Russia: Poland risks attack due to U.S. missiles

Russia will NOT let it be known, their intentions!

I agree with you M.White Bear, they have just guaranteed extermination.If I were the Polish leader I would not be so stupid, America is holding on to what was and no longer exists, that's power, empire's come and go and that is the true fact they no longer have power economically and militarily.Rome was mighty and it fell America was, but is no longer.So what I am trying to say is that if I were to sign a deal with anyone it would be China or Russia.When the Polish leader says that their safety is guaranteed because of the deal with America, I think he is dillusional.Russia just attacked Georgia because their leader there was dillusional as well and what did America do to help them as their strong ally, nothing, nothing because America will not risk being humiliated by the Russians and one more thing Russia's has China as an ally and much more other countries than what the media would like us to believe, America won't risk that they have to salvage what ever little pride they have left.I feel sorry for the Polish people, and also sorry for the american soldiers, people and their reputation who are dying everyday because of mad leaders.We do not missiles or wars all we need to do is talk to one another, and not bully one another as parents we are trying to stop bullying at schools, but now how do you stop grown up bullies to have peace in this planet?

Poland is used to getting erased from existence. Happens about every 50 years or so.

Poland, today, has a very sound and experienced military ready to defend itself. The missles and radar component in Czech is for all of Europe, not just Poland.

A country will try to go in and smash the country of Poland?

What?! That will NEVER happen! Start World War III?! NOT!

Most on this threads posters are TOOLS, and little ones at that!

Russia will not invade another country after this Georgia crisis, mark my words!

Half the world Bitches about the USA policing it, the other half calls us in!

Russia is nothing but a pack of wannabee world leaders. WAKE UP, that time is gone!

It's China and USA now. China does not share the Russian views, except for the basic principles of communism.

You are comparing Rome to America? Pure ignorance, I'm sorry. The US cannot realistically be the super dominant economic power forever because the only way to do that would be to actively suppress others and that simply is not what America is about.

You have to be delusional if you think Russia and China are allied. They can't stand each other.I lived in the Peoples republic for a year, and the only reason they deal with Russia is for economic reasons. It has been well known that if Putin and Medvedev were in power there would be issues. Paranoia in the Ex Soviet Union runs deep, and while they have a large army their technology is something less than ours. There are other powers in the region that would love to see the Russians attempt a land war,(Chechyens) to give them opportunity to get a leg up as it were. Personally I think the Russians are going to rattle their sabres a lot. Eventually they will back down. There is too much at stake for them to attempt to lure Nato and the United States into a war.

Oh this makes me sad. Poland is most definitely not dumb for wanting to defend itself. When you're talking about the lives of millions of people, it's shocking to hear you be so cavalier about their deaths and even call it a Polish joke. These people have been through so much oppostion, they've been conquered so many time- directly because of their geographical location. They mind their own business, and their history is heartbreaking. I lived there for a time and loved every minute of it. The things they are still facing today as a result of being under communism and every other war they've had to overcome are unimaginable. They are ready to try and take some matters into their own hands, defend themselves, build up allies, and spend money on military. And I for one, hope they succeed. Russians have been acting like the playground bully for too long. These people deserve their security.

To Lindsey12, it makes me sad too. Poland is not dumb for wanting to defend themselves. But trying to infuriate the Russians is not really a smart move.
How would America feel about Russian missile's in Quebec or Haiti or The Bahamas.
Europe and NATO are not going to come to their defense.
I'm not being cavalier about Poles being killed or Russians or Americans being killed. But this partnership could be regarded as suicidal for Poland. Problem is a lot of other people will suffer also, and it is all because of a madman in Washington D.C. using Poland to his own desires of a scorched -earth policy.

Russia is a bully but do you really think this situation will improve things, or just make the world a more dangerous place, think about your answer, world peace is at stake.

That was a major back-pedal BEAR! We would not let Russia put any missiles close to the USA, they would be blocked from making the move (however that would need to be done).

NATO can't protect anyone now anyway, they showed that over the course of the past 10yrs or so.

Russia is backed into a corner without any place to go AND it's losing backers. They need to take a CHILL-PILL and stop harassing other countries.

The USA goes where it is asked to go, except for this most recent fiasco fueled by lies form our now FEARLESS LEADER.

I definitely see your point, Bear. I don't think they're trying to infuriate the Russians, though, I just think they're scared and looking to help themselves before it's too late. The timing is awful, as Russia looks like they're panicking and might be ready to go to any kind of crazy lengths to feel dominant again.

As for it being suicidal... it's a really hard question. In their situation, the two alternatives would be to align themselves with the US at the risk of pissing off the Russians, or wait and hope the Russians never come back for them. I can see either option being seen as "suicidal", but if I were them, I think I'd place my bet with the US.

World peace is definitely at stake. It always will be. I don't believe it'll ever be achieved with some leaders of the world today. So many just want power- and won't be happy until they've achieved world domination. I don't know if this will make the world more dangerous or more safe. Depends which side you're on, I guess. On our side, we think the world would be safe without these dictators, and scary regimes. They think the world would be better off if there were no democracies. We have to do our part to protect our way of life. Letting the bully do what it wants will keep us from getting a bloody nose, but I would rather get a bloody nose than let him pick on the small kid in class. It's just the right thing to do. I obviously disagree with you about the motives of the man running our country, and that's fine, we can have our differences. The question is really about whether or not we should try to stand up to Russia and whether the world will be safer or not because of our actions. It's a tough question!

Or it's a really dumb move by Poland since Russia vowed to attack sooner rather than later. The US is in no position to help militarily and Poland would be run over by the Russian Army. Just ask the Georgians how the "private assurances" by Bush to protect them worked out.

BTW - Does it bother you that McCain's top foreign policy adviser is a paid lobbyist for the Georgian government? Do you think our foreign policy should be based on what is good for America or what is good for insider's pocketbook?

Tappy;

Russia is full crap, too! They are a fraction of the power they once were and would not stand a chance in HELL.

Tappy;

Russia is full crap, too! They are a fraction of the power they once were and would not stand a chance in HELL.

No one cares about the combatants or the armored trucks, it's the Nuclear Bomb that's the problem, and If i remember right they invented the game Russian Roulette? I think Russians are suicidal and craaaaaaaaaaaaazy!!!!

See all this is nonsense all the west had to do was involve them more deeply into the "society"

Russia is like an ex convict released into the society but not absorbed into the society, you know what happens right? They either destroy the society or go back to jail. The only problem now is that the society is like Gotham city in batman, the corrupt people who run the office and Russia is the Joker... we need batman, and USA is definitely not BATMAN, it's more like 2face (quite literal considering their hypocrisy)

Go ahead neocons, go to war. Let's see you guys start recruiting! By the way do any of these idiots realize that Russia has extremely large oil reserves? What do you think will happen to the price of oil if we attack Russia? We already are stretched way too thin thanks to Bush, and we can't do a damn thing about Georgia except talk. Putin and his friends know this, and are exploiting our weakness and magnifying their strength. If we hadn't gone to Iraq, and weakened our military as well as our financial position, Russia wouldn't dare do such a thing. Now who's next? China in 2009 (post olympics) taking Taiwan? Syria invading Golan Heights? North Korea starting trouble with South Korea? Pakistan continuing to give refuge to the Taliban? Venezuela...? All of these countries may become emboldened by the short-sighted foolishness of the neocons. Sew the wind...reap the whirlwind! I pray that cooler heads will prevail.

Cuba is less than 100 miles off our shore. Also, that period in history is when the Soviets were very aggressive in taking over sovereign nations.

rob-bot214

Are you really comparing the placement of offensive missiles by the soviets in Cuba to defensive missiles in Poland now by the US?

Wow, I really weep for our future when people believe this kind of crap.

We don't need to put missiles in Poland to attack Russia. That is the biggest difference here. We can wipe out the Soviets by pushing a button to launch missiles here in the US. The Soviets can wipe us out by pushing a button on their end.

Russia has had a hard time recovering from their failed experiment of communism. We should partner with them to help. However, they have shown they are a little too proud and are attempting to demonstrate they are still relevant (Which they are, they don't need to attack Poland or Georgia to prove it).

The Russians are proud and highly-intelligent group of citizens. Putin is attempting to show they are no pushovers. This is how wars get started. No one wants a war between the US and Russia. Whomever wins, we all lose no matter what.

Jay

Chris-A
Georgia shares a 400 -mile long border with Russia, and we are in a period of history when the USA is looking to place military bases in - and form military alliances with all of Russia's neighbors. We would never stand for Russia doing this in the Caribbean or South America. Look how angry we are because Chavez of Venezuela dares to have friendly relations with our tiny enemy Cuba, and there aren't even any weapons involved.

I understand that but Russia is the aggressor. It would be like us attacking Mexico and having another nation place defense systems there to protect it.

I have heard that Hugo Chavez has offered the Russians to place missiles in Venezuela. Venezuela is a Western democracy, like Poland, and thus has the same rights. What if Russia follows up on the Chavez' offer? Should America allow this happen? This post Cold War world is really beginning to rot! The former Communist powers are becoming economic superpowers. The satellite countries of Russia continue to be threatened. Russia may have changed her name, but her stripes remain the same! The UN must call on Russia to either change, or the Cold War II will go on! I fear that the European Union has sold its soul to Putin, in exchange for abundant energy supplies.

There is a split in Georgia between those who want to remain friendly to Russia and those seeking close ties with the US. Russia claims their faction is being attacked by the central government of Georgia and has moved to protect them. Whether this is true or not, we have provoked the situation by encouraging all the former Soviet countries, the "-stans", to join alliances like NATO, thereby making Russia feel insecure and threatened, just as we would if the situation were reversed.

"Also, that period in history is when the Soviets were very aggressive in taking over sovereign nations."

Not like America at all in Iraq eh? Or Senator McCain promising "more wars."

Repeat after President Bush... "We have no evidence that Iraq was involved in 9/11."

Tappy, we don't have proof that Iraq had anything to do with 9/11, but they were in violation of their surrender terms when we kicked them out of Kuwait.

I can't believe so many US citizen back the Russian and not the US. It's a joke. I guess they want to be killed in the future if they speak out about the government.

Ohh... Tappy nice racist name, are you racist against Irish.

Whatever... It will never change, that is until someone gets fed up and hits the button. I've listen to all this crap for my short 40 years and I'm sick of it. Either throw down or STFU so we can move on...

Myself, I think I am ready for the big ole button to be pressed..

I thought the main reason we went to Iraq was because of their Weapons of Mass Destruction...

I don't like to think on this, I don't like it that my parents have to think on this, them being the ones who had to go through this communism. My grandpa had to go fight through WW2 on the side of the U.S.S.R. and yet he was still imprisoned and tortured for being a pastor later, with the rest of his family being bullied and stripped of any privileges a normal 'citizen' would have. Amazing he's still alive past 90.

I am really starting to feel sick.

The US had the legal right to invade Iraq because of previous legal agreements, because of UN resolution enforcement, and because Saddam was out of his mind. Did we have to? Probably not, I think the political pressure being placed on Iraq before the invasion could have succeeded if given more time.

Russia is a different story. I would say that if Georgia attacked Russian peacekeepers then Russia had the right to defend them. The problem is Russia went to far, they were trying to use Georgia as an example of their return as a world super power and to basically challenge the United States' will to defend a small ally in the region. Too bad this plan is backfiring, and now threats against Poland? Bad move.

Read the book --Treachery: how Americas friends and foes are secretly arming our enemies by Bill Gertz. This recent book talks about members of the UN security council allowing their governments and arms production companies to sell advanced weapons technology to rouge nations in violation of international non-proliferation agreements. Saddams Iraq was buying weapons with the "oil for food" humanitarian program established by the UN prior to the Invasion in 2003. France, Germany, Russia, China, and Ukraine all guilty.

There were plenty of reasons to oust Saddam and do it without UN security council approval. The "Bush doctrine" in the era of state sponsored terror: "If you allow terrorists to train on your soil, give them safe haven, arm them...Then that is JUST LIKE YOUR COUNTRY ATTACKING A SOVERIEGN NATION." Libya appeared to get the message. Iran is still playing the terror game. Look for consequences in the near future.

The USA and allies don't field covert armies of terrorists. They try to work within international law and the rules of war. Terrorists can't sign peace treaties like those that ended WWI and WWII. A new era of war exists with modern technology. Obama is very idealistic. We all wish the world wasn't as dangerous as it is today. Wishful thinking is not as useful to survival and preservation of freedom as realistic informed thinking.

Putin is dangerous. He seeks to control the energy supplies for Europe in order to strangle those countries economically. Informed people read all they can about the man and his plans for the Future. You won't find the information on the "dumbed down, sound bite" news of television.

Energy independece is key to security. Oil is a STRATEGIC COMMODITY right now. Wind, solar, and coal can generate electricity. Until cars and trucks are made to be "multi fuel use", petroleum products are stilll necessary. That is where technological improvements must be made.

Poland is wanting to install a missle DEFENSE system. That is not the same as an OFFENSE system which the Russians are claiming. Maybe Putin is afraid of an invasion of Russia in order to grab thier oil and gas resources. Last time I looked, Pland, Lithauania, Latvia, Chech Republic, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, were all free nations. What is happening in Russia today.

Actually the facts are the Soviets were placing the missiles in Cuba because the U.S. had already placed missiles in Turkey aimed at the USSR. The reason that JFK was able to reverse the Soviets decision was that he agreed to remove our missiles, which he did. None of that would have happened had we not been the first aggressors. The same thing is happening now in Poland. We are acting in an aggressive manner. It's like a dare for them to react, which as history shows they will. Why make a combustible situation even more inflammatory. Is arming every country we can get to making any of us safer? No, in fact it puts the entire world in danger. What a bunch of fools our leaders are.

jlw-374353
Perfectly said.

The point is that its still a deterrent even if it isn't completely functional. It will still cause a lot of damage.

Do you really believe that? The public is naive to believe that governments in general share what is and was is not operational. I mean its not like either government in the past has hid anything from the public when it comes to military defense, now have they? .... People would be surprised of the capabilities I think.

Excuse me! Who always wants to fight? Bush, Cheney, McCain maybe?!!!!!!!!

If I remember correctly we were attacked then we responded. Russia is on the attack here.

We were NOT attacked by Iraq. Obviously, you don't remember correctly!

Not directly but the terrorists they gave safe haven to attacked us.

Wrong again! The terrorists were Saudi's. Iraq had NOTHING to do with it. Please quit spreading these rightwing lies.

Krzywchd, you put a very interesting question! This is a "border paranoia" that is in the Russian psyche. Russia's borders are huge. Russia needs a psychologist! The best psychologists in the world should descend on Russia, and exorcise this ghost! Many of you may not know, but the "border paranoia" ghost has been immortalized by the Russian poet, Alexandr Sergeyevich Pushkin in a little known, but intensely famous in Russia, poem "The sail." My time is short to reproduce it in Russian, but the three four-line stanza poem answers this (krzywchd's) very question: "Why is Russia always wanting to fight?"! I knew the answer for decades, and I have occasionally shared it with the Americans, but my theory was ignored. The answer is spread masterfully across the three stanzas. In the first stanza, the question is raised, "what is the Russian soul seeking in its border areas, behind the borders, given that happiness is inside, not outside." In the second stanza, the greatest poet of Russia hints, that there must be trouble in the soul." And, in the last stanza, the poet openly laments this "border paranoia": "Why seek peace in storms, why ask for peace in storms far away ... when the happiness is inside"? Until this ghost is somehow exorcised with the help of the world, I do not believe that Russia will ever be ready for Democracy!

Linda,

The USA went to war against Iraq,

First time because they invaded Kuwait.

Second time because congress approved it.

After violating numerous United Nations regulations and ignoring warnings.

After trying to have GW Bush Sr killed.

After supporting terrorist by paying bombers families $25,000.00 for terrorist acts all over the world.

Guess you forget this.

Your hero Bill Clinton did nothing when USA assets were bombed and US troops were killed. He sat on his hands when he had the chance to kill Osama Bin Laden for his involvement in the bombing of the World Trade Center. Guess he was too busy getting a BJ from M Lewinsky and renting out bedrooms in the White House. Or covering up how his lawyer was killed, prior to his testifying on White Water.

After violating numerous United Nations regulations and ignoring warnings.

You mean USA violated the UN and went in alone?

After trying to have GW Bush Sr killed.

HUH?

After supporting terrorist by paying bombers families $25,000.00 for terrorist acts all over the world.

You mean the way USA supported The Talibans in the Afghan war with Russia?

No, all it has done is given the Russians reason to embrace Venezuela and Cuba to host Russian missile bases and point fingers to USA saying "Huh? It's for our security from you and well out insurance policy says its a must"...

Actually that isn't far from a real possibility.

The answer to that I hope we never have to find out.

Excuse me, but what's the difference? USA thinks in can do anynithing, but Russia is not allowed? Are you guys nuts? Wake up, the dream is over. USA is one big aggressor nowdays. USA is after other contries oil. Russia has all it needs to grow and prosper.

RussianCanadian,

"USA is one big aggressor nowdays."??????

Two hundred USA troops were killed in Beirut by Hamas - nothing done.

US Embassy personnel held hostage in Iran over a year - nothing done.

Iraq invaded Kuwait - UN & USA push Iraq troops back into Iraq. We stopped a border.

US Embassies bombed - nothing done.

US troops bombed/killed in Saudi - nothing done.

US Cole bombed & troops killed - nothing done.

USA troops were killed in Mogadishu - nothing done.

World Trade Center bombed - nothing done.

Twin Towers destroyed - After Congress voted to go to war -USA invaded Iraq & Afghanistan.

Remember last August Russia planted it's flag on the sea floor beneath the North Pole and claimed all the oil, natural gas, and natural resources in the Arctic Circle.

What is Russia going to do when the USA starts drilling for oil and natural gas in ANRW?

They tried that already. The Cuban Missile Crisis.

Except is wasn't a defensive missile deployment. It was offensive.

The USA second-tier world power???

The only nation in the world that has the ability to project air-power, sea-power, and place troops on the ground, anywhere in the world. Not going to talk subs or missiles..

No other nation can come close, even now. When we are fighting two wars on different fronts. Our air power alone can bring almost any nation to its knees, not resorting to nuclear bombs.

China has no ability to deploy troops, outside of its borders. Few fighters or the ability to refuel them in air. Though they do have the majority of diesel powered missile subs, in the world.

Russia only has limited ability to project troops or air-power. They would resort to nuclear weapons from their subs and ICBMs. They have the majority of the tanks in the world.

England, France, Germany, all have nothing close. So, who is going to be this first-tier world power?

AC Robertson-
You and others here keep talking about U.S. being in power and so on and so forth. I am not talking about money, even though eventually it will be in money. I am talking about human life. How many of our people died in Iraq, Afghanistan and other military conflicts. How many more will need to die or get injured? The problem is that by killing a person- you affect his current and future families. This makes our nation unhealthy morally dead and financially. And for what?
Do you think our president and his team care? None of their friends and families are at risk, so they think we are all expendable, collateral damage, and again, for what? Whose benefit? Is there a direct or indirect threat? Do you really think Iran or N. Korea will attack anybody? They just want to be left alone and governed as they want. Everything comes to an end. Hussein would have died, and if people really wanted to- there would have been a successful attempt and he would have been dead. All regimes fall. It is up to the people of that country to decide what they want for themselves. That is why Russia never officially declared their acceptance of independence by S. Osetia and Abkhaziya, because they wanted for Georgia and those regions to decide between themselves. But U.S. has to get into every body's business claiming democracy. Whose democracy and at what expense? Some people had lived with certain regimes for 3-4 centuries, and we decide they need democracy? Do you really think that U.S. has a democracy?

AC... I appreciate your incredulity, and you make good points.

However... I would simply note that every nation you listed in your reply was once the single dominating world power. Somehow they moved out of that position.

In our case, a combination of having a weak, oil-dependent, trade-imbalanced economy where we have offshored much or even most of our manufacturing capacity, in some specific industries ALL of it, with a military force that can win nuclear exchanges but will lose any other kind of conflict in the long haul, could be the end of our reign.

I apologize for all the generalities in that last statement, but I think the general cases are true. It's Friday night and I am going to do other things.

Best,
-Wexler

The US's plan ever since WWII was to use tactical nukes in any large scale war. That's why we didn't spend as much on the military as the Soviet Union did during the Cold War.

And once we get get someone in the White House who sees this so called "Free Trade" as a HORRIBLE mistake we'll be fine again...the problem is getting through until next election. ;-)

Wexler & Oanillusion,

Yes the USA is presently too dependent on outside sources of energy. But there has been a longstanding view, that it is better to use the other guys energy first keeping ours in the ground. Why do you think the NIMBY & Conservationist have been getting away with blocking the energy development in the USA.

But people are not talking about the drilling that is coming on line now. In the Gulf coast Thunder Horse (BP&XOM) the largest oil platform in the world just came on line after six+ years. It can supply 0.1% of the USA needs in one day, 250,000 barrels of oil plus natural gas. It's sister platform is almost ready to be placed in position. Also look @ the number of old wells that have been capped for years are not being reopened. People are becoming more worried about oil that the spotted owl and other things

Iraq is the number 6 importer of oil to the USA now. Iraq gives the USA access to one of the largest proven oil fields in the world. IMO oil is why we went into Iraq, maybe they will pay the USA back like Kuwait did after the first Iraq war.

Offshore the USA has 150+ million billion cubic feet of natural gas proven to be there 50 years ago. AMWR is still there unless Russia gets there first. Oil shale in the western USA, coal in the Blue Ridge Mts, etc.

If you look at the industries that have been going overseas. A lot of them were the heavy polluters. The new technologies are still here in the USA. Look at Japan after WWII, we rebuilt their steel industry. Then all our old style steel smelters went out of business, you think that was a accident. Ha! Ha! Same with China & India, look at what their pollution problems are. You want that industry base to be back in the USA????

The USA military can project force without relying on nuclear bombs. Russia can not. The same with Iran, N Korea, China, etc they would all go to nuclear bombs. That is why we are trying to keep them away from nuclear development.

There would be no winners in a nuclear exchange between Russia and the USA. The other countries might get one or two off, but hopefully the USA would not use nuclear in return. Are you willing to let several atomic bombs hit the USA? IMO it is going to happen, when these countries get the ability to deliver. Just the threat of a dirty bomb makes most people run and hide. Ha! Ha!

Here is my view on world developments. Russia is doing a energy grab now and developing their vast natural resources. They are going to rule the EU through the control of natural gas & oil supplies in the near future (10-50 years). If Russia develops the Arctic Circle things are going to get real interesting.

China after they develop their resources and pollution problems are going to be the next world power. But still 50 to 100 years out. They presently have the most diesel powered missile subs in the world. Diesel/battery powered subs are harder to detect that nuclear subs. Place one or several off the US coast and threaten to fire a atomic missile. We could not stop them.

The wild cards are going to be the food and water supplies. When the population get hungry, things happen.

Put this is just my view, you'al have a good weekend.

Big diff between OFFENSIVE weapons and DEFENSIVE weapons.

Sometimes I wonder if people read anything or just see the word missile and go wacko.

Russia is jealous that it's former satellites aren't cowering at their doorstep.

The difference between an offensive weapon and a defensive weapon is who writes the history books. In Cuba the Soviets believed their missiles were defensive against what they saw as a threat by the US to invade the island. Of course, we did try (Bay of Pigs) and failed.

A weapon system on your border is a threat. Just because President Bush promises not to use it, doesn't remove that threat. Do you believe everything the President says?

Exactly right! When has Bush ever told the truth about anything? Never! He is totally untrustworthy....just like the Russians. Not a dimes worth of difference.

I dont't trust ANYTHING Bush and Company say and I''m an American!

How sad is that?

The U.S. faced offensive nuclear weapons in Cuba. Russia is facing weapons designed to help stop an attack. Russia should only be worried if they were actually planning offensive actions. Since they did invade Georgia, it is obvious they are the aggressors in the conflict. Any nation near Russia should be worried that they may be next.

It's only a handful of pip-squeaks with delusions of grandeur who equate U.S. material support in defense of Poland as offensive. Thankfully, adults are in charge.

Linda,

The US response to the Cuba Missile Crisis was a blockade. We did not bomb Cuba or even support the invasion of Cuba during the Bay of Pigs. Guess you forgot that, selective memory in action.

There is a very large difference between defensive missiles and offensive missiles tipped with nuclear bombs. Selective knowledge, Ha! Ha!

WAKE UP! NO one is talking about putting nukes next to Russia! These are missile that intended to shoot down other missiles, not attack targets, and certainly not to deploy nukes! UGGGHH.

And what proof do you have that the US won't put nukes in Poland? Are we just to take your word for it? Or Bush's word? I suppose we can all sleep better at night since you obviously have oversight over what weapons the US ships and where. Gotta love you internet battlefield commanders.

We threaten Iran and propose a nuclear first strike to prevent them from obtaining nukes, yet Russians gets scorned because they threaten a first strike against the site where US intends to put missiles. What's wrong with this picture? Last I checked, Poland is a lot closer to Russia than Iran is to the United States. You can claim it to be a defensive system all you want, but you or anybody else posting here cannot prove or promise that one or two offensive missiles won't 'accidently' happen to reach Poland. I can see the healines now:

Bush: "Oops. We shipped the wrong weapons."

Seriously......where is the common sense on this board?

We parade around the world thinking we can do whatever we want whenever we want, all in the name of democracy, and act as if nobody else has the right to question it.

I love my country, but Russians have the right to be pissed off about this situation.

"Internet battlefield commanders"? Whatever that means. Russia isnt even worried about us launching weapons into their country (we can do that already), they are worried that we will be able to shoot down their missiles should they choose to attack Europe. That is the bottom line, and that is why they care so much about it.

Why would we need to put nukes in Poland. Hello the US has warheads that can travel around the world. DUH

and AC Robertson.....the CIA trained those involved with the Bay of Pigs invasion. They provided the weapons and (bad) training, and the plan was not about Russia, it was to assassinate Castro

and there IS a difference between a defensive missile shield and an offensive missile grid (this one supposedly being the first). But how can Russia even be certain it is defensive? I mean I would be a bit uneasy about it too, however with technology these days, all of our nukes are attached to long range missiles and are sitting underground out in Wyoming, so it should be the least of their worries.

I Have Not Creativity :(,

Yes you are right about the training authorized by Dwight D Eisenhower. But when it came down to the invasion JF Kennedy turned his back and would not authorise the naval support. So the troops/liberty invaders were sacrificed due to politics. Just another fine Democratic president, may he rot in hell

The USA nukes you have to worry about are in the boomers. They are everywhere, everywhere. Ha! Ha!

What happened in 1983??

Hey Tyler, since you seem to know, what exactly did this administration, fox, and republicans have to do with this crisis other than trying to put up a defensive missle shield? The only thing I can think of is free enterprise which broke the USSR and now those leaders are angry. And that wasn't even this administration.
BTW, what did happen in 1983? (born in '90)

I turned 18 and I thought I could change the world by having the right to vote. The events in Iraq gives the Russians an excuse for anything.

Not 18 yet, when did I say I would change the world? (Though that is something I'll keep in mind)

You gave a pretty lame comeback there, as in attacking my age, and you didn't even answer my question. Didn't even make a worthwhile attempt at continuing debate. That must mean you got beat by me in this debate. That's a shame, I thought older people were supposed to be smarter.

No one will win in another war, Einstein said it well, "Of what weapons World War III will be fought, I do not know. However World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones".

Guess you do not know your geography, we are protecting USA plus NATO & the EU. Any missiles fired from Iran to hit the USA will fly across Georgia and the Arctic.

No missile fired from Iran could ever hit the U.S. They don't have them. They don't even have a space program. Therefore, there is no reason to think they could develop them anytime soon. Not to mention, they don't have the technology to aim a missile to hit America. They do have missiles that can hit Israel and may have missiles in the next few years that can hit Europe, but not America. Not now, not in the foreseeable future.

ICBMs, as it turns out, involve a little...LOT more than attaching some rocket fuel to the azz end of a bomb.

You need to read a little more international news. A missle program does not require a space program, for one. For two, the Iranians have been developing advanced weaponry for years. Currently they claim ranges of just short of 1500 miles. Good enough to hit Israel, and they have made no secret that they are continuuing to work on the range issues. They are known to be sharing technology with the North Koreans, who have a missles of like ranges, and claim to be able to hit the US proper, oh, they don't have a "space program" either.

Funny how we are paying and protecting EU and NATO and everybody else, but they don't ask to be protected, don't show that they are afraid of anybody, and don't do anything. But we are still going to pay for it and protect them. I think if we would've given half of the money we are waisting on building and protecting to those countries that we are afraid, they'll forget about this part of the world.

We had a military base in Saudi Arabia, thats why Bin Laden attacked us, it was subsequently closed

For technological reasons, you need your defensive weapons "down range" to be able to compute and adjust for range, speed and trajectory. Poland is strategically placed to be able to launch against ballistic missiles overflying the north pole. You also don't want to shoot one of these things down over populated areas for obvious reasons. Additionally, the Russian strategy is mostly one of pre-emption, hit them before they can hit you. With a functioning system in place. it would be very difficult for trhe Russians to take advantage of any obvert act against the United States with their own systems. Which I have no doubt at this point they would attempt.

How was Georgia the aggressor in their own country? They may have attacked a people that were very close with Russia, but they were still part of Georgia. And how in the world does going into the part of Georgia that is not close with Russia acceptable. Russia didn't only attack with superior force, but with excessive force. If the USA did the same to a different country, half the world would have their guns pointed at us, probably your own to if you own one (though that seems highly unlikely). That is especially if we sent in that many troops. People with a liberal ideology seem to love warmongering when its between the two parties, plus the independents.

How was Georgia the aggressor in their own country?

They attacked and killed the Russian peacekeepers (appointed by the UN) too.

Yeah, but just like most any war, civilians and others will be killed.

I am 100% sure they didn't go in and say, "Oh hey look, a peacekeeper, lets go kill 'em all! Yeah! That sounds like fun! I'm sure the rest of the world will love us for that! Especially Russia!"

You don't seriously believe that, do you?

Yeah, but just like most any war, civilians and others will be killed.

I am 100% sure they didn't go in and say, "Oh hey look, a peacekeeper, lets go kill 'em all! Yeah! That sounds like fun! I'm sure the rest of the world will love us for that! Especially Russia!"

You don't seriously believe that, do you?

Well that leaves room for interpretation, your assumption is based on the fact that it wasn't Georgia's plan to kill the Russian's peacekeeper and i respect it, but my opinion is that it was their plan to attack the Russian peacekeepers, considering they bombed the peacekeepers bases

Well said, don't know what to answer to that other than I still find it hard to believe they would do that. From what I read though, it said it was a 'Georgian shelling', so maybe it could have been an unintended target. The Georgians also claimed that the Russians were helping the rebels so I guess from the Georgians point of view that would have given them ample cause anyway. Of course no one can know for sure.

"The US and and our allies in Europe desperately need to have a missile defense system for their protection from military action from terrorist countries. I'm not saying Russia is a terrorist country, although I believe she could very possibly be doing business with terrorist countries."

Which terrorist countries will this missle shield protect us from?

Read post 18.1, its not a list but still a pretty good answer.

It was not another country. So are you saying you would rather have Russia as the world police? That seems a bit like a double standard to me...

Lets see, if China attacked its own people (Like in the Tibetan or whatever case), that means we should go there right now and free those people and go through half of China while were at it just because of that. And while were at that, lets destroy their bases and many civilians and loot their villages. What in the world are you thinking!?!

If the good people of the USA were to stop providing you know there would be starvation, dehydration, lessened disease control, many more unschooled children worldwide, along with many other problems. If the people of the USA want to be happy giving their stuff and services away, let them.

And for California, we probably would, but I think its a lost cause anyway. We would have to ask them if they wanted to be part of Mexico like them Georgian parts kinda wanted of Russia. And I doubt all them illegals would like the fact that they went through the trouble of the border.

BUT if USA was appointed by the UN as peacekeepers for the Tibetans, and China attacked killing US soldiers, i bet USA will respond right?

Reading post 10.6 I would have to say no actually, in a manner of war at least, depending on how many were killed. Too much is just too much of course.

As of this moment I do not think we have the numbers of Russian 'peacekeepers' killed or even in the country before the conflict. If you do know the number, please go ahead and post it. I doubt it was a really significant number.

I'm quite afraid of our own government and people. Seems to me that half of the people would still vote for Bush and his regime aka McCain. As a result- this country has been governed by the same regime for at least 12 years and controls half of the world and tries to alienate another half. Showing democracy down everybody throat, quite scary.

So you think Poland would rather go back under Russian control? Or Georgia?