Evidence of Need For United Europe and Also of Dictatorship’s Dangerous Policy Towards Neighbors as Russia Deploy Missiles in Europe

Russia warns it may target US missile shield

Russia said Thursday its dispute with the United States over missile defense was near a “dead end” and warned it might have to deploy new rockets in Europe to take out elements of the controversial shield. “We have not been able to find mutually-acceptable solutions at this point and the situation is not good.” President Dmitry Medvedev said he still hopes for a deal with the U.S. on missile defense, but he strongly accused Washington and its NATO allies of ignoring Russia’s worries. He said Russia will have to take military countermeasures if the U.S. continues to build the shield without legal guarantees that it will not be aimed against Russia.

The U.S. has repeatedly assured Russia that its proposed missile defense system wouldn’t be directed against Russia’s nuclear forces, and it did that again Wednesday. “I do think it’s worth reiterating that the European missile defense system that we’ve been working very hard on with our allies and with Russia over the last few years is not aimed at Russia,” said Capt. John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman. “It is … designed to help deter and defeat the ballistic missile threat to Europe and to our allies from Iran.”

White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said the United States will continue to seek Moscow’s cooperation, but it must realize “that the missile defense systems planned for deployment in Europe do not and cannot threaten Russia’s strategic deterrent.”