NATO: Going ahead with missile shield despite Russian concerns, threats

[maddezmom]

By Associated Press, Updated: Saturday, February 4, 7:58 AM

MUNICH — NATO leaders on Saturday downplayed Moscow’s fears that a new Europe-based missile defense system represents a threat to Russia, while vowing to move ahead with it, even if those concerns cannot be fully addressed.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told The Associated Press that the alliance expects to have first elements of the defense system up and running by its summit in Chicago in May, and that it would continue to work on getting Russia on board with the plan.


“We have not made as much progress as I would like to see, but there is still some time to go before Chicago and I still hope we could reach an agreement,” Fogh Rasmussen said. “But irrespective of that, we will continue to develop a NATO missile defense system because we feel a strong responsibility to protect our populations effectively against the missile threat.”

The comments came on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, where Russian Sergey Lavrov told delegates the U.S.-led plan “rings alarm bells” and suggested it risks seriously damaging relations with Moscow.

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/nato-going-ahead-with-missile-shield-despite-russian-concerns-threats/2012/02/04/gIQAIjJIpQ_story.html

[MACARD]

1. Quick before the Soviet Union comes back, encourage them to go Communist with "defenses"

[Muskypundit]

2. I dont get why it cant be a joint operation.

[Hugabear]

3. Because the MIC does not WANT a friendly co-op venture with Russia

If anything, the MIC would prefer to revive the Cold War, thereby pumping trillions more into their coffers

[HopeHoops]

4. Yeah, even though none of the technologies are even close to working.

Why bother. If any country launches one, it's a shit storm in the making. MAD actually does work. When it stops working, none of us will be around to talk about it.

[Flatulo]

5. MAD does work, but only if all parties are sane.

I wonder if the Iranian mullahs are joyously awaiting the end of the world? Launching a missle strike against Israel would be suicide, but they seem to be looking forward to it.

Having said that, I can't for the life of me undersand why the Russians couldn't be part of this (other than the obvious reason, that the Cold War was great for business).

[HopeHoops]

6. Well one thing is for sure - the name.

It doesn't matter who starts it. We're all fucked.

[Boombaby]

7. Rasmussen is the head of NATO???

I'm surprised we're not at war already.

[AdHocSolver]

8. The US MIC tried to develop a missile defense system in the 1980's called SDI or "Star Wars".

A small number of tests only "worked" when the anti-missile operators new the time and location of launch, and the trajectory of the incoming target.

Billions were spent (wasted) until the project was downgraded, but not stopped.

Today, restarting the project means that the electronic hardware will be manufactured in China (FoxConn?) and the software will be developed in India. There will be few jobs created in the US from this activity.

If memory serves correctly, the original potential enemy was China. We already have a yearly trade deficit with China of hundreds of billions of dollars.

This project is insanity writ large. The sole purpose appears to be to generate huge profits for the multinational corporations.

The US economy is struggling, education, infrastructure, and health care are in dire straits, and a previous attempt to develop such a system failed miserably.

The US government should refuse to be involved in this craziness.

[David__77]

9. This is a total waste of money.

It won't work and even China already possesses the means to subvert it totally. This is Reaganite nonsense.

[jakeXT]

10. It doesn't matter if it will perform like intended

If the crazies think the have a tool to get away with a first strike, they might do it.

[XemaSab]

11. Why do we still have NATO?

[tabasco]

12. Russia acts like they're pissed

but they love to see us waste vast fortunes on corporate welfare for defense contractors.