
Asked if Russia would be allowed to send observers to the sites,
Obering said, "We have nothing to hide. But any invitation would be
subject to consultations with the host governments."
The $3.5 billion program for Poland will be completed in 2011 or 2012,
Obering said.
At one point, he said the program will be designed to deal with "rogue
nations," but he mentioned no country in that category besides Iran.
A Polish journalist asked whether any compensation would be paid to
the country in exchange for Poland's willingness to serve as a host
missile defense country. Obering said no such benefit is planned
because the project will enhance Polish security.
He added that the United States has other Eastern European countries
in mind if negotiations with Poland and the Czech republic over terms
of the deployments are unsuccessful.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2007-01/26/content_793395.htm
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