Russia Threatens Poland Over U.S. Missile Defense

I've always wondered - if the Pentagon's plans for a ballistic missile defense are focussed on "rogue states", e.g. North Korea, Iran... then what good does having a missile base in Eastern Europe do? It's a bit off the shortest route.

It seems the Russians wonder the same thing.

October 3, 2006 -- Russia has warned Poland against hosting U.S.or NATO missile-defense sites on its territory.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said it could undermine "strategic stability, regional security and relations between Russia and Poland."

He said Russia would have to take unspecified measures in response and could not rely solely on assurances that a planned U.S. or NATO missile-defense system in Europe would not be directed against Russia.

Yet again, the Bush administration's love of shiny big-budget military toys (whether they work or not!) is destabilizing the world.