US Features
Bush looking to resolve dispute over missile defence
Mar 29, 2008, 14:26 GMT
Washington - President George W Bush departs Monday on a four-nation European tour including the NATO summit in Romania before heading to Russia for critical missile-defence talks with President Vladimir Putin.
Bush was 'optimistic' he can bridge differences with the outgoing Putin over the controversial US plans to station a missile defence system in former Warsaw Pact states Poland and the Czech Republic, and resolve the dispute that has dragged relations to their lowest point since the end of the Cold War.
'I think a lot of people in Europe would have a deep sigh of relief if we're able to reach an accord on missile defence,' Bush told reporters.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates flew to Moscow for meetings March 17-18 with their Russian counterparts proposing a strategic framework for cooperating on common threats and partnering on missile defence in Europe.
Lower level negotiations continued Wednesday and Thursday in Washington, and US officials said there was progress in building trust and transparency with the Russians over missile defence, but did not cite any tangible progress toward an agreement.
'Only time will tell whether we will, in fact, be as successful as we think we can be, but we are making progress,' said John Rood, the US undersecretary of state for arms control.
Russia is sceptical about US claims the system will be deployed to counter Iran's growing ballistic missile capability and sees it as a threat to its nuclear deterrent.
Rice has said the system of 10 interceptor missiles in Poland linked to a radar site in the Czech Republic is too small to respond to the hundreds of missiles in Russia's nuclear fleet.
The United States proposed allowing Russia to monitor and inspect the sites but that offer has not assuaged Moscow's concerns.
'A whole series of transparency and confidence-building measures have been developed that we have put on the table with our Russian colleagues related to their ability to monitor and inspect,' Rood said.
The United States and the two host countries are nearing agreements to deploy the long-range missile-defence system by a 2013 timeframe.
Rood said negotiations with the Russians will continue but would not predict the document would be complete by the time Bush arrives April 6 or 7 in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi for his meeting with Putin.
Afghanistan will be high on the agenda when Bush arrives in Bucharest for the April 2-4 NATO summit. The United States has pushed allies to send more troops to Afghanistan and lift restrictions on already deployed forces that limit them to non- combat roles.
'The president's message is going to be one of the importance of success in Afghanistan, the need for all countries to make it as a priority ... and the need for all of us to do more,' said Stephen Hadley, Bush's national security adviser.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged earlier this week he would send more troops to Afghanistan, but it remained unclear if the soldiers would go to relatively safe areas around Kabul or join the NATO fight in southern Afghanistan against the Taliban.
Gates has ordered an additional 3,200 Marines to Afghanistan to help fill the gap, which will bring the total US presence to 29,000 soldiers, about half of them under NATO command.
There are about 44,000 total NATO forces in Afghanistan. NATO has requested 7,500 more soldiers to fend off the resilent Taliban.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
You're correct. It's very embarrassing to send such an unknowing dolt such as Bush to discuss anything but chopping weeds in Crawford. And for sure, ''a mess he will make''!
...that depends on your point of view.
What is the pressure to have this missile defense?
None.
It's boxing. Putin enables the Iranians, wanting a Russian proxy in the middle east. Bush hits him with this, which Putin wasn't bargaining for. Prize fighters do this all the time: when the opponent comes out, hit him immediately, so he will remember he's going to get hit right away, every time he enters the ring. One could even say this about Kosovo.
Now, Putin, perhaps, miscalculated but he still has to placate his old militarist hardliners. Bush is telling him he opened the door to this and now he is the only person who can close it. The Ruskies know that, every year, our capability will get better, so their nuclear deterrent will, gradually, become less and less credible.
SP4 do you live on the same planet as the rest of us?
Are you still a bush baby?
Your power is now gone. No other nation trusts your country any more.
And you would have to be retarded to underestimate Putin and the Russians.
Wake up. If you cannot offer a cogent argument, be the f--k quiet.
These euro leaders have been going through Bush's office for the last 12 months trying to get him to support our own currency. The devalued dollar is driving their exports bug-sh-t. They thought ol GW would step up like every other sheeplike president, but he called their bluff.
What an asshole, huh?
Russia needs a proxy in the middle east. This is why they're supporting Iran. Bush objected to their pimped nuclear program, so he's hitting them in the mouth.
Now, Putin has a real sore on his ass that Bush has planted there. He has the Kremlin hardliners putting their finger up Putin's ass about this, and it's really irritating him.
After all, why would we need these missile interceptors in Poland? We can put them on ships in the Med, or in Turkey.
It's purely to slap Putin for his support of Iran, nothing else.
Besides the fact that you are full of crap, NATO is expanding, international trade blocks are growing, and US cooperation is at an all time high.
''Now, Putin has a real sore on his ass that Bush has planted there. He has the Kremlin hardliners putting their finger up Putin's ass about this, and it's really irritating him''.
and I hate to go off topic, butt do you have a thing with Putin's ass?? You're looking a little weird right now.
In addition, if that's all Bush is doing, It's a little expensive AND childish....sheeeesh.
Do you think anyone has told Bush that President elect Medvedev takes over from Putin on May 7th - so Bush will probably have to start the talks all over again ?
'Your power is now gone. No other nation trusts your country any more.'
1) A brain dead socialist paddy nobody who is the genuine quintessence of 'powerless' doesn't speak for all the nations of the world. You are a nobody.
2) Do the nations of the world trust Vladimir Putin or Russia? I thought not.
What world are you living in?
A world which america doesn't understand. A world which is watching america lose prestige, influence and value
Does Bush really think Europeans want this system ? The 'deep sigh of relieve' will be when Bush goes away without forcing the system on Europe.
Unfortunately Bush still believes america can achieve anything it wants. Rather like the wonderful management at Ford - buying Rover and Jaguar for $5.3billion and selling it to India for $2.3 (and losing money running it, and having to transfer $600 million for pension funds with the deal). It must take real talent to achiece that sort of loss. Oh, hang on - your banks are even better at it - they're 'safe as houses' !
Come on SP - we haven't heard one of your inane rants about the (self-delusional) wonders of america for several days. Give us something to laugh at
SP4 is Bush in disguise?????
'Does Bush really think Europeans want this system ? '
I think Bush looks at the craven europeans and thinks something along the line of Tyler Durden in fight Club:
'I'll bring us through this. As always. I'll carry you - kicking and screaming - and in the end you'll thank me.'
Thanks Europe, for making me the 4th generation American to be dragged off to fight in one of YOUR wars.
...the answer is 'yes'!
The Poles were more than willing to consider it.
Bush could have avoided this entire imbroglio had he spoken privately with Putin BEFORE announcing that he was cutting deals with former Soviet satellites to stick our missles on their soil.
Instead of that, it got announced in the papers, and Putin of course felt slighted (after all, he's only the President of Russia).
NOW, we're getting the U.S. diplomatic push that should have been undertaken BEFORE the first announcements.
When the damned situation was flying apart in Basra, SP4 was absent from any discussion that I followed. This guy is a maggot feeding on what he judges to be carrion.
And, of course, 'that does not make him wrong'.
(Nothing can MAKE him wrong, since he starts out that way)
'Bush could have avoided this entire imbroglio had he spoken privately with Putin BEFORE announcing that he was cutting deals with former Soviet satellites to stick our missles on their soil.'
We talked to the Czechs and the Polls... Theyare independent, sovereign nations that Putin does not control.
'Instead of that, it got announced in the papers, and Putin of course felt slighted '
The poor thing. He must have a tiny pecker.
...Bush could have, certainly, just had a chat with Putin and stopped a train that has been roling down the tracks for...20? years????
In other news....Bush just learned to turn water into wine!
Do you actually think Putin is the only ruling influence in Russia? Despots rely on others for power. Their military is always an influencer. This is the case here. He also has pressure to do all this with Iran, so as to keep them dependent on Russia and influence the region. It's a win-win for Putin.
Now, here comes dumb ol GW, with a snappy idea!:
'Hey Vlad...hoow bout thim miss iles their boyh??! Weeeeell....all this nuk u lar teah yur givin em'...we just gots ta put a dang interceptor force right on y' flank thire boyh...y' knoow..t' pro tect ourseves an all! Pity ya sold all thit tech t' em, this coulda all been avoided thire Vlad...!'
It's chess and this is Bush's only move. It's not even a good one, but it's all there is. Putin ain't backing off Iran for love nor money, end of story. Iran isn't stopping either. So, all Bush can hope for is some kind of cooperation, which the next President will have to get. In fact, why should Bush even care??? It's too late for him to see the results of any of this.
What the f--k do we care what happens in Basra??????????? Iraqi society is responsible for what happens in Iraq. 45000 people a MONTH die in the Congo and the world ignores it every day! Why shold I care what happens in Iraq, unless they threaten the stability of their neighbors??? That was the only real reason for going.
...and dildo boy above is correct: none of his empty shirt comments sill make me wrong.
Almost a waste of energy .Nothing will come out of this tour of duty ,there is simply no reason to install extra missiles .First it was said the missile defende system was directed at 'rogue' states .Now it is directed against Iran .In fzct it is directed against nobody in particular as there is no Iranian missile program including nuclear bombs .It took the combined analytical efforts of 21 US intelligence agencies to deliver the message that Iran halted it's nuclear military program in ....2003 .Theonly idiots that still do not seem to have recorded this simple fact are BUsh,Cheney and Bolton ,give and take a few other neocon retarded .Hence the simplistic but completely desperate attempt made by the Bush supporter SP4 to explain the logics of such a necessity .It involves Putin,Iran,a proxy and whatever is usable in that cocktail of fermenting neurones that inhabits his skull.
I think the reason why Bush wants to install these weapons is just to please a few armament factories .These weapons serve not a military purpose but an economical one .They will never be used ,but they will be paid by the american people unfortunately .So,not only a waste of energy but also of taxmoney .It's quite ironical that those same people pushing for this spending also oppose spending on education and medicare .As you probably know it,thosse two programs are in trouble .And what do the republicans propose there ?Cuts and more cuts .
RE:
'Bush could have avoided this entire imbroglio had he spoken privately with Putin BEFORE announcing that he was cutting deals with former Soviet satellites to stick our missles on their soil.'
'We talked to the Czechs and the Polls... Theyare independent, sovereign nations that Putin does not control.'
=================================================
Not in Putin's mind. He was there to see the USSR fly apart, and has had to endure former satellites breaking away. It's one thing to accept the political realities; and another to see a U.S. President try to stick missiles in former Soviet states in proximity to Russia.
Bush simply came off as arrogant, and in Putin's mind he was rightly angry with not being seen as relevant to what was going on. Remember that Bush early on stressed his good relationship with Putin; and yet with a decision this major, did not discuss it. You seem as ignorant of what drives Putin as Bush is, including lingering cold-war mentality on the part of the old Generals.
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/28/2202321.htm?section=justin
US and Russian officials have ended two days of meetings without bridging the gap on US plans to deploy parts of a missile shield in eastern Europe, US officials said.
The two sides are intensifying efforts to end a row with echoes of the Cold War, by planning more talks on missile defence at a summit in early April in Russia between US President George W Bush and his counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Russia opposes US plans to install 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a tracking radar in the Czech Republic as part of an anti-missile system which the US says is aimed at protecting against 'rogue' states such as Iran and North Korea.
The Russian side has seen the shield as a direct threat to its security, especially with a radar installation that could survey parts of Russia's territory.
(This has festered for 9+ months now)
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10727642
'The Kremlin is furious about U.S. plans, which carry echoes of the Cold War, to install parts of its controversial missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland. Both are former Soviet Bloc countries that are now members of the European Union and NATO.'
Bush said he would make case directly to the Russian president.
'My message will be Vladimir - I call him Vladimir – you shouldn't fear a missile defense system,' Bush said. 'As a matter of fact, why don't you cooperate with us on a missile defense system?'
(What the hell ELSE would he call him - Fred? What Bush is saying here COULD have been said before this became a problem that we're still dealing with 9 months later; at a time where we need Russia's political support in many other ways).
...not a single dollar has been spent on US missile defense in Europe.
It's all talk.
The lauded Iranian study has been debunked and continues under the guise of 'civilian' nuclear power. They do not need to learn how to build a bomb - any nation with a civilian nuclear program can do it. What they need is, money, manpower, material, methods and the will to do it.
They have all they need. Now it's just a matter of time.
Iran is no threat, to Europe or America, from missile attack, today. Technology, however, is very mobile. There is no corner on the knowledge market, just ask Pakistan, N. Korea and Libya.
The purpose of this charade is to, once again, pressure Russia for their involvement in nuclearizing Iran.
Why else? There is no other benefit.
SP4 are you now telling you 21 spying agencies have it all wrong ?What kind of absurd and raving idiot are you ,to say such thing about your own country .Debunked by...let me guess....Bolton ?Or perhaps 22 other ultra secret intelligence agencies your country has nut known only to you ?
You(re a waste of our intelligence here,please go back to kindergarten and start it all over .You're an embarrassment to the average american by the mind boggling proportions of your stupidity.
...were WMD's in Iraq?
Would that be the CIA????
How about the State dept???
The one's that said there were WMD's in Iraq?
The one's that missed the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait?
The one's who said Iraq never wanted to buy Yellow Cake from Niger, after they WENT there publicly in 1999????
The one's that greenlighted the N. Korean Nuke accord???
The one that said an Oregon lawyer's fingerprints were on bomb material and then admitted they screwed up? (FBI)
Are these the agencies you are lauding???
?????
Why yes, Tonny, I was being so silly!
Why would any totalitarian nation who relies on terrorists to carry out their goals, and has a working nuclear program ,want to build a nuclear weapon, after they publicly stated they intend continue to make one??
Why, after procuring numerous Uranium centrifuges, would they want to make weapons grade material???
Boy! I feel better! How about you? Tell me, what's it like in that gossamer world of yours? I see hippies....happy shiney people holding hands!
Sure hope he takes someone with a brain along with him!
''We talked to the Czechs and the Polls... Theyare independent, sovereign nations that Putin does not control.''
'Not in Putin's mind. '
Oh well. You seem to think that nitwits who believe something that is irrational should be taken seriously. I would have thought the contempt that you get thrown at you here would have convinced you that generally people believe otherwise.
'Bush simply came off as arrogant,'
Did you ask Putin this? No? I guess you do not know what you are talking about again, idiot.
'You seem as ignorant of what drives Putin as Bush is,'
I do not presume to speak for the man, as you do. Again, without having the slightest idea what you are talking about. The man is an ex-KGB agent who has routinely ordered people to their deaths as the new Russian czar. I would suspect he would laugh at the assertion that Bush somehow hurt his feelings.
'What the hell ELSE would he call him '
Retiring terrorist enabling autocratic thug?
This is Bush putting his fist up Putin's ass. Putin is bankrolling the Iranian nuclear program or at least trying to, and this is Bush coming up behind with a bargaining chip.
'...oh haell...if ol Puu tin is gonna get em nukes, we'll jes get ol Putin ABM's on his doorstep an see hoow he lahkes it, eh Karl?!'
Bush the dummy. God, he must just go to his office every night, do some lines, pour himself a Scotch and just laugh his as off!
F- bush in the ear
...but I'm sure if you prep'ed some cee gars, Monica style for him, he'd be really grateful.
page: 1
BeckerMar 29th, 2008 - 15:19:43
Off he goes, and what kind of mess he makes no body knows!
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