by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright April 4, 2008
All Rights Reserved.

humbing his nose at Russian President Vladimir Putin, President George W. Bush convinced NATO foreign ministers meeting in Bucharest April 3, to back his missile defense plan. Putin has already signaled that he will move ahead of his own deployment of deadly medium range missiles, triggering a new arms race with the former Soviet Union. Touting the agreement, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called the deal “a breakthrough document on missile defense for the alliance,” despite the geopolitical consequences of antagonizing the Russian Federation. Bush expects to deploy anti-missile batteries in Poland and the Czech Republic, allegedly to defend Europe from a hypothetical missile attack from rogue nations like Iran and North Korea. Bush also didn't endear himself to Putin, urging the 26-nation alliance to add former Soviet republics of Ukraine and Georgia.

      Putin opposed entry in NATO of Ukraine and Georgia, viewing the former Soviet republics as breakaway states. Since the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union, Putin has watched the once superpower disintegrate into a second-rate nuclear-armed player. Moscow opposes more expansion on Eastern Europe, its buffer zone after WWII. Contracts have already been signed, sealed and delivered to Lockheed Martin, commissioned with building Europe's “Star Wars” missile defense system, something advocated over 20 years ago by the late President Ronald Reagan. Despte the deep chill between the U.S. and Russia, Putin will meet with Bush April 4, hoping to persuade him to back down. Missile defense in Europe has been a dream of four presidents for more than 20 years. Putin opposes U.S. missile deployment, giving the U.S. too much influence in Eastern Europe.

      Bush hopes to get “a strategic framework” in which to guide relations with the U.S. and Russian Federation. Putin opposes missile defense because it highlights the military and technological superiority of the U.S. “Part of that has to be some discussion of missile defense,” said Rice, hoping that Putin would make concessions when they meet on Friday. Only a month ago, Putin threatened to retaliate against Europe should the U.S. go forward with missile defense. “Restrictions on sovereignty . . . have already had certain consequences, such as the stationing of bases or a positioning area for missile defense in Eastern Europe, which we believe is aimed at neutralizing our nuclear missile potential,” Putin told the BBC Feb. 18, threatening to point nuclear warheads at the Ukraine. Putin told the Russia State Council Feb 12 that a “new phase in the arms' race is unfolding the world.”

      Lockheed Martin and European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company stands to split $3 billion to build the MEADS or medium extended air defense system, designed to protect Europe from hypothetical missiles from a rogue regime like Iran or North Korea. Putin doesn't buy the rationale for missile defense, believing encroachment by the U.S. With the U.S. fighting a two-front war in Iraq and Afghanistan and threatening possible military action against Tehran for its uranium enrichment program, pushing European missile defense causes more global insecurity. Once contracts are signed, it's difficult for the U.S and Europe to back down, seeing the joint venture as good for the defense industries on both continents. Looking at the big picture, missile defense is not worth causing another Cold War-style nuclear arms race. Putin will want concessions when he meets with Bush on April 4.

      Defense contracts take precedence over regional or global security. Both the U.S. and European corporations reap the reward while the world gets less safe. Bush has already reassured Putin that Russia will be able to monitor the missile cites and delay implementation until a rogue regime test a missile capable to hitting Europe. Rice hopes to placate Putin, discouraging him from pointing nuclear weapons on European targets. “We hope that we can move beyond that to an understanding tha we all have an interest in cooperation on missile defense. But we will see,” said Rice, uncertain whether just reassurance will be enough for Putin. Whether discussed or not, Putin will demand some kind of cash concession, a type of commission paid for his cooperation. Poland and the Czech Republic also stand to gain handsomely for their willingness to house the missile defense system.

      Getting concessions on missile defense, Putin managed to keep the Ukraine and Georgia from joining NATO. Putin still hasn't given up on pressuring both countries to return to the Russian Federation. Pushing for missile defense in Europe has little to do with world security and more to do with multibillion-dollar contracts by multinational corporations. “Ballistic missile proliferation poses an increasing threat to allies' forces, territory and populations. Missile defense forms part a broader response to counter this threat,” said a NATO statement, justifying the whopping contracts signed by Lockheed Martin and EADS. While NATO expressed its willingness to share technology with Russia, it's clear that closing multibillion dollar deals drives U.S. defense policy. It's beyond ironic that Russia supplies Tehran the technology to eventually arm warheads with nuclear weapons.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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