Russian News  
Russian missile proposal 'disappointing,' US says

Iskander missile system.
by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) Nov 5, 2008
The United States said Wednesday that Russia's plan to deploy missiles in retaliation for a proposed US anti-missile system in Poland and the Czech Republic is "disappointing."

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced the deployment of short-range missiles in an area of western Russia wedged between Lithuania and Poland, in response to US plans to site missile defense bases in eastern Europe.

"The steps that the Russian government announced today are disappointing," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters when asked to comment on Medvedev's announcement.

In a speech blaming the world's problems on the United States, Medvedev said: "Iskander missile systems will be deployed in Kaliningrad region to neutralise the missile defence system."

But McCormack said US missile plans are "not directed at them" and "hopefully one day they'll realize that.

"The missile defense sites in the Czech Republic and Poland are not aimed at Russia. This missile defense system is designed to protect against rogue states, for example, Iran, who are working on long-range missile technology."

The Pentagon said earlier that it will continue to develop missile defenses with its partners in Europe despite the Russian threat to deploy ballistic missiles in the western enclave to counter them.

"Nothing in today's news changes our position with respect to trying to cooperate with our European partners on it," said Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman.

Whitman had no direct comment on the announced deployments but reiterated the US position that the missile defenses posed no threat to Moscow and was directed at an emerging ballistic missile threat from the Middle East.

US plans to install a powerful targeting radar in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland.

The Czech and Polish parliaments have yet to ratify agreements reached by their governments with Washington.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

NATO voices 'serious worries' about Russian missile plans
Brussels (AFP) Nov 5, 2008
NATO has "serious worries" about the compatibility of Russian plans to deploy missiles in a western Russian enclave with arm control "arrangements," an alliance spokesman said Wednesday.







  • China vows closer Latin American ties ahead of Hu visit
  • A New Summit In Helsinki Part Two
  • Africa Command Headquarters To Remain In Stuttgart
  • A New Summit In Helsinki Part One

  • Russian leader blasts US, vows to deploy missiles near EU
  • Outside View: Russia boosts nuclear punch
  • Robert Gates Shows Nuclear Impatience
  • NKorea's nuclear drive seen dogging next US leader

  • Bangalore To Host India's Maiden Space Exposition
  • Chandrayaan-I Passes Critical Endurance Test
  • National Remote Sensing Agency Becomes An ISRO Centre
  • Analysis: Revolt in India rebel group ULFA

  • Tibet Envoys Hold Two Days Of Talks With China
  • Chinese savers fear pension won't be enough: survey
  • Cars smashed as taxi drivers stage rare protest in China: state media
  • China's Three Gorges Dam Providing New Opportunities

  • China Exploring Various Oil For Arms Deals
  • Bangladesh deploys another warship in Myanmar gas row
  • Analysis: Shell-Iraq gas deal a monopoly
  • HP beefs up data centers while trimming electric use

  • Expedition 17 Set To Undock Today
  • Two US astronauts to cast votes from space
  • Expedition 18 Takes Charge
  • Expedition 18 Crew Docks With Space Station

  • USAF Tests Battlespace Information Solution On AC-130 Gunship
  • Harris Awarded Contract For USAF Satellite Control Network Program
  • LockMart Delivers Key Hardware For US Navy's Mobile User Objective System
  • Boeing JTRS GMR Engineering Model Enters New Test Phase

  • Remote-Controlled Weapon Stations Delivered to Bundeswehr on Time
  • Lockheed Martin Delivers 500th Arrowhead System To US Army
  • Eurofighter Air-to-Air Refuelling From Airbus A310 MRTT
  • Caiman design deflects IEDs in Iraq

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement