Moscow, Washington Spar

In a continuation of Cold War rivalry, on Thursday the United States and Russia exchanged a slew of rhetorical blows over what appears to be U.S. plans for a Missile Defense System in Ukraine and Georgia. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Rybakov announced that the United States’ secret plans to install the proposed system would threaten global stability and peace.

Mr. Rybakov‘s comments came in a mere month after the U.S. scrapped plans to build a Missile Defense System in Europe with a massive radar and base in the Czech Republic and the installation of ten nuclear missile interceptors in Poland. While not reported in the American press, an overwhelmingly majority of Poles and Czechs polled vehemently opposed plans to station U.S. soldiers accompanying the system within their borders.

The news from Russia plays even as a surprise to Americans as high level government and military officials have secretly hatched the plan to keep alive the Reaganite dream of ”Star Wars.” And to no surprise, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is one of the program’s greatest champions.

Not unlike in 1997 when President Clinton voiced support for missile defense in newer NATO countries in Central Europe, the surprise revelation could be the beginning of a long, drawn out process that could very well lead to great U.S. intervention and troop occupations in the world.

Russia asserts it can call some shots. And considering that its foreign policy is not suicidal and logical for their purpose, perhaps it would be a good idea to listen and heed their warnings.

Russian ministers spoke out in protest of the expansion of the U.S. radar and missile systems into non-NATO nations, and in general, the expansion of U.S. military bases.

So far, the U.S. leadership only turned a deaf ear and so much like the debacle in Central Europe, have begun to lay a stone wall. Yet, it is becoming increasingly obvious that not listening will no longer be an option.

U.S. Pushes NATO for Georgia, Ukraine, Croatia

The United States has opened one of its most strategic but quiet and almost secret "surge" in acquiring former Soviet-bloc republics as military satellites to defend NATO military prowess. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was founded in the late 1940s as a western alliance against the communist USSR.

According to CTK, the Czech News Service, Georgia and the United States have agreed on a "strategic partnership" which includes a military and economic umbrella alliance under U.S. leadership. The deal also stipulates on promoting "democratic development" in Georgia.

The United States installed Georgian President Mikhail Sakaashvili as a "democratic" dictatorial pawn in a 2005 CIA coup. His iron fisted oppression of freedom of speech and human rights has drawn harsh criticism from the international community. In addition, the "ethnic cleansing" the Georgian army engaged in during the August South Ossetian War in numerous villages were responsible for thousands of civilian deaths. The United States took a neutral stance while at the same time admonishing Russia for their contention of a western-built oil pipeline which runs through Georgia. The United States has long had interest in close ties with Georgia for the oil pipeline, as it sees the pathway as a chance to increase oil consumption while bypassing the OPEC and Russian oil cartels. Georgia also joined the "Coalition of the Willing" in Iraq in 2006 under the U.S.-led occupation forces.

The United States government claims that the agreement is fair reason to expand NATO due to "Russian agression" and bring struggling Slavic nations as Ukraine and Croatia under the U.S.-led western defense and economic umbrella. NATO membership seems likely to be extended to Kiev and Zagreb, but such extensions will require billions of dollars of U.S. aid at a time of very weak economic growth.

In addition, the Czech Senate has passed a SOFA (Strategic Operating Forces Agreement) with the United States to place an American radar with U.S. troops in their country. The radar is a central part of the plan for a Missile Defense Shield to defend Europe and the West from "rogue states like Iran". The radar will also be interfaced with ten nuclear anti-missile rockets based in Poland. The American base in Poland would be less than 100 miles from the Russian border. It is still unclear whether the lower houses of the Parliaments in Czech Republic and Poland will ratify the agreements. Russia has furiously protested the Missile Defense Shield effort and has called on the United States for cooperation, understanding and possible co-ownership of a world-wide radar system. Recent polls show that over 70% of people in each Czech Republic and Poland oppose the plans for a Missile Defense Shield in Central Europe.

Many Ukranians, Croatians and Georgians harbor similar feelings toward what they see as big nation aggressiveness and American imperialism. But with the Obama team also proposing the extension of NATO membership to these nations and fully supporting Secretary of Defense Robert Gates' almost obsessive Missile Defense Shield in Central Europe, little progress seems like it will be made in U.S.-European relations.

French President Nikolas Sarkozy in a meeting in November with Russian President Dimitri Medvedev downplayed the viability and importance of the radar system and urged for caution on the U.S. side.

According to CTK reports, Russian is now engaging in talks with Iran to develop their own missile defense shield for that region. Moscow has been working with Tehran since they announced a deal one year ago giving Russian aid, manpower and instruction for the construction of an Iranian nuclear reactor. In addition, the Russians have discussed setting up their own missile shield to counter the American radar in Czech Republic. A likely location would be on a small island off the coast of Finland that Russia acquired in 1940 when it invaded Finland during World War II.

The United States' imperialist game and fig-leaf agenda has put itself in a harrowing situation. Perhaps, an exit strategy would be more fitting.

The "American President" Takes A Stand

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been widely criticized by his own people and other Europeans as the "American President". Conveyed by his close working relationship with the American Administration, conservative ideals, and push for greater law and order for France, many French feel betrayed by this simple-talking inborn Frenchman of Hungarian origins. But, despite Sarkozy's blustering appearances, he may soon make his mark as a peacemaker for the world.

This year, during tense moments between the United States and Russia over the invitation of NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia, Sarkozy stood firm, negating American demands and calling for a freeze on NATO membership. In addition, his handling of Georgian President Saakashvili's U.S. backed genocide in the August War in Georgia as an arbiter between America and Russia is another notable foregin policy achievement.

Shockingly, yesterday, in a complete reversal of previous statements by the French and European Union President, Sarkozy upon meeting with Russian President Medvedev in Paris, stated that the U.S. plans for a Missile Defense System in Czech Republic and Poland is unnecessary and that the United States should think again about the system. He also claimed that the radar and anti-ballistic nuclear missiles have nothing to do with European security and that Missile Defense should wait until a European Security meeting in the summer of 2009.

Sarkozy's bold statements gave hope to the Czech and Polish people, in which a majority vehemently opposes the proposed installation of American bases and soldiers. In addition, the new American President Barack Obama has tacitly supported the Missile Defense Shield perogative, although he has made befuddled statements about reconsidering the program if it is proven not to be effective. While Obama's stance is unclear, at least Sarkozy's brave stand has given doubt that Robert Gates' plan to divide Central Europe, and in turn, the whole of Europe, may be reduced to failure. The Czech Parliament's ratification of two treaties to build the radar and station U.S. troops there still awaits a vote.

Obama Pledges Support for US Missiles in Poland

In the first few days within being elected President of the United States, Barack Obama has taken bold stances toward the foreign policy discussion. During a weekend when most Americans are attempting to take a break from the confrontational political jabber which has been blasted through the FOXs and CNNs of the world since September 11th, Obama took steps to greater hostility toward not only Iran, but also Russia and most of the populace in Central Europe.

According to the AP, President-Elect Obama spoke with Polish President Lech Kaczyinski this past Friday, and promised Kaczyinski his continued support for the Missile Defense Shield, which will include a radar in Brdy, Czech Republic, and ten anti-ballistic missiles in Poland, only 100 miles from the Russian border. Seeking to establish close ties with the Polish government, in both economic and military matters, Polish newsite Dziennik.pl reported that Obama hinted at making a visit to Warsaw as a top point on his agenda for 2009. However, Obama's willfull concessions to increased militarization in Central Europe and increased hostility with Russia strikes alarm to many of the citizens of these freedom-loving nations.

At a President-Elect news briefing the next day, Obama representative Dennis McDonough backpedalled on questions about Obama's telephone conference with Kaczyinski. When asked about Obama's support for stationing missiles in Poland, he claimed that Obama has continued supporting the greater Missile Defense Shield project only if the science proves that it actually works. However, the many scientific tests done over the past year for the radar in the Czech Republic have questioned the integrity of the system and pointed out the many health risks for citizens living in the 50km area.

Despite all the jabber and positioning from the new mixed-signal Obama team, Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski noted that the entire system depends on the ability of the Czech Parliament to ratify the two treaties for the radar signed in Prauge earlier this summer. Unlike in 1938, this year, the Czechs (or at least their notoriously corrupt representatives), will have a chance to decide the fate of their national sovereignty.

Czech Parliament to Vote on Radar Agreements

According to CTK (the Czech news service) and Respekt.cz, the Czech Parliament today meets to discuss whether to approve two radar agreements previously signed with the United States this summer in Prague. One agreement allows for the stationing of a radar missile defense system in Brdy, Bohemia, about 80 km southwest of Prague. The missile defense system is planned to be connected with 10 nuclear interceptor missiles based in neighboring Poland. The other agreement, called SOFA, is centered on the legal conditions on stationing American soldiers in the Czech Republic. The last foreign soldiers to occupy the Czech Republic were Russian troops, who finally withdrew in 1990 after invading and occupying the nation since 1968. The ability to pass these two agreements in Czech Parliament is the main factor whether America's Central European missile defense system will come about.

Unlike the Munich Agreement in 1938, where neither the Czech government or Parliament was consulted, these votes on the radar agreement symbolize the nation's representatives last chance to claim Czech sovereignty before being made into a defacto American military colony.

We can only hope that the tragedies of 1848, 1938, and 1968 are avoided by the People's last resort against a government willing to sell out the entire nation. For rather than an overhaul of national sovereignty, if the votes come out NAY, 2008 could be as symbolic as the declarations of independence and liberty in 1918 and 1989. Now, is the decisive time.

Congress Passes Radar Agreement

Today, Congress ratified a bill establishing an anti-missile defense shield in Central Europe. The $465 million bill will place a radar defense system in the Czech Republic along with 10 anti-missile rockets in Poland, only over 100 miles from the Russian border. Despite strong opposition in Central Europe with over 70 percent of the home countries opposing a radar and missile system, the three governments have worked out the plan secretly for years. While the Czech Republic and Poland have yet to have their Parliaments ratify the treaties, it appears likely that both will.