U.S. -- Russia Relations -- Where Are They Heading?

Proposed US radar station in Czech Republic aims to track ballastic missile launches from Iran. Photograph: AP

From The Guardian:

Russia warns of retaliation after Prague signs US 'star wars' pact

· Czechs to host radar but Poles want Patriot missiles
· Russians 'extremely upset' and considering retaliation

Dmitry Medvedev today warned Russia may take retaliatory steps after being "extremely upset" by a US defence pact with the Czech Republic.

The Russian president reacted angrily yesterday after the Bush administration capped a five-year campaign to extend its controversial "star wars" missile shield project from the US to Europe by signing a deal to build a radar station south of Prague.

The first formal agreement between the US and central Europe on the defence scheme instantly prompted threats from Moscow that it would retaliate militarily if the agreement is ratified.

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More News on U.S. - Russia Relations

Medvedev on collision course with US over missiles and Mugabe sanctions -- Times Online
Russia threatens military response to US missile defence deal -- Times Online
Russia 'extremely upset' over U.S.-Czech deal -- MSNBC
Russia 'upset' by US shield plans -- BBC News
Czech missile shield: Russia to 'retaliate' over US plan, President Dmitry Medvedev says -- Telegraph
Russian threat over US shield -- The Independent

My Comment: Medvedev is the new ruler of Russia. He has to show his "toughness" in front of the Russian people. Using the U.S. Missile Defense system as his whipping boy, he has been effective in Russia of not only showing his independence from Ex-President Putin, but also showing his independence from the United States.

Russia is not in the military position to take on the United States and its allies. Its armed forces are still weak, and will be for decades to come. It will leverage its power on small states like Georgia and Lithuania, and will use Europe's dependence on its natural gas and oil for concessions. This "crisis" will decrease with time.

US Missile Defense Likely Delayed

The Sea Based X-Band Radar is slowly loaded onto the heavy lift vessel MV Blue Marlin as the ship semi-submerges in the Gulf of Mexico, Nov. 14, 2005. The radar is a unique combination of an advanced X-band radar with a mobile, ocean-going, semi-submersible platform that provides the Ballistic Missile Defense System with a detection and discrimination capability that can be positioned to cover any part of the globe. U.S. Defense Dept. photo

From Time Magazine:

(WASHINGTON) — U.S. plans for a missile defense system in Europe could be delayed well beyond the 2013 target because Defense Department experts say the interceptors have not been adequately tested.

Administration officials had initially disregarded the findings and reassured lawmakers the system to shoot incoming missiles out of the sky would work. But with Congress now poised to require additional tests, the department has reversed itself and is planning three trial interceptor launches — a process that could take years.

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Additional News Sources On The U.S. Missile Defense Delay
Testing could delay missile defense plans -- AP
Lavrov Urges Delay on Missile Defense -- Moscow Times

My Comment: Some people are not confident that the system is capable of shooting down missiles. If the Pentagon is successful in the next three tests, this program will be quickly implemented. If there is a failure ..... more testing, and more R&D will be necessary.