Wikileaks: Proposed Missile Defense System For Europe Would Not Have Worked

A Russian Topol-12M mobile nuclear missile Photo: REUTERS

WikiLeaks Cables: Planned US Missile Shield Blind To Nuclear Weapons -- The Telegraph

US plans for a missile defence system on Czech soil ran into trouble when defence chiefs realised the proposed radar was blind to nuclear missiles, leaked diplomatic cables show.

A 2007 briefing by General Patrick O’Reilly, director of the US Missile Defence Agency, disclosed that the radar system would be unable to detect long-range missiles in the launch phase because it could only see in a straight line, not over the horizon.

By the time the radar "saw" the missile, it would be too late to launch an interceptor in time to stop it striking its target.

The Czech radar system was the lynch-pin of George Bush’s “son of star wars” missile defence plans, ostensibly intended to intercept missiles launched from North Korea and Iran.

Russia reacted furiously to the proposed system, which it claimed could threaten its own defences and be used to spy on its interests.

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My Comment: This is old news .... the radar system was never the right one for Europe .... but the main stream media is now (a few years late) finally covering this story .... and that is because of the Wikileaks disclosures. Hmmmm .... no wonder President Obama canceled the program .... it would never have been able to do its job.