US, Poland Sign Missile Deal

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk The US and Poland have signed a deal to locate part of the US's controversial missile defence system on Polish soil. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice travelled to Warsaw for the ceremony, after 18 months of negotiations. The deal has angered Russia, which has warned the base could become a target for a nuclear strike. Washington says the system will protect the US and much of Europe against missile attacks from "rogue elements" in the Middle East such as Iran. Speaking during the signing ceremony at the presidential palace in Warsaw, she emphasised that the missile system was "defensive and aimed at no-one". Russia's deputy chief of general staff, Gen Anatoly Nogovitsyn, said last week the plans for a missile base in Poland "could not go unpunished". "It is a cause for regret that at a time when we are already in a difficult situation, the American side further exacerbates the situation in relations between the United States and Russia," he said.

A few points to consider here:

1. This is being put across as a response to the Russo-Georgian crisis, but dumbass moves like this are actually one of the causes.

2. It's a BS system that doesn't work about 99% of the time.

3. Russia's statement that it would be the target of a nuke attack is a statement of fact, not a threat. If Russia ever feels the need to launch an attack on anyone, they'd take out these missile defense systems first, as ineffective as they are. Poland is foolishly painting a big bullseye on their back.