U.S. Poland Sign Missile Deal
In direct response to the Russian invasion of Georgia, the United States and Poland signed a deal on Wednesday. The deal means that Poland will host 110 interceptor missiles just 115 miles from Russia’s Western border.
Russia responded to the plan a couple of weeks ago; a high ranking general said Poland had now become a nuclear target.
The threat did not worry NATO too much, however. It’s secretary general, the Dutchman Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, called the Russian threat “pathetic rhetoric.”
“It is unhelpful and leads nowhere,” he added.
Poland and the U.S. negotiated 1.5 years. In the end both sides were convinced that the deal was necessary at the moment Russia attacked its neighbor to the south and former Soviet Republic Georgia.
It is the first step in what one expects to be a careful yet aggressive containment policy implemented by NATO. Russia’s recent aggression has taught the West that the bear has not been tamed. Putin and Medvedev have plans for their country and the region. There is no chance whatsoever that they will moderate their approach if NATO gives in to their demands and wishes.
The next step should be a deal with Georgia and other former Soviet Republics like Ukraine and Azerbaijan.
