A Ground-Based Interceptor missile is tested near Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. PentagonWest Needs New Missile Shield Against Iranian Nuclear Threat, Nato Chief Says -- The Telegraph
Nato's Secretary-General has urged the construction of a new missile defence system to protect Europe from the threat of Iranian nuclear attack.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen told The Sunday Telegraph he has full American backing for a proposed €200 million (£165 million) defensive "shield", which he hopes will be agreed in November at a summit of members in Lisbon.
He was speaking after weapons inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned last week that Iran had passed a crucial nuclear threshold which took it nearer to being able to arm ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads.
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My Comment: I am old enough to remember that when the green light was given by the Reagan administration in the 1980s to build a missile shield .... the Europeans were the most vocal against it.
25 years later .... the loudest call for a missile shield is coming from Europe. Sighhh .... you figure it out.
3 comments:
what was "Europe´s" argument against the missile shield back then?
Mark, your question jolted me. It reminds me of how old I am.
There were many reasons why many Europeans were against SDI and missile defense shields in the 80s. From anti-Americanism, hostility towards President Reagan (of which there was a lot), reaction against the placement of US Pershing and cruise missiles in West Germany .... hence resulting in demonstrations against all US military programs, fears of nuclear war and the media/Hollywood pushing on these fears, fears that the Soviet Union would start a space arms race, and ....finally .... pure politics in both Europe and the U.S.
Hehe sorry :)
I`ve never been part of these "Anti-American" movements.. even with the beforementioned 700 bases in 40 countries I´m happy to have them around - and mind I grew up in Heidelberg, where one of the US Army´s biggest headquarters is. There were never any bad incidents, the soldiers were always friendly and even though I am younger, things such as the Marshall plan are not easily forgotten (we of course learn about that in High school). I am sure I can count at least a dozen of major examples where the US have treated Germans better than it would have been the other way around. So yeah I don´t buy into the "America = evil empire" doctrine, but know plenty of people who do.
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