U.S. general confirms defense shield radar site in Turkey

[The Northerner]

The radar is a key element in a planned ballistic-missile-defense system that also would put other land- and sea-based radars and anti-missile interceptors in several European locations over the next decade.

PODGORICA, Montenegro — U.S. forces are now manning a new radar defense site in Turkey that could help defend Europe from a potential Iranian ballistic-missile attack, the U.S. Army's commander in Europe said on Sunday.

"We have the forces in place ... at a radar site in southern Turkey," Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling said in an interview at Montenegro's main military airport in its capital.

It is the first time a senior U.S. commander has confirmed reports that the NATO defense-shield radar — which has caused tensions between Turkey and its Muslim neighbor Iran — has been operational in the past few weeks. The radar is a key element in a planned ballistic-missile-defense system that also would put other land- and sea-based radars and anti-missile interceptors in several European locations over the next decade.

Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2017606170_missile27.html


Can someone justify why the US military needs a "missile-defense" system at all?

[Fearless]

1. Hopefully they're paying us.

In the very very least.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Why am I reminded of the 1950s all of a sudden?

In 1961 the U.S. began placing near Izmir in Turkey, 15 medium-range missiles PGM-19 "Jupiter" with a radius of 2 400 km, which is directly threatened by the European part of the Soviet Union, reaching as far as Moscow. President Kennedy believed the strategic importance of these missiles limited, since submarines armed with ballistic missiles, could cover the same territory, having the advantage of stealth and firepower. Nevertheless, in the late 1950's medium-range missiles technologically superior to intercontinental ballistic missiles, which at that time could not always be on alert. Another advantage of the medium-range missiles is a little flight time - less than 10 minutes.

http://ativor.info/usnissileturkey.html

They were quietly removed after the crisis was over.

[AverageJoe90]

7. Well.....

I'm not entirely behind the plan myself but things are different here.....these aren't offensive missiles like the ones we had back in '61....but rather defensive ones. Okay?

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Yeah and...

It's the same posturing by both sides that can lead to a crisis.

[AverageJoe90]

10. A crisis could indeed occur, yes. But World War 3?

I don't know about that.

[saras]

3. It's just another place that has to be blown up, dragging another country into it

The idea that Iran is considering attacking EUROPE with ballistic missiles indicates how, um, public relations this "news" is.

[Nihil]

9. You've got that bit right for sure ...

> The idea that Iran is considering attacking EUROPE with ballistic missiles
> indicates how, um, public relations this "news" is.

This is precisely the sort of "public relations" that should be spread on fields.

The "U.S. Army's commander in Europe" need a sharp stick inserted somewhere
to encourage him to tell the truth once in a while.

[Major Nikon]

4. Pouring more money into Raygun's stupidest idea

If Iran had a nuke, they could simply put it on a boat and sail it to any one of hundreds of major cities all over the world.

[mazzarro]

5. Scapegoating Iran

It is an interesting that Iran is forbidden to build up any sort of defensive capability because it threatens other countries in the region and Europe. However Iran itself is being surrounded with all types of weaponry both defensive and offensive in nature all in the name of containing Iran. This is despite the fact that Iran, in contemporary times, has been the nation at the receiving end of wars, invasions, and outside interference. Go figure the value of world justice and the United Nations!

[AdHocSolver]

6. There are two uses for this missile defense system in Turkey and Europe.

One purpose is to provide huge profits to the military-industrial complex. A by-product is to transfer more wealth from the middle class to the one percent more quickly.

A second purpose is to delude the peasants that their military is protecting them from the "enemy".

The missile defense system of the 1980's labeled "star wars" never worked and this one won't either.

Moreover, as another poster pointed out, there are far easier and cheaper ways to cause destruction than design, build, test and deploy a missile system.