No missile shield planned in Balkans
The United States will not move any missile defences to the Balkans after President Barack Obama decided not to deploy any in Poland, a top U.S. official said on Thursday. Last week Obama dropped plans by predecessor George W. Bush for ground-based interceptor missiles in Poland and a related radar site in the Czech Republic to provide European protection from Iran’s short- and medium-range missiles.
Under the new plan, Washington would initially use missile-capable vessels and in a second phase would field land-based systems, said Vice Admiral Richard Gallagher, deputy commander of the U.S. European Command.
“The intent is to use sea-based defence which, of course, has great flexibility as those ships can be moved to many different locations which gives us very good … ability to employ,” Gallagher said after meeting Montenegro’s army chief of staff, Vice Admiral Dragan Samardzic.
The Bush Administration had proposed a missile defence system amid concerns Iran was trying to develop nuclear warheads it could mount on long-range missiles. Russia saw the move as a threat to its security.
After the U.S. change in plan, Balkan media speculated the missile shield might be deployed in the region instead.
Samardzic dismissed such claims as “pure speculation.”
Gallagher said NATO “has not abandoned the missile defence discussions” and that “from the U.S. perspective, you have not seen a change in desires to protect the region and to work in conjunction with NATO as well”. Montenegro, which seceded from its former federal partner Serbia in 2006, wants to join NATO and the European Union. (Reporting by Petar Komnenic; Writing by Aleksandar Vasovic)
September 24, 2009
Reuters
Montenegro wants to join the criminal NATO what a disgrace they are.
Nato and the EU can have them,back stabbing red croats anyway!
If Europe wanst a missile shield why can’t Germany, England, France and the other EU thugs pay for it? They got more money than the US!
dusko.
they don’t want these ridiculous missiles in Germany France or Britain because that would defeat the object of their purpose which is to antagonize the Russians.
Russia made a deal, no missiles in Poland and Czeck Republic for a strike on Irans nuclear sites. Israel has been on many diplomatic missions in the last few weeks lobbying for strikes on Iran. Israel is a one nuclear state, meaning, one strike on them is enough to destroy their country. So they have no option other then strike Iran.
miro.
Who the hell are the Israelis to attack Iran? Israel is out of hand they are hand in glove with the American Empire and they have been acting like NAZIS for years.
Dony-
They are the same ones that sturck Iraqi nuclear facilities. I am not saying a agree with everything Israel does. But the facts are that Israel has to be commended for creating a some what democratic state among nations with little freedom of religion, press, and a horrible record with human rights. They are here and they are here to stay. As long as the Muslim extremists within Middle-East continue their jihad against Israel and the rest of the world they must be stopped. Irans leadership is making huge diplomatic mistakes. Instead of working with Israel like before, they are funding extremists to commit terror upon you and your family. Israel I think follows one doctrine ” perpetual war is peace” for the Israelis, with out they would be over run by Muslims in 50 years..dony it’s survival my friend.