Europe Features
Bush tries to sell missile shield plan in pacifist country
By Katerina Zachovalova Jun 5, 2007, 3:16 GMT
Prague - When US President George W Bush confers with Czech leaders at Prague Castle Tuesday, the environs of the city's landmark will be sealed off and 1,500 police officers will be ready to protect him.
Police teams have already searched the sewers and welded their lids tight.
But the US president's security detail is likely to have a breeze shepherding their boss around scenic Prague. Bush is to sell his European missile shield project to a nation of pacifists.
'Czechs don't like conflicts and military conflicts especially,' says sociologist Jan Cervenka of the Public Opinion research Centre, adding matter-of-factly a reference to the Czech bible of pacifism - a novel penned by acclaimed writer Jaroslav Hasek, 'Everyone has read Good Soldier Svejk.'
A recently published global peace index, the methodology of which was devised by the Economist Intelligence Unit, ranked Czechs 13th most peace-loving nation out of 121 countries. The top-scorers were Norway, New Zealand and Denmark, which hosts to another US missile shield facility.
But what may one would describe as dovish, another could label sheepishness. In 1938, after being left behind by western European allies, Czechs surrendered to Hitler without firing a single bullet, while neighbouring Poles rode horses against Nazi tanks.
The 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, which halted the Prague Spring reform drive, resulted in dozens of civilian fatalities. But it was nothing compared to the bloodshed during the Hungarian invasion in 1956. Instead of taking up arms, Czechs tried to talk Soviet soldiers into going home.
'We have not won a single war since Zizka,' quips Josef Hruby, the mayor of Zajecov, whose residents rejected the US radar base in a local referendum Saturday. The jovial mayor was referring to a 15th- century warrior, who waged religious wars across Europe, before adding with a smile: 'Whoever came and wanted to, we handed them our guns.'
The Czechoslovak communist army had become so unpopular that faking illness to avoid a two-year mandatory service was considered a heroic feat. After communism fell in the peaceful manner Czechs are known for, the Velvet Revolution of 1989, the hit movies of that period ridiculed the socialist-era military and its not-so-smart officers.
Those Czechs, who support hosting the US missile-shield radar base believe participating offers a chance to overcome what they consider an embarrassing history of giving up instead of fighting even though it may be a lost fight.
The will to participate in the project 'is an expression of the fact that the Czech Republic has matured from a country, which had passively accepted security guarantees from others, into the state that is actively participating in safeguarding security for others', Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said recently.
'People feel that someone wants something from us once again,' US radar base supporter Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa. 'I think the key to understanding this is that here we are making a decision about ourselves.'
According to pollster Cervenka that is exactly the case. Opinion polls have shown that the level of security the US base may provide divides Czechs, he says.
The supporters' camp, which includes mostly the right-wing ruling coalition Civic and Christian Democrats and their voters, believe that participating in the US shield will enhance the Czech Republic's security. But the opponents, mostly leftist and green supporters, worry that brokering an exclusive deal with the Bush administration, which is not short of enemies, may turn into a threat.
'In any case the government believes that this is a convenient deal,' says Tomas Klvana, a recently appointed governmental communications coordinator for the US facility dubbed 'Mr Radar', adding later, 'The United States is our ally and as such guarantees our security within the North Atlantic alliance. It does not matter who is the leader.'
But opponents who number 61 per cent of Czechs, according to the latest opinion poll, are not ready for heroic gestures.
'What can we expect to come out of this?' mayor Hruby says. 'Are we going to once again teach kids to put on gas masks and hide in shelters?'
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Europe
- 1. Pope in Easter message calls for peace and religious tolerance
- 2. Magnificent Messi leads Barcelona to ninth straight win
- 3. Pope leads Easter vigil, calls for "true enlightenment"
- 4. Barcelona increase pressure on Real with romp in Zaragoza
- 5. Pope Benedict XVI leads Easter Vigil
Older Talkback
page: 1
Gas masks only needed for stink of american exploitation and oil grabbing
Yep, and I bet the citizens gassed under Saddam's rule were surprised too! You are right that the Americans are big exploiters! We have exploited our beliefs, our money and protection throughout history on many countries- what did your country do for anyone??
Someone should dig up the graves of those horrible Americans that exploited themselves along with the Allies to protect some of the most ungrateful people in Western Europe!
Who are we 'protecting' Europe from? Other than upsetting the Russians and violating every Soviet-era arms agreement the US has made, I don't see an upside. Last I heard the 'shield' doesn't work anyway.
He can try to sell but i doubt they will buy :)
The only thing that would happen is that the Czech Republic becomes the playball between Russia's and the USA's future foreign policy.
Europe needs no protection from a non-existing threat which is (when it will ever become real) directed against the USA. Especially not when these threats are the results of u.s foreign policy failure.
It would be something different if the system would protect the USA without dragging us into their foreign policy moves. But this way, no thanks.
Im sure the Czech government will try to prevent a peoples referendum on that matter. Why? The surveys show that about 86 % of Czech's are against the missile-shield. ;)
S - you should ask what america did for anyone, WHICH WAS NOT REALLY FOR ITSELF
AL,
SO you are saying that the Americans going over to Europe and fighting against the Nazi's was for our own gain? We in the Western World all benefitted from that defeat and the American soldiers that died there did so unselfishly.
Correct - you benefited from not having a future major competitior and from money - land lease etc. Also, although americans like to claim they won the second world war, remember the Russian contibution with the Red army and all the commonwealth countries
Same in the 1st world war - amrican troops arrived, but had to be trained for 14 months, and the major breakthrough in August 1918 was by French/British/Canadian/Australian troops - then americans joined in on later battles
Al you gotta be one of the stupidest dickheads that ever put pen to paper. Yer baby keep supporting your 'liberal ideas' that where handed to you from the West. You think the Commies would have let you go without western action? Is that why you weak arse little bitches keep sending non combat troops to war zones? I saw the destruction of the east of Europe by the russians, you lived their, how did you forget?
Al,
the contributions of everyone in WWI and WWII are what won the war. I never said the Americans did it all by themselves! I just got done watching the series Anzacs and am well aware of everyone's role in that- I am just saying that it seems to have been forgotten by most folks and America seems to be the one being bashed and criticized most heavily. I had relatives fighting each other (Americans & Germans) so I am well aware of the history and sacrifices made- however, The US government is the primary one that loaned money for rebuilding in Europe that it will never see repaid
Also, I don't think the Germans doth protested much with all the economic gain they received by having US bases in their country so perhaps for some of these smaller, newly independent countries it might be to their advantage fiscally speaking. Just a thought!
What a nobel idea of getting rich by hosting the foreign troops at home.
On the other hand, why would Americans give away the money for that? Is it because of a proximity to Chech beer?
Maybe they felt guilty about using all those German engineers to start their space projects
Im czech and i love that hand over our guns part, but seriously what the hell were the polish thinking horses vs tanks?! We may be cowards , but we're smart enough to stay alive. Bravery is stupidities son.
Czech republik is eastern europe. everyone says its western, but its past germany to the est
What is Bush going to try next, selling ice to Eskimos?
page: 1
olegJun 5th, 2007 - 06:03:19
No, Czechs, you don't have to put gas masks. They are not of much use in a midst of a nuclear blast.
Report this comment