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Washington prepares to activate missile shield in Southern Europe
Published: 02 August, 2010, 23:20
Edited: 06 August, 2010, 22:59
Iran: Picture obtained from the Iranian ISNA news agency on December 16, 2009 shows the test-firing at an undisclosed location in Iran of an improved version of the Sejil 2 medium-range missile which the Islamic republic says can reach targets inside Israel. (AFP Photo / Vahi Reza Alaee)
TAGS: Arms, Military, NATO, Middle East, Politics, Europe, Iran
The US may soon start deploying its missile shield in Turkey or Bulgaria, according to Pentagon officials.
The Defense Department is nearing a deal to establish a key radar station in Turkey or Bulgaria, the Washington Post said on August 1.
If the high-powered X-band radar is installed in Southern Europe, the fist phase of the shield against an Iranian missile threat may become operational next year, the paper said, citing anonymous sources.
The new radar is expected to provide early warning of any launches from Iran, the paper noted. Last year, Iran successfully tested its upgraded Shahab-3 ballistic missile, the striking distance of which include Turkey, Israel, the Arabian Peninsula, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Washington’s missile defenses in Europe, Israel and the Gulf are separate projects in different stages of development. But they all will be controlled by the US military, the Washington Post said. NATO has its own plans of creating a missile shield to cover Europe.
Under former President George W. Bush, the US was actively developing the missile shield program for Europe, which was heavily criticized by Moscow. However, in September 2009 President Barack Obama scrapped the plans to deploy elements of the missile defense shield in the Czech Republic and Poland.
However, Obama also pledged to develop a new missile shield for Europe with “a phased, adaptive approach.” US officials say the first stage will become operational next year when Aegis ships, armed with SM-3 missile interceptors start patrolling the Mediterranean and Black seas. They are supposed to be linked up with the high-power radar planned for Southern Europe.
In February, Romania said it was ready to host US interceptor missiles from 2015. In April, Bulgaria also announced its plans to participate in the US missile defense program.
Sergey Borisov, RT
02.08.2010, 22:19
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21 comments
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This early warning thing and missile interceptors are for you my Russian fellas.
Of course Washington prepares to activate missile shield because it knows that Iran will be attacked soon and this is to protect Europe in case of retaliation. Washington is already supplying Israel with an "iron dome" to protect itself against Iran retaliation. But in the US unilateral sanctions against Iran, Washington prevented Iran from buying equipment to protect itself. And Russia will watch the show doing nothing. Bravo!
Nobody is that much naive as to believe the south european NATO missile shield is against Iran. It is of course against Russia and it is only a segment of a long standing plan to encircle Russia with all necessary weapon systems. The patroling boats in Black Sea will keep their watch presumably on Russian targets. The whole situation resembles very much that of the pre-WWII when Hitler had made preparations to launch Barbarosa plan. I sincerely hope Russian leadership is fully aware of the seriousness of the recent NATO-US moves and that it will undertake effective counter-meassures. The much advertised "reset bottom" policy of US is nothing but an empty phrase whose aim is to temporarily appease Russia as to the future aggresion on Iran.