From: Yemane Natnael (yemane_natnael@yahoo.com)
Date: Wed Aug 20 2008 - 12:32:54 EDT
Georgia attack spurred US-Polish missile deal
By Jan Cienski in Tbilisi and Daniel Dombey in Washington
August 20 2008
Russia's intervention in
Georgia proved to be the spur that drove the US to strike a deal with
Poland to build part of the missile defense shield on its territory, an
accord that will be signed by Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state,
in Warsaw today.
For months US diplomats sought to avoid
exacerbating Moscow's considerable irritation over the missile defense
program by only agreeing to the missile shield - which has little
practical benefit to Poland. The US says the missile defense program
is intended to counter the threat of ballistic missiles launched by
rogue states such as Iran, not Russia.
But Poland sought Patriot
interceptor missiles to protect itself against Russian retaliation,
both in practical terms and as a symbol of US military support. By
agreeing to the request, the US has made an unambiguous statement of
support for Poland amid Russia's new assertiveness. US officials argue
that they had already done all they could to meet Russian concerns
short of ditching the missile defense plan, with no noticeable
reduction in the intensity of Kremlin rhetoric.
Donald Tusk,
Poland's prime minister, had been cool about the shield since winning
power nine months ago. Unlike the former right-wing government, he felt
hosting the base lessened Poland's security by making it a possible
target of an attack. Many Polish voters oppose hosting the
anti ballistic missile base. The government can argue that it makes
Poland safer by obtaining a permanent Patriot battery, as well as
enhanced US security guarantees.
The US was also aware it was
running out of time. Some US officials emphasize that the Bush
administration wants to begin construction work on the Polish and Czech
sites this year, a move that could make it more difficult for the next
administration to walk away from the program.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/724b43ca-6e50-11dd-b5df-0000779fd18c.html
The Financial Times Limited 2008
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