Russia may quit START III after US deploys destroyer in Europe

[jakeXT]

If the US continues to boost its anti-missile capabilities through developing missile defense system in Europe, Russia may have no other option but to withdraw from the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), warns the Russian Foreign Ministry’s top disarmament official, Mikhail Ulyanov. The news comes as the US's ballistic missile defense destroyer has been deployed in Spain to strengthen NATO’s anti-missile shield in Europe.

The move, allegedly aimed at neutralizing the Iranian threat, has sparked polemics about Russia's possible withdrawal from the START nuclear treaty.

Deployment of the Navy destroyer USS Donald Cook, equipped with the Aegis shipboard integrated combat weapons system, was announced by the US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel at the Munich Security Conference.

"An important posture enhancement is European missile defense in response to ballistic missile threats from Iran,” Hagel said, adding that the US is committed “to deploying missile defense architecture there,” as a part of Phase 3 of the European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA).

http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_02_02/Russias-arms-stockpile-doesnt-exceed-START-III-ceiling-8228/

[Ghost Dog]

1. So Hagel specifies Iran, huh. More general phrasing here:

http://www.stripes.com/news/uss-donald-cook-heads-to-rota-as-part-of-missile-shield-1.264891
Published: January 31, 2014

The first of four U.S. Navy destroyers to form the centerpiece of Europe’s missile defense shield departed the U.S. East Coast on Friday for its new home port in southern Spain.

Plans call for the USS Donald Cook to be joined by three more Arleigh Burke-class missile-guided destroyers, which carry the Aegis weapon system, in the coming two years. All are to be stationed at the U.S. Navy base in Rota, Spain, on the Atlantic coast north of Gibraltar.

Other pieces of the missile defense shield, known as the European Phased Adaptive Approach, include land-based Aegis interceptor batteries in Romania and Poland, radar in Turkey and a command center at the U.S. Air Force base in Ramstein, Germany.

The plan has caused a major rift with Russia, which says the shield is aimed against its own nuclear missile arsenal. The U.S. and its NATO allies insist the defense system is to meant to protect Europe from potentially hostile countries in the region, such as Iran.

The destroyer detachment expands the Navy presence in Europe at a time when other services are drawing down across the continent. It follows the Navy’s current emphasis on forward deployment, or having ships stationed closer to areas of interest...

/... http://www.stripes.com/news/uss-donald-cook-heads-to-rota-as-part-of-missile-shield-1.264891


... I wonder how much Spain gets paid for the use of Rota, air and naval...¿?

[bemildred]

2. We have fucking maroons running our foreign policy, war pigs.

Last edited Mon Feb 3, 2014, 10:17 AM - Edit history (1)

They will have us saving the natives in the New Guinea highlands from the Trobriand Islanders before we are done, any enemy will do, no enemy is too small. The one thing that is totally unacceptable is peace and no war toys.

It is utter folly to throw money away like this when technology is moving so fast. Whatever you do is obsolete before you deploy it, and in a real war it's all trash in the first few weeks.

[Victor_c3]

3. War Pigs is right

Given his past, I'm absolutely shocked at some of the things Hagel has done/said. I would have thought a combat hardened Infantryman would have a different stance on war.

However, I wonder how much of it is his decisions versus decisions made by those above him. My experience as a junior leader in the military taught me that there is a time to voice your objections to your superiors, but after your superiors listen to your concerns and make a decision contrary to what you think you suck it up and drive on and do the best you can. You make orders and decisions that you don't even agree with your own and don't say stuff like "Captain so and so wants us to _____". It becomes "I want us to_____".

[bemildred]

4. I expected better of Hagel, but politics is an ugly business.

And Pentagon politics is ugly politics.

And your points are well stated too. Thinking too much is not encouraged, long debates can be a problem in combat.

I have hopes that if he is there long enough, he will gain strength and confidence and things will improve.

[Victor_c3]

5. I'm right there with you

I think it is very important to have someone who has experienced war first hand in his position. At least that person isn't deluded by the false premise that combat is a glorious affair.

[bemildred]

6. Well, there is this:

Chuck Hagel Stresses US Foreign Policy Shift From Military Might To Diplomacy

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101684136

Which is a big deal, and I've been able to see it happening for some time now, what happened in Syria, what is happening with Iran, other little things. That is sort of why the effort in the OP seems so feckless.