This is Hilarious
Vladimir Putin said their two countries could use a radar system in Azerbaijan to develop a shield covering all of Europe, during talks at the G8 summit.
Mr Putin said the base could detect incoming missiles from so-called rogue states aimed at Europe or the US.
Russia has been critical of US plans to extend the shield into central Europe.
Mr Putin has repeatedly scoffed at US claims the defence shield is targeting rogue states, and has said Moscow may in response aim its missiles at Europe.
I love it when people who actually understand what the word diplomacy means start playing with the Bushies.
The US keeps harping about “rogue states”, read Iran, being the threat the missile defence shield is being built for. Putin has basically said, “Oh yeah? Well then do I have a deal for you! Why don’t you base your shield down close to where Iran is? I got an old base down there nobody’s using. If you’re really concerned about the non-existent Iranian ICBM’s, then it makes good sense to have the missile shield components close to where the non-existent ICBM’s would be launched from rather than sitting in northern Europe near the Russian border where they would leave most of Europe undefended from the those Iranian ICBM’s, if, you know, they had any.”
Of course, if the US is truly concerned about Iran, then this proposal is very reasonable. If, on the other hand, the US has a somewhat different target in mind regarding its missile shield, then the pretzel-twisting rhetoric we should be hearing out of Washington over the next little while should be highly amusing to watch.
Meanwhile, Russia is making good use of the “carrot and stick” approach with the EU. The stick came out earlier with the threat to retarget Europe with nukes should the US put interceptors in Poland and Czechoslovakia. The carrot is a prime site in a much more effective location if the purpose is really to deter Iran plus the promise to not retarget their missiles.
Of course the Europeans have to hope that Bush takes the carrot so they don't get hit with the stick. An effective way to caution folks about their alliances.
Either way, Putin has forced Bush to make an explicit choice and by doing so; show the real purpose behind the missile shield’s construction. Very well played.
