A network of individuals, independent and alternative media activists and organisations, offering grassroots, non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues.

The US-NATO 'Missile Shield' Programme: Timeline and Bibliographical References

Missile shields are now a major topic at the present NATO summit. Mr. Bush bangs on about a rogue nation,' seemingly unaware that most of the world think that the United States is the real 'rogue .' Mr. Bush's speech prior to the opening of the United Nations summit was a repeat not only of continued platitudes but also of many accusations made after 9/11 about Iraq - with Iran now the unjustified focus of "evil." Are Mr. Cheney, and his very own 'poodle,' Mr. Bush, pathologically focused on matters 'nuclear', and intent on a forthcoming war?

In June 2007, Index Research published US-NATO 'Missile Shield' Programme:
Index Timeline [1] . This contained information about the US_NATO missile
shield programme starting with February 2007. This was later updated to
August 2007. Continual updates to this research were then added. Ten months
later, the amount of information has become unwieldy. I thought it best, for
easier reading, to put the updates from August 2007 - April 2008 in this
separate blog.

Missile shields are now a major topic at the present NATO summit. Mr. Bush
bangs on about a rogue nation [2] ,' seemingly unaware that most of the
world think that the United States is the real '_rogue_ .' Mr. Bush's speech
[3] prior to the opening of the United Nations summit was a repeat not only
of continued platitudes but also of many accusations made after 9/11 about
Iraq - with Iran now the unjustified focus of "evil." Are Mr. Cheney, and
his very own 'poodle,' Mr. Bush, pathologically focused on matters
'nuclear', and intent on a forthcoming war?

It is unfortunate that the Czech Republic [4] is so sycophantic to the U.S.
demands for missile shield placements. A confrontation between Russia, who
feels (rightly) threatened by U.S. missile shield plans, and Mr. Bush is due
to take place on 12 April 2008 [5] .

Updates: click for entry to the period in which you are interested.
2007: August, September, October, November, December.
2008: January, February, March, April.

NEW UPDATES since publication
(_last update 05.03.08_

+

*AUGUST 2007*

*Lavrov says U.S. failed to justify Europe missile shield -1 [6] *
01.08.07. Rian.ru.

*Public opposition to U.S. missile defense plans deserves respect: Czech
president [7] *
04.08.07. Englishpeople.com.

*Russia Plans ICBM to Counter US Missile Shield [8] *
06.08.07. Spiegel/ICH. The Russian navy plans on producing a new
submarine-based missile system in 2008. It is part of a big increase in the
country's spending on research, development and procurement of weaponry,
prompting fears of a new cold war.

ISRAEL
*Israel: Missile shield before West Bank pullout [9] *
08.08.07. NBC. Barak says Israel must have a missile defense system in place
to protect it from Palestinian rocket fire before it could carry out a large
scale pullback in the West Bank, an official said Wednesday.
MEANWHILE: a (HO HO) "INVESTMENT IN PEACE" (_SIC_)
*US and Israel in $30bn arms deal [10] *
16.08.07. BBC. Olmert has said the aid will preserve his country's military
advantage over other countries in the Middle East.
the new military aid package represents a 25% increase from present levels.
U.S.: No strings attached to new defense package for Israel [11] . (_Pull
the other one?_)

*Putin increases missile defence rhetoric [12] *
12.08.07. FT - ICH. The war of words between Moscow and the west over
missile defence intensified over the weekend as Vladimir Putin, Russia's
president, declared a new radar station near St Petersburg to be "the first
step in a large-scale programme".

*US attorney general in Baghdad [13] *
12.08.07. presstv.ir. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has visited Baghdad
for talks with US and Iraqi officials on his third visit to Iraq. He was met
by US General David Petraeus, the multinational force commander in Iraq, the
US Department of Justice (DoJ) said in a statement.

ENTER CHINA
*US military sees looming China threat to satellites [14] *
14.08.07. breitbart.com. China may be just three years away from being able
to disrupt US military satellites in a regional conflict, a senior US
military leader said Tuesday, citing a recent anti-satellite test and other
advances. /The warning came amid calls at a conference in Alabama for
intensified efforts to ensure US "space superiority" in the wake of China's
shoot down January 11 of one of its own satellites with a ballistic missile.

*IRAN leader denounces U.S. missile shield plan [15] *
16.08.07. IHT.

*Russian radar site doesn't fir U.S. missile shield needs: general [16] *
16.08.07. spacewar.com. A Russian radar site in Azerbaijan is too close to
Iran to serve as a replacement for a planned US missile defense site in
eastern Europe, the chief of the US missile defense agency said Thursday. (
_closer than Israel?_

*US $30bn "Aid" to Israel [17] *
19.08.07. S. Meyer, Index Research. Did anyone notice a interesting series
of events between the US and Israel recently? Is this a coincidence? Is
there a relationship between these stories?

*

Russia: US missile shield a 'big mistake' [18] *
21.08.07. S Peck, Telegraph. Russia: US missile shield a 'big mistake' .
Russia's military chief told a Czech delegation it would be making a "big
mistake" by hosting a US missile defence shield on its soil.

*The Warfare State is Part of Us [19] *
22.08.07. Norman Solomon, Counterpunch –"ICH. How to Survive at the
Pentagon on $2 Billion a Day. We actually live in concentric spheres, and
"politics" suffuses households as well as what Martin Luther King Jr. called
"The World House." Under that heading, he wrote in 1967: "When scientific
power outruns moral power, we end up with guided missiles and misguided men.
When we foolishly minimize the internal of our lives and maximize the
external, we sign the warrant for our own day of doom. Our hope for creative
living in this world house that we have inherited lies in our ability to
re-establish the moral ends of our lives in personal character and social
justice. Without this spiritual and moral reawakening we shall destroy
ourselves in the misuse of our own instruments." –¦ What we've tolerated
has become part of us. What we accept, however reluctantly, seeps inward. In
the long run, passivity can easily ratify even what we may condemn. And
meanwhile, in the words of Thomas Merton, "It is the sane ones, the
well-adapted ones, who can without qualms and without nausea aim the
missiles and press the buttons that will initiate the great festival of
destruction that they, the sane ones, have prepared."

*Russia Talks Tough on Missile Defense [20] *
23.08.07. AP-usadaily. President Vladimir Putin's offer of cooperation with
the United States on missile defense is good only if Washington drops a plan
to deploy elements of the system in central Europe, a Russian official
emphasized Thursday.

*NATO to give Georgia access to radar data –" representative [21] *
23.08.07. globalsecurity.org

*Austrian Minister: US Missile Shield Is Provocation [22] *
23.08.07. Reuters / Truthout.

*Poll: Poles still oppose U.S. missile base [23] *
24.08.07. thestate.com. 56 percent of those questioned oppose putting the
base on Polish territory - a level of resistance that has remained fairly
steady over the past months. The poll said that 28 percent favor the plan.

*The new 'NATO of the East' takes shape [24] *
M K Bhadrakumar, Asia Times. –˜It is certainly a measure of the SCO's
success that the United States and Japan are knocking at its door, anxious
to gain "observer" status. –¦ the massive shift in the templates of
great-power politics in recent years also has provided impetus for the SCO's
growing clout. –¦ Where does the SCO fit in the "new cold war?" The
question can take different forms. A variant would be, "Is the SCO turning
into a NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization]-like military alliance? –¦
What stands to reason from the above is that the two (China, Russia)
leaderships may have for the first time discussed the common challenge
facing the two countries, emanating out of the US plans to deploy the
missile-defense systems in Central Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. –¦
Lavrov added, "We and China are analyzing the US global missile-defense
plans targeting Europe and the East."

*US missile defence shield a threat: Russia [25] *
27.08.07. peninsularqater.com

*Ten Reasons Why Russia Can't Trust Uncle Sam [26] *
26.08.07. Robert Bridge, Globalresearch.ca. The West says that it is
perplexed by Russia's "aggressive" behavior of late, and suggests that
Moscow is desirous to regain its past superpower status, and even a little
empire. But if cashing in on oil is imperialism, how do we explain the
following U.S. moves

*GUE/NGL Delegation to Greenland 27.08.2007 - 31.08.2007 [27] *
27.08.07. europeanagenda. Greenland plays an essential role in the United
States' missile shield system due to the location of a strategic American
military base near Thule in the north of Greenland

*Barak: Israel needs missile shield [28] *
28.08.07. AP - Guardian. Israel won't be able to carry out a major West Bank
pullback for 2 years because it first needs a missile defense system in
place to protect it against Palestinian rocket fire, Defense Minister Ehud
Barak told a parliamentary committee Monday.

+

SEPTEMBER 2007

_Hot Air Department _
*Palestinians whine about Israel's missile shield [29] *
02.09.07. themidnightsun. "Israel has decided to erect a missile shield.
It's about time and who would blame her for defending herself?" ( _Are not
nuclear weapons enough to 'defend' Israel, not to speak of all the 'aid'
Israel gets from the US government? _)

*Warsaw to host talks on U.S. missile shield Sep. 6-7 [30] *
04.09.07. rian.ru. The U.S. has plans to deploy interceptor missiles in
north Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic to fend off what
Washington sees as an impending missile threat from "rogue states," such as
Iran and North Korea. Russia has consistently rejected this reasoning, and
views the plans as a threat to its own national security. [ *the US is the
–œrogue state– *]

*Boeing Warns of U.S. Missile Defense Laser Delay [31] *
05.09.07. Nti.org. U.S. President George W. Bush requested $549 million in
fiscal 2008 for the Airborne Laser, which would be fired from a Boeing 747
aircraft to destroy enemy missiles during their boost phase of flight, the
Associated Press reported. The Senate and House Armed Services committees
both recommended reducing the project's funding, and the House
Appropriations Committee agreed in July to enact a $51 million cut.

*Talks on US-Poland missile shield could be completed by year-end [32] *
06.09.07. monstersandcritics.

*No Missile Deal for Putin: Bush [33] *
07.09.07. News.com. US President George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart
Vladimir Putin showed no sign of progress after talks in Sydney today to
defuse tensions over US missile defence plans that have angered Moscow.

*Schroeder calls U.S. missile plan "dangerous" [34] *
08.09.07. Reuters –" Washington Post.

*US military team set to inspect Azerbaijan radar station [35] *
08.09.07. ft.com. –¦ to inspect a radar station that Russia has proposed as
an alternative to missile defence facilities in central Europe.

*Rice to visit Israel, Palestine next week [36] *
13.09.07. earthtimes. *[whenever Rice travels, one can look for what is
tinkling in back pocket?]*

*Senate to call Boeing's 2009 raygun nuke-zap bluff? [37] *
14.09.07. theregister.co.uk. It seems that the ground-based mid-course
defence layer of the proposed American missile shield will not get the money
requested by the Bush administration. In particular, the draft Senate bill
will cut appropriations for planned interceptor and radar sites in Eastern
Europe. –¦ What hasn't yet been shown is the feasibility of making a
missile explode by lighting it up with a raygun, let alone a raygun that has
to fit in a plane. But Boeing, leaders of the Airborne Laser (ABL)
programme, have their modified jumbo jet all ready to go. They also claim
successful ground tests of the necessary laser machinery. The firm recently
swore blind that if they got the full budget request, they'd blast a missile
using ABL in 2009. (They said 2005 last time, in 2002.)

*U.S. lawmaker sees missile defense system as part of NATO [38] *
15.09.07. englishpeople. The missile defense system must be fully
incorporated in NATO and it must protect not only the United States but also
the whole of Europe, U.S. Democrat Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher told a press
conference in Prague on Friday. [ *Tsk. Tauscher should know better! *]

*Left party leaders rap US plan for missile shield [39] *
15.09.07. pehninsulaqatar. –˜Left-wing' leaders [ie socialists] from six
central European countries condemned US moves to site a missile defence
system in the Czech Republic and Poland in a joint declaration adopted
yesterday. "We are concerned about the decision to deploy the system and are
at one with the large majority of our populations in rejecting it," said the
statement, signed by Social Democratic party leaders from the Czech
Republic, Austria, Germany, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

*Poland says no decision on U.S. anti-missile shield [40] *
24.09.07. tehrantimes.

*Spying claim row on US missile shield [41] *
26.09.07. theherald.co.uk. Russia's Foreign Minister said yesterday that the
true reason the US wants an anti-missile system in Eastern Europe is not to
defend Europe from Iranian missiles but to spy on Russia.

*Russia promises retaliation if weapons deployed in space [42] * :
27.09.07. rian.ru / ICH. "Should any country deploy weapons in space, then
the laws of armed warfare are such that retaliatory weapons are certain to
appear," Col. Gen. Vladimir Popovkin said.
*U.S. Missile Defenses in Europe Could Undermine Russian Nuclear Deterrent,
Physicists Say [43] *
27.09.07. NTI.

*Physicists Question US on Missile Plan [44] *
27.09.07. sfgate. A number of top U.S-based physicists have concluded the
United States used inaccurate claims to reassure NATO allies about U.S.
missile defense plans in Eastern Europe. They say the planned Polish-based
interceptors and a radar system in the Czech Republic could target and catch
Russian missiles, thus threatening Russia's nuclear deterrent. That view
supports Russia's criticism of the system.

*Congressional Budget Cuts no Barrier to European Missile Defense Plans,
U.S. General Says [45] *
28.09.07. Nti. The head of the U.S. missile defense agency said fiscal 2008
budget cuts proposed in Congress could slow but not stop the Bush
administration's efforts to deploy missile defense elements in Europe,
Inside Missile Defense reported Wednesday

*U.S. carries out successful missile defense test [46] *
28.09.07. Reuters. A U.S. interceptor missile on Friday shot down a dummy
warhead replicating an incoming North Korean missile in the 7th successful
test of Boeing Co's long rang missile shield, the Pentagon said.

*Russia wants global pact to outlaw weapons deployment in space [47] *
30.09.07. economictimes.

+

OCTOBER 2007

*Missile Defense System Is Up and Running, Military Says [48] *
02.10.07. T. Shanker, NY Times. After a successful test last week, the
tracking radars and interceptor rockets of a new American missile defense
system can be turned on at any time to respond to an emerging crisis in
Asia, senior military officers said Tuesday.

*Bahrain sets up missile shield [49] *
04.10.07. presstv. Bahrain has set up a new radar system as part of a
missile shield to protect the Persian Gulf littoral state against possible
attacks.

Bahrain has set up a new radar system as part of a missile shield to protect
the Persian Gulf littoral state against possible attacks.

*US offers joint missile shield [50] *
06.10.07 presstv.ir. The US offers Russia to set up a joint missile defense
system to allay Moscow's concerns about US plans to deploy the shield in
Europe. [ _Really? _]

*Czech FM: U.S. has final say on launch of interceptor missiles [51] *
08.10.07. Xinhuanet. Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said on
Sunday the United States would have the final say on launching interceptor
missiles from eastern Europe to protect against attacks on Europe or the
United States.

*Missile defence to reduce number of nuclear weapons -- Wolfowitz [52] *
08.10.07. ceskenoviny.cz. Missile defence, including the possible U.S. radar
base near Prague, should help reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the
world, Paul Wolfowitz,former World Bank head and formerU.S. deputy secretary
of defense, told CTK during the Forum 2000 conference in Prague today. [*1.
For what organisation / for whom, officially, is Wolfowitz speaking? 2.
Nuclear weapons are illegal and should have already been dismanted,
according to the non-proliferation treaty. *

*INTERVIEW-Lockheed sees missile-shield sales [53] *
09.10.07. reuters. ISRAEL (sic) and a number of other countries are in talks
with the United States about buying a new Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N:
Quote, Profile, Research) missile defense system even though flight testing
is still in its early stages, company executives told Reuters on Tuesday.

*Is Menwith Hill and the UK to be possible site for missiles and X-band
radars? [54] *
09.10.07. According to the Mail on Sunday the government is in secret talks
to allow George W Bush's controversial "son-of-Star Wars" Missile Defense
system to be based in Britain (06 October 2007). 'The Mail on Sunday has
learned that the Government has opened talks to allow the US to put both the
missiles and the radar station on British soil'.

*Stark Differences on Arms Threaten U.S.-Russia Talks [55] *
10.10.07. NY Times. Growing disagreements over how to carry forward arms
control treaties threaten to bog down meetings in Moscow this week between
top-level Americans and their Russian counterparts that are intended to seek
a compromise on missile defense.

*Broad Principles Separate U.S., Russian Officials as They Prepare Missile
Defense Talks [56] *
10.10.07. NTI. U.S.-Russian disagreements over the merits of negotiated arms
control agreements are endangering prospects for constructive results at
this week's meeting of senior officials in Moscow, the New York Times
reported today. .. discussion could be waylaid by Russia's announced
intention to suspend participation in a multilateral conventional arms pact
and by the U.S. refusal to extend a strategic nuclear arms agreement

*US rejects Russian security concern [57] *
12.10.07. al jazeera. The US has rejected Russian calls to freeze a planned
missile defence system in central Europe, despite a warning from Moscow that
it would move to "neutralise" the threat.

*Putin threatens withdrawal from cold war nuclear treaty [58] *
12.10.07. Guardian.
President Vladimir Putin warned today that Russia was considering withdrawal
from a major cold war arms treaty restricting intermediate range nuclear
missiles unless it is expanded to include other states. Mr Putin said that
Moscow is planning to dump the intermediate range nuclear forces treaty
(INF) - signed in a landmark deal between the US and Soviet Union in 1987 -
unless countries like China are included in its provisions. His comments
came just before talks in Moscow today between the US secretary of state,
Condoleezza Rice, and the US defence secretary, Robert Gates, with Russia's
foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and the defence minister, Anatoly
Serdyukov. His comments came just before talks in Moscow today between the
US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, and the US defence secretary,
Robert Gates, with Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and the defence
minister, Anatoly Serdyukov. Mr Putin also repeated his opposition to the
Bush administrations plans to site elements of its missile defence shield in
central Europe. The project threatened the US and Russia's strategic
relationship, he suggested. [ *looks like US has come up against a wall it
can't manipulate. *]

*Rice: Missile Defense Plans to Proceed [59] *
12.10.07. Guardian. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says plans to expand
the U.S. missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic will
proceed, but she wants to seek Russian suggestions for cooperation to
address Moscow's opposition to the program. Rice and Defense Secretary
Robert Gates were to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.
Rice and Gates face arms control and diplomatic disputes that are testing
the strength of U.S.-Russian relations, such as Iran's nuclear program,
Russia's commitment to democracy and the U.S. missile shield in eastern
Europe.

*Putin Criticizes U.S. Officials on Missile Defense [60] *
12.10.07. President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia sharply upbraided the
visiting American secretaries of state and defense on Friday as highly
anticipated negotiations produced no specific accords to resolve growing
disagreements over missile defense and other security issues.

*Analysis: Vladimir Putin raises the stakes over missile defence [61] *
12.10.07. timesonline. [Excuse me, but US-NATO _first _"raised the stakes"
by announcing it was going to build the missile shield and then tried to
rope in eastern European countries. timesonline playing the US repeat- tape;
not done homework!]

*Merkel, Putin to talk about missile shield [62] *
12.10.07. expatica.com. [the talks] are expected to focus on US plans for an
anti-missile shield in eastern Europe and the future status of Kosovo.
[_isn't Merkel another Bliar-style US puppet? _]

*Putin warns U.S. to back off on missile talks [63] *
13.10.07. AP. President Bush's top two Cabinet officials, expecting a polite
photo op, were ambushed by a Russian leader who fears Eastern Europe may be
turned into a U.S. staging point for a new Cold War.

*The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO): Index Timeline [64] *
16.10.07. S. Meyer, Index Research. Research on "NATO OF THE EAST"

[ US SPIN ]
*US sees progress in missile defense talks with Russia [65] *
17.10.07. AP / IHT. Senior American officials insisted Wednesday they were
making headway in talks to narrow differences with Russia over U.S.
proposals for anti-missile bases in eastern Europe, despite Moscow's
concerns. [ _the real story lies embedded in AP report_ ]. Despite Russian
objections, they [US officials ] said the United States would press ahead
with its plans to place a sophisticated tracking unit in the Czech Republic
and 10 interceptor rockets in Poland to shoot down incoming ballistic
missiles. –¦ In an effort to allay Russian concerns, the U.S. last week
proposed developing a "joint architecture" for cooperative missile defense,
as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Defense Secretary
Robert Gates met President Vladimir Putin and other top officials in Moscow.
After those talks, Russian officials repeated their opposition to the plan,
and Russia has sent mixed signals since then.
......
*Ooops*

*U.S. Mistakenly Fires Patriot Missile in Qatar [66] *
17.10.07. NTI. The U.S. Army accidentally fired a Patriot Advanced
Capability 3 missile during a training exercise at Camp As Sayliyah in
Qatar, the Washington Post reported today. The Qatari military reported that
the PAC-3 missile landed on local farmland about four miles north of the
base, causing no damage. One PAC-3 missile costs more than $4 million,
according to the defense research group GlobalSecurity.org.
......

*U.S., ISRAEL Consider Layered Missile Defenses [66] *
17.10.07. NTI. Top U.S. and Israeli defense officials have pledged to study
the potential for a layered missile defense system to protect Israel from
Iranian and Syrian ballistic missiles as well as smaller rockets launched
from Lebanon and the Gaza strip, Reuters reported today. U.S. Defense
Secretary Robert Gates and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak agreed to
establish a joint committee to examine how Tel Aviv might receive support
from Washington might in deploying such a system, said Defense Department
spokesman. The two senior officials also discussed improvements to the Arrow
2 Israeli air-defense system, which the United States is already a partner
in maintaining, according to an Israeli security source. The system is in
place to destroy incoming missiles launched by nations such as Iran and
Syria.

*Consultations on missile defence at NATO HQ [67] *
17.10.07. NATO.int. The North Atlantic Council and the NATO-Russia Council
respectively, discussed on 17 October missile defence issues. The sessions
were a continuation of consultation meetings held at NATO HQ last year, as
well as in February and April 2007.National delegations included
high-ranking officials and experts from capitals. For example, the US team
was headed by Under Secretary of Defence Eric Edelman, Assistant Secretary
of State Daniel Fried and Director of the Missile Defense Agency General
Henry Obering, while the Russian delegation was led by Ambassador Anatoliy
Antonov from the Foreign Ministry and General Alexander Yakushin of Russian
Space Forces.

*Bush warns Putin over 'World War Three' [68] *
18.10.07. Telegraph. President George W Bush today warned that world leaders
risk helping bring about "World War Three" unless they do more to prevent
Iran developing nuclear weapons."We've got a leader in Iran who has
announced that he wants to destroy Israel," Mr Bush told a White House press
conference.

_nuclear hypocrisy evident in following story _
*Nuclear Deal With India May Be Near Collapse [69] *
16.10.07. Washington Post. Premier Cites Internal Opposition To Agreement
Pushed by Bush. A controversial nuclear deal between the United States and
India appears close to collapse after the Indian prime minister told
President Bush yesterday that "certain difficulties" will prevent India from
moving forward on the pact for the foreseeable future. –¦ Neither
government appeared eager to announce the setback to what had been billed as
one of the Bush administration's biggest foreign policy –˜achievements.'
[ _–˜achievement –˜ ? How can something be an 'achievement in India when
it is a reason for war in Iran?_] tThe reluctance to admit that the deal is
faltering contrasts with the fanfare when it was announced in 2005. –¦ The
agreement lays [laid] out a framework for peaceful nuclear cooperation that
would eventually allow trade in nuclear reactors, technology and fuel
between the two nations. It permits [permitted] India to reprocess nuclear
fuel and opens the way for the United States to become a "reliable" supplier
for India's energy program.

*Putin attacks US, announces new nuclear weapon [70] *
18.10.07. timesofindia. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday
chastised the United States over its policy in Iraq and Iran, and announced
"grandiose" military plans, including development of a new nuclear weapon.
In a nationally broadcast [3 hour] link-up with ordinary Russians across the
country, Putin called the US intervention in Iraq a "dead end" and called on
Washington to set a deadline for the withdrawal of troops. In a nationally
broadcast link-up with ordinary Russians across the country, Putin called
the US intervention in Iraq a "dead end" and called on Washington to set a
deadline for the withdrawal of troops. In a video link-up with servicemen at
the Plesetsk nuclear missile base, Putin said that Russia would build
another nuclear submarine next year and was also planning a "completely new"
atomic weapon. ... Later Thursday Putin was to meet Israeli Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert in Moscow for talks expected to focus on Iran's Russian-backed
nuclear programme.

*U.S. Offers Missile Defense Concessions to Russia [71] *
22.10.07. NTI.

*ISRAEL Developing New Missile Interceptor [72] *
22.10.07. NTI.

*U.S. Deploys Third Missile Interceptor at Vandenberg [73] *
22.10.07. NTI.

*European Missile Defense Deals COULD be Delayed [74] *
23.10.07. NTI. The Bush administration hoped to sign deals before the end of
2007. That would allow lawmakers in Prague and Warsaw to consider the deal
in spring 2008, paving the way for construction to begin and for the sites
to have initial operational status by 2011. However, the recent Polish
parliamentary election throws a potential wrench into the works. The
victorious Civic Platform party is likely to seek additional concessions
from the United States for supporting installation of 10 missile
interceptors in Poland.

*Russia Warns Over U.S. Missile Defense, Says Iran is Not a Threat [75] *
23.10.07. Fox / ICH. Russia is concerned that U.S.-led missile defense
initiatives in Europe and Asia are based on an erroneous assessment of the
threat posed by Iran, Foreign Minster Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday.

*Bush says Iranian missiles could reach US, all Europe by 2015 [76] *
23.10.07. iii.co.uk / ICH. "Our intelligence community assess that, with
continued foreign assistance, Iran could develop an intercontinental
ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States and all of Europe
before 2015," he said.

*U.S. offers to keep missile shield on stand-by [77] *
23.10.07. Gates said the possible delay was one of the proposals he and
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice put forward in talks with Russian
officials to try to ease Moscow's concern and win its cooperation over the
defence system. –¦ "We have not fully developed this proposal, but the idea
was we would go forward with the negotiations, we would complete the
negotiations, we would develop the sites, build the sites but *PERHAPS *we
would delay activating them until there was concrete proof of the threat
from Iran," he told reporters in Prague.

*US-Japan missile shield worries Russia [78] *
23.10.07. Radio Australia. Russia's foreign minister has told Japanese
leaders the Kremlin is concerned about a missile shield Tokyo is building
with Washington. They began working on the project in 1998 after North Korea
shot a ballistic missile over Japan into the Pacific Ocean.

*Czech-US missile shield talks to spill over to 2008: official [79] *
23.10.07. Raw Story. "I do not think we will be able to conclude an
agreement ... by the end of the year," he told journalists on the margins of
a visit by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates to Prague.
=
*Gates to throw support behind missile shield in Prague –" Summary [80] *
18.10.07. earthtimes. US Defence Secretary Robert Gates will be holding
talks in Prague next week on US plans for its missile shield on Czech soil,
Czech Defence Ministry spokesman Jan Pejsek said Thursday.

Following this visit, the following headline appears: Czech parliament votes
against referendum on U.S. missile shield - 1 [81] (27.10.07)

*Poland's new plans on Iraq, US shield [82] *
22.10.07. presstv.ir. He (Tusk) said Poland should drive a tough bargain in
return for hosting the US missile defense base. {_where is Cheney / Condi /
Gates with shekels in pockets? _]

*CHINA says U.S. missile shield threatens global stability [83] *
24.10.07. rian.ru. The placement of U.S. missile defenses in Europe will not
ease global security concerns but will undermine the global strategic
balance, the Chinese foreign minister said Wednesday.

*Putin: US Plan Evokes '62 Cuban Crisis [84] *
26.10.07. AP. President Vladimir Putin on Friday evoked one of the most
dangerous confrontations of the Cold War to highlight Russian opposition to
a proposed U.S. missile defense system in Europe, comparing it to the Cuban
missile crisis of 45 years ago. The comments –" made at the end of a summit
between Russia and European Union that failed to resolve several festering
disputes –" were the latest in a series of _belligerent_ statements from
the assertive Putin. [ _Hang on a minute, AP. The US govn.has been making
BELLIGERENT statements about missile defense systems for YEARS __]_

*Czechs to benefit from U.S. missile shield [85] *
30.10.07. arcmax.com. Villagers near the Czech Brdy military complex south
of Prague are seeking millions of dollars in compensation for placing a U.S.
radar base in the region. A Czech government commission allocated $67
million for development projects in the Brdy municipalities, while local
authorities in villages and towns had asked for a sum about four times as
large, Prague Radio reported Tuesday.

*UPDATE 1-US lawmakers refuse funds for Europe missile shield [86] *
31.10.07. Reuters. [_However, whatever US lawmakers decide, it doesn't make
a damn bit of difference to Bush govn._] See To Implement Policy, Bush to
Turn to Administrative Orders [87] (Washington Post 31 October).

+

NOVEMBER 2007

*Russia Claims U.S. Accelerating Missile Defense Plan [88] *
01.11.07. NTI. Talks with Poland and the Czech Republic –œhave not only not
been suspended, but additional measures are being taken to speed them up,–
said ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin in a prepared statement. –œThere is
the impression that the United States is trying to make the realization of
its plans irreversible.–

*

Lawmakers Cut Missile Defense Funds [89] *
06.11.07. sfgate. Lawmakers on Tuesday reduced money requested by President
Bush to build a European missile defense system, eliminating funds slated
for building an interceptor site in Poland.

Negotiators from the House and the Senate left the funding out of a $460
billion bill to finance U.S. defense operations covering the budget year
that began Oct. 1, according to Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa.

*Funding Cut for Poland Interceptor Site [90] *
07.11.07. NTI. .S. House and Senate lawmakers yesterday cut fiscal 2008
funding for installation of 10 missile interceptors in Poland, the
Associated Press reported.

*US okays $155m arms package for Israel [91] *
YNETNEWS. The US Congress on Wednesday approved a $155 million arms package
for Israel, aimed at the development of the Hetz and David mid-range
defensive missile systems and for the development long-range defensive
missile systems. The arms package is still pending the approval of the US
House of Representatives and President George W Bush. The Israeli defense
establishment was pleased with Congress' decision, which effectively
increases Israel's missile development budget by 30%.

*Bush Threat of World War III: Cuban Missile Crisis Redux [92] *
08.11.07. Professor Francis Boyle, globalresearch.ca. "During the course of
an October 17, 2007 press conference, President Bush Jr. terrorized the
entire world with the threat of World War III if he could not work his
illegal will upon Iran . Then Russian President Vladimir Putin responded in
kind by likewise terrorizing the entire world with the prospect of yet
another Cuban Missile Crisis if he did not get his way on the provocative
anti-ballistic missile (A.B.M.) systems that the Bush Jr. administration
plans to locate in Poland and the Czech Republic.

*House Approves $8.7B for Missile Defense [93] *
09.11.07. NTI. The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday approved a fiscal
2008 defense spending bill that includes $8.7 billion for missile defense
programs, the Associated Press reported. The amount is roughly 2 percent
below the funding level sought by the Bush administration. .. U.S. lawmakers
on Wednesday also allocated $155 million for development of an Israeli
advanced missile interceptor, Agence France-Presse reported

*Russia piles pressure on EU over missile shield [94] *
Adrian Blomfield, Telegraph. Russia threatened to site short-range nuclear
missiles in a second location on the European Union's border yesterday if
the United States refuses to abandon plans to erect a missile defence
shield.

*Russia abandons key Cold War arms treaty [95] *
16.11.07. Yahoo. President Vladimir Putin ordered the moratorium on July 13
amid [after?]a row over US plans to install an anti-missile shield in
eastern Europe.

*Bogdan Klich, new Polish defense chief, signals a shift on U.S. missile
shield [96] *
19.11.07. AP/ IHT. The new defense minister of Poland said his country
should reconsider whether allowing the United States to base part of a
missile defense system in the country serves Polish interests. The comments
by Bogdan Klich, published Monday, underlined the shift in thinking under
the new government that took office Friday. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has
vowed to take a firmer stand in relations with the United States.

*Putin says Russia will not tolerate NATO military build up - 2 [97] *
20.11.07. rian.ru.

*Russia slams U.S. written proposals on missile shield, CFE [98] *
23.11.07. rian.ru. The United States has gone back on previous initiatives
concerning its missile shield in Europe in a written proposal earlier
received by Russia, a source in Russia's Foreign Ministry said Friday.

+

DECEMBER 2007

*Gov't questions nature and need of US anti-missile shield [99] *

*Opposition to U.S. Missile Shield Grows in Poland [100] *
03.12.07. angus reid. 61 per cent of respondents are opposed their
country's participation in the project, up five points since August.
03.12.07. wbj.pl. According to Rzeczpospolita, the new government does not
really feel committed to talks with the Americans regarding the anti-missile
shield, as Warsaw has doubts on whether the US is revealing all details
concerning the shield.

*Gates calls for anti-Iran missile shield [101] *
07.12.07. ABC.

*India to launch ICBM, develops missile defence shield [102] *
12.12.07. Earthtimes. India is to launch a 5,000-km nuclear-capable
intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) next year, even as it has
developed a credible missile shield that is superior to the American Patriot
anti-missile system, defence scientists said Thursday. Both are homegrown
systems and make India one of the very few countries in the world possessing
the technology to manufacture them.

*Belarus to play its role in US missile shield row: president [103] *
14.12.07. Raw Story.

*Russian general says Pentagon is seeking direct confrontation with Moscow
[104] *
15.12.07. IHT.

*Russia may dump weakening US dollar in its energy deals [105] *
15.12.07. dailytimes.com.pk. It seems that the rejection of the US dollar
has become a fashion trend in modern-day business relations. Several major
oil and gas exporters have recently announced their plans to use a different
currency in their deals with other countries. The heads of Iran, Venezuela
and Ecuador expressed such an opinion at the OPEC summit in November.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad particularly stated that Iran needs to
replace the dollar because of its ongoing setback. His Venezuelan
counterpart, Hugo Chavez, expanded on the idea and put forward a suggestion
to change the dollar for the basket of currencies (apart from the dollar it
includes the euro, the British pound, the Japanese yen, the Chinese yuan and
the Venezuelan bolivar) to recalculated world prices on oil. Ahmadinejad
continued with an idea to set up the OPEC Oil Exchange and the OPEC Bank.

*Spooky Math for "Flying Lightsaber" [106] *
19.12.07. Wired. 'Yes, only the US Congress could develop a scenario where
everyone acknowledges that: (a) we're spending too much money on a troubled
program that is pushing immature technology; (b) we could be buying real
warfighter capability with other systems; (c) no one is willing to pull the
trigger. So we have this case where $300 million plus $350 million divided
by two equals $514 million. That's real good math, boys.'

*Putin Agonistes: Missile Defense will not be Deployed [107] *
19.12.07. Mike Whitney, ICH. The American people have no idea of the
reckless policy that is being carried out in their name. The gravity of the
proposed Missile Defense system has been virtually ignored by the media and
Russia's protests have been dismissed as trivial.

*Israel okays short-range missile defence shield [108] *
23.12.07. AFP. The security cabinet allocated 811 million shekels (207
million dollars, 144 million euros) towards the development and manufacture
of the system over the coming five years, a defence ministry spokesman told
AFP. Defence Minister Ehud Barak said the system -- dubbed "The Iron Dome"
-- would be operational within 30 months.

*Iran to get missile system from Russia [109] *
26.12.07. Reuters. Russia has agreed to sell an S-300 anti-aircraft missile
system to Iran, Iran's defence minister was quoted as saying on Wednesday, a
report likely to irritate the United States.

+

JANUARY 2008

*Joint Japanese and US Missile Shield Test a Success [110] *
02.01.08. Daily Tech. Japanese destroyer shoots down incoming ballistic
missile. Since the Reagan era, the United States has wanted to develop a
system that could defeat ballistic missiles in the air before they were able
to impact their targets. This concept was part of what was dubbed the
–œStar Wars– program during Reagan's tenure.

*S. Korea Opposes Joining US Missile Defense System [111] *
03.01.08. koreatimes.

*Polish PM to visit Prague on U.S. anti-missile shield [112] *
05.01.08. Xihuanet.

INCURSION OF MILITARY INTO CIVIILIAN FIELD: THIS IDEA SHOULD BE SQUASHED
IMMEDIATELY.
*Airline to Test Anti-Missile System [113] *
06.01.08. David Koenig, AP, Truth Out. Up to three American Airlines jets
will be outfitted this spring with laser technology being developed to
protect planes from missiles fired by terrorists. ... About a year ago, BAE
invited reporters to American's maintenance base in Fort Worth to see a jet
outfitted with the laser-jamming device called Jeteye. ... BAE expects to
test the device through 7,000 hours of flying in 2008 and early 2009, he
said.

*Poland signals a shift on U.S. missile shield [114] *
06.01.08. Judy Dempsey, IHT. Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski says the new
Warsaw government is not prepared to accept U.S. plans to deploy part of the
shield in Poland until all costs and risks are considered.

*150K Czechs sign petition opposing plans for American missile shield [115]
*
08.01.07. usa today.

+

FEBRUARY 2008

*

Poland Says It Has Agreed to US Shield [116] *
01.02.08. APF / Forbes. Poland said Friday it has reached an agreement in
principle with the United States on plans to install a missile defense
system on Polish territory. [NB: how much bribery money in this one?]

*

Report: Russian envoy to NATO warns Poland against accepting U.S. missile
defense [117] *
03.02.08. IHT. "The Polish colleagues must be reminded of their recent
history, which indicates that attempts to place Poland 'on the confrontation
line' have always led to tragedies. That way Poland lost nearly one third of
its citizens during World War II," envoy Dmitry Rogozin was quoted by the
Interfax news agency as saying.

*

Pentagon Seeks $10.5 Billion for Missile Defense [118] *
05.02.08. nti.

*India Might Consider U.S. Missile Defense Purchase [119] *
07.02.08. nti.

*

U.S. Trying to Surround Russia, Lavrov Says [120] *
08.02.08. nti. "You would have to be very naive to assume that the American
missile defense base in Europe is aimed against anything but Russia. It's
difficult to interpret it as anything other than a manifestation of imperial
thinking." –"Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

*Russia to Deploy Longer-Range Missile Defenses [121] *
08.02.08. nti.

*U.S. says will seek 3rd missile-defense site in Europe [122] *
12.02.08. J. Wolf, Reuters. The previously unannounced third leg in Europe
involves a highly mobile X-band radar station, built by Raytheon Co. [123]
It would be placed closer to Iran, which is speeding efforts to build
ballistic missiles capable of delivering deadly weapons beyond the Middle
East, said Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry Obering [124] , head of the Pentagon's
Missile Defense Agency [125] . The powerful, "forward based" radar system
would go in southeastern Europe, possibly in Turkey, the Caucasus or the
Caspian Sea region, Obering told a defense-technology conference sponsored
by Aviation Week magazine.... Major U.S. missile-defense contractors include
Boeing Co [126] , Lockheed Martin Corp [127] and Northrop Grumman [128] , in
addition to Raytheon.

*Russia, China propose draft treaty on use of weapons in space [129] *
12.02.08. The Jurist.

*NATO opens missile defenses facility [130] *
15.02.08. UPI. A NATO missile defense system testing facility in the
Netherlands is expected to open Thursday, in a project to protect forces
against ballistic missiles. Officials say the facility's opening of the
integration test bed marks a major milestone for the multiyear NATO project
aimed at protecting forces from missile attacks while deployed on
operations, NATO reported. The facility, run by NATO's Active Layered
Theater Ballistic Missile Defense Program Office, will test the designs for
NATO systems that will allow European and U.S. missile defense technologies
to work together to protect forces against short- and medium-range ballistic
missiles.

*Russia: US Satellite Shot a Weapons Test [131] *
16.02.08. breitbart / ICH. Russia said Saturday that U.S. military plans to
shoot down a damaged spy satellite may be a veiled test of America's missile
defense system.

*British, US Team Propose Moon Mission [132] *
15.02.08. AP / Guardian. British and U.S. scientists said Friday they were
exploring plans for a joint lunar mission that would use an orbiter to fire
missile-like penetrators into the moon's surface.... The mission would also
provide an opportunity to test the space communications network needed for
future robotic or human explorers.

*Northrop Grumman To Provide System for NATO Air Defense [133] *
18.02.08. moneycnn. Defense and technology company Northrop Grumman Corp.
(NOC) [128] Monday said one of its units will provide navigation systems for
a NATO air and missile defense system program. Northrop Grumman said in a
statement its Italian subsidiary will provide the navigation and
localization systems for the Medium Extended Air Defense System program, a
project jointly financed by the U.S., Germany and Italy.

*U.S. Missile Defense Prospects Could Ride on Antisatellite Attempt This
Week, Experts Say [134] *
19.02.08. nti. A pending U.S. effort to destroy a failed spy satellite in
orbit could have strong repercussions for the nation's missile defense
program, the New York Times reported Saturday. A successful attempt using a
sea-based Standard Missile 3 missile interceptor could bolster the Bush
administration's efforts to deploy interceptors in Alaska and California,
as well as on U.S. ships and in Eastern Europe, according to the Times.
Alternatively, a failure could strengthen the hand of missile defense foes
who have criticized the decision to deploy interceptors without testing them
in real-world scenarios

*US missile blasts rogue 17,000mph satellite [135] *
21.02.08. Independent. In the first mission of its kind, the US Navy struck
the satellite with its first attempt but it is not yet known whether its
hazardous fuel tank was destroyed.

*Missile shield talks with Poland, Czech on track-US [136] *
21.02.08. AP/wiredispatch. The United States has made good progress in talks
with Poland and the Czech Republic over the possible siting of the U.S.
missile defence shield and all major issues have been resolved, a U.S.
official said.

*Pushing Missile Defense in Europe [137] *
22.02.06. J. Landy, Thomas Harrison, FPIF. With the occupation of Iraq soon
to enter its sixth year and the looming possibility of war against Iran,
it's easy for Americans not to notice the Bush administration's attempt
to expand the U.S. military presence in Europe. A new Cold War between the
United States and Russia threatens. And the U.S. media is paying little
attention. Even many in the peace movement don't know that Washington has
proposed to install 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar military
base in the Czech Republic. The missiles and radar taken together constitute
an anti-missile system purportedly meant to defend against Iran and other
–œrogue– states. In fact, they represent a new expansion of U.S. global
military power and an escalation of the arms race with Russia.

*Poland Cancels Missile Defense Talks [138] *
22.02.08. nti. U.S. efforts to deploy missile interceptors in Poland have
hit a major snag, with Polish officials cancelling a meeting scheduled today
with U.S. representatives, a Polish newspaper reported

*Pushing Missile Defense in Europe [139] *
23.02.08. J. Landy, T. Harrison, anti-war.com. With the occupation of Iraq
soon to enter its sixth year and the looming possibility of war against
Iran, it's easy for Americans not to notice the Bush administration's
attempt to expand the U.S. military presence in Europe. A new Cold War
between the United States and Russia threatens. And the U.S. media is paying
little attention. [the US anti-missile system represents] a new expansion of
U.S. global military power and an escalation of the arms race with Russia.

*Poland: no missile shield without aid [140] *
23.02.08. AP / wiredispatch. Poland Says It Won't Agreement to Missile
Defense Base Unless US Helps Upgrade Military

*Czech Greens to hold party referendum on radar after NATO summit [141] *
25.02.08. ceskenoviny.

*U.S. Agrees to Polish Military Aid as Part of Missile Defense Deal, Foreign
Minister Says [142] *
27.02.08. nti

*U.S., Israel Plan Joint Missile Defense Tests [143] *
28.02.08. nti. The United States and Israel plan over the next two years to
test their combined ballistic missile defenses, Reuters reported yesterday

+

MARCH 2008

*NATO allies split on missile shield add-on [144] *
12.03.08. M. John, Reuters / Wiredispatch. NATO will delay a decision on
whether to commission a missile shield to protect those parts of Europe not
covered by a planned U.S. system because of internal disagreements, an
alliance official said on Wednesday. NATO allies Greece, Romania, Bulgaria
and Turkey will not be fully covered by a proposed U.S. shield in east
Europe to counter missile threats from what Washington calls "rogue states"
such as Iran and North Korea. [is the U.S. the "rogue state"?]

*Report Finds Overspending on U.S. Missile Defense [145] *
18.03.08. nti. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has spent at least $1 billion
more than anticipated over the last two years as it deployed elements of a
shield to protect the United States from enemy missile threats, the
Government Accountability Office said yesterday. The GAO

http://www.gao.gov
report noted that the agency had exceeded costs for some specific programs,
which include deploying missile interceptors on land and at sea and
improving defense systems on ships, the Associated Press reported.

*Russia, U.S. fail to agree on missile shield [146] *
18.03.08. Reuters. The U.S. plan has plunged relations between the two
countries to a post-Cold War low and negotiations on the proposals have
already been running for almost six months.

*U.S. Delivers Written Proposal to Ease Russian Concerns Over European
Missile Defense Plans [147] *
20. 03.08. nti. In an effort to protect against a potential Iranian
long-range missile threat, the United States is seeking to install 10
missile interceptors in Poland and a radar tracking and guidance site in the
Czech Republic. Russian officials have repeatedly and vociferously objected
to the plans, saying the interceptors could threaten Russian strategic
missile forces. ... The written proposal has added importance to Russian
officials because they said their U.S. counterparts had pulled back on
earlier oral offers, the Associated Press reported. The latest proposal
would allow Russian personnel some access to monitor the construction and
operation of the facilities, but Russia has demanded a permanent presence,
according to AP

*U.S., Czech Republic Could Soon Sign Radar Deal [4] *
25.03.08. nti. The United States and the Czech Republic by early May could
sign a deal to place a U.S. missile defense radar in the European nation,
RIA Novosti reported. ... The signing could occur April 28 during a visit to
Washington by Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg. Another possible
date is May 5, which corresponds to a NATO conference on missile defense and
the anniversary of anti-Nazi actions in Prague at the end of World War II.
In return, the Czech government is looking for access to no less than five
U.S. military research efforts and a visa waiver deal with Washington. (and
some money?)... Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev yesterday dismissed
U.S. statements that the European missile defense sites would be established
to provide a defense against Iran, the Associated Press reported (see GSN,
March 24). –œThat's complete nonsense,– he told Czech public
television. –œIran poses no threat. It is possible to deal with Iran with
different means, if necessary. –œThe entire system is directed against
Russia and China, that's how we understand it,– Gorbachev added.

*Democrats Scrutinize Missile Defense Agency [148] *
25.03.08. nti. As the majority party in Congress, Democrats are moving to
increase oversight of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, Congressional
Quarterly reported Sunday. In the minority prior to the 2006 election,
Democrats had little power to address their concerns about the lack of
supervision over the agency that leads deployment of various systems
intended to protect the nation against missile threats. They also questioned
its role in promoting deployment of missile defense elements in other
nations.

*Time Limited for Missile Defense Talks, Poland Says [149] *
26.03.08. nti. Poland hopes to ink a missile defense deal with the United
States on hosting 10 missile interceptors before the next U.S. president is
elected in November, the Associated Press reported

*Future Unclear for Missile Defense [150] *
26.03.08. nti. The Bush administration has spent tens of billions of dollars
on U.S. missile defense efforts, but the future of the program is cloudy as
the country prepares for a new president, the Associated Press reported
today.

+

APRIL 2008

*Gates Hopeful on US-Russia Deal [151] *
01.04.08. AP. Gates suggested at a news conference in the Danish capital
that overcoming Russia's objections to U.S. plans for missile defense bases
in Poland and the Czech Republic could have the added benefit of easing
concerns among U.S. allies in Europe about Russia's public threats to
retaliate if the bases are installed. Missile defense is among topics on the
agenda of a NATO summit this week in Bucharest, Romania.

The NATO SUMMIT, BUCHAREST

VIDEO [3] . Goerge Bush press conference prior to NATO summit.

*Missle Defense to Top Bush, Putin Meeting Agenda [5] *
02.04.08. VOA. When President Bush meets with Russian President Putin on
Sunday the two leaders are expected to discuss a number of thorny issues,
chief among them the Bush administration's plan to build a missile shield in
Europe. ... Bolton says President Bush [read Cheney] is anxious to secure
the future of the missile defense program before stepping down next January.
... Russia is strongly opposed to U.S. plans to put interceptor missiles in
Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic. Moscow says the plan
threatens Russia's security, while Washington insists the defense shield is
intended to protect Europe from a potential threat from Iran.

*Bush Says He Sees NATO Endorsing Missile Defense Plan (Update1) [2] *
02.04.08. Roger Runningen, Bloomberg. Bush said an endorsement would ``be a
very important statement, because NATO could assure its members and the
people within NATO that there would be defenses available'' to prevent _a
rogue nation_ from launching a strike on Europe. The U.S. wants to start
construction next year of a missile site in Poland for 10 interceptors and a
fixed radar site in the Czech Republic to counter a potential long-range
missile threat from Iran. The plan is opposed by Russia. The U.S. Congress
wants to see signs of NATO support before approving construction funds.

*US Pushes Pie-in-the-Sky Missile Defense in Europe [152] *
YALE Global on Line.

*Russia's problems nudge Afghanistan off the map [153] *
02.04.08. globe and mail. Putin's grievances in Eastern Europe and Balkans
will make it hard for Harper to get world leaders' attention at NATO summit

*Ukrainians split over push to join NATO [154] *
02.04.08. wiredispatch. Ukrainian Leaders Push for Membership in NATO, but
Citizens Are Divided Over Joining Alliance

*NATO to admit Croatia, Albania, delays Macedonia [155] *
02.04.08. REUTERS/wiredispatch.

*Japan completes missile defense system deployment--reports [156] *
03.04.08. newsinfo.inquirer. Japan completed deploying a ballistic missile
defense system in the Tokyo area on Saturday, a day after North Korea
reportedly fired short-range missiles off its west coast, news reports said.

*EU allies unite against Bush over Nato membership for Georgia and Ukraine
[157] *
03.04.08. Independent. Gordon Brown has sided with more cautious EU allies
against President George Bush over US support for the admission of the
former Soviet republics of Georgia and Ukraine being admitted to the North
Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The rift threatens to dominate the Nato summit
in Romania and the US pressure risks provoking a crisis later in the week
with the outgoing Russian President, Vladimir Putin, who has made it clear
he will oppose Nato membership for the two states on Russia's borders. ...
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's incoming president, warned this week that granting
Nato membership to the two former Soviet republics could threaten European
security.

*Bush Wins NATO Nod on Missile Defense [158] *
03.04.08. AP. President Bush won NATO's endorsement Thursday for his plan to
build a missile defense system in Europe over Russian objections. Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice called it a "breakthrough agreement" for the
military alliance.

+

UPDATES FROM 03.04.08.

*Putin scores big win in Bucharest [159] *
03.04.08. wiredispatch. Putin Scores Diplomatic Victory by Blocking NATO's
Expansion Plan. Russian President Vladimir Putin scored a major diplomatic
coup by scuttling the NATO membership bids of Ukraine and Georgia even
before he reached the NATO summit. NATO's plan to expand further into former
Soviet turf collapsed Thursday when leaders –" anxious to avoid angering
Moscow –" opted not to put the strategically important nations on track for
membership. ... In the waning days of his eight years as president, Putin
demonstrated his strength –" successfully driving a wedge through the NATO
alliance.

*NATO nixes Georgia, Ukraine membership [160] *
03.04.08./. wiredispatch. Under Russian Pressure, NATO Summit Delays
Membership Track for Ukraine, Georgia. Senior American officials also said
that NATO leaders agreed to fully endorse U.S. missile defense plans for
Europe and urge Russia to drop its objections to the system.

*Bush bolts last NATO meeting [161] *
03.04.08. wiredispatch. It had been a long day at the NATO summit. And it
wasn't over, with a cultural performance and a gala dinner ahead. So,
needing a break, President Bush bolted. He left Thursday's last NATO session
early –" and so quickly that he left a portion of his motorcade, including
some aides, in the dust.

*Macedonia walks out of Nato talks [162] *
03.04.08. Guardian. Officials from the former Yugoslav republic decided to
leave the conference –" taking place in Bucharest, Romania - when Nato
declined to invite it to join the 26-member bloc.

*Bush Wins NATO Backing on Missile Shield [163] *
03.04.08. AP. NATO allies gave President Bush strong support Thursday for a
missile defense system in Europe and urged Moscow to drop its angry
opposition to the program. The unanimous decision strengthened Bush's hand
for weekend talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

*Bush loses out in Bucharest [164] *
03.04.08. Marwan Bishara, al jazeera. As the Nato conference in Bucharest
comes to a close, it is clear George Bush did not get much of what he
bargained for./
.. Bush's adventures in Afghanistan and Iraq have hurt Washington's standing
within the alliance, even if it remains its only prospective leader.../It's
remarkable how the greatest military alliance in history is incapable of
defeating the Afghan fighters.

*The Missile Defense Obsession [165] *
04.04.08. Dan Froomkin, Washington Post. Historical overview of missile
defense; blinkered ideas about _'terrorism_.'

The Black Sea Summit
*Warm words from Putin suggest deal on missile defence shield [166] *
05.04.08. Colin Brown, Independent. A compromise over US missile defence may
emerge from a summit of the Russian and American presidents this weekend at
President Putin's holiday villa in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. .. / It is
understood that the outgoing Russian President is demanding guarantees that
radar to be based in the Czech Republic is directed south at Iran and not at
Russian territory. He also wants assurances that no missiles will be sited
in silos in Poland until there is evidence that Iran possesses the
capability to fire missiles at the US or the West./ Mr Putin is also seeking
access to US sites to verify the guarantees. .. / Gordon Brown left the Nato
conference claiming it had been a success. He supports the US plan to deploy
missile defence in eastern Europe, although it has proved highly
controversial within his own party.

+

_Sarah Meyer is a researcher living in the UK_
The url to US-NATO 'Missile Shield' Programme: Index Timeline Part II is :

http://indexresearch.blogspot.com/2008/04/us-nato-missile-shield-programme-i
ndex.html
shorter url:

http://tinyurl.com/29zgzx

+

Other Index articles on NATO

NATO: The Bathtub of Unreadiness [167] (Updated 12/01/07)

Afghanistan : NATO is now US-ATO [168]

NATO: FOR THE LOVE OF EMPIRE [169] , the preface to Index on Afghanistan:
May 2007: Part II - NATO; Human Rights. (05.06.07).

US-NATO 'Missile Shield' Programme (Part I) [1]

INDEX ON AFGHANISTAN, NATO FAILURE: A WINTER'S TALE, PART II

[1]

UK Indymedia

The US-NATO 'Missile Shield' Programme: Timeline and Bibliographical References

Global IMC Network