An Escalating Superpower

Threatened missile attacks? Foreign policy squabbles? The US in the middle of it?

Yes, the US is in the middle of a foreign policy imbroglio that we did not start, over the plan to place missile defenses in Poland and the Czech Republic:

Nikolai Solovtsov, the commander of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces, said on February 19 that Russia may withdraw from a 1987 treaty with the United States limiting short- and medium-range missiles in Europe if the U.S. plan goes ahead.

Solovtsov also warned that hosting the U.S. shield could make the Czech Republic and Poland targets of a Russian missile strike.

"If there is a political decision [made by Russia] to withdraw from [the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty] that was signed between the United States and Russia, the Strategic Missile Forces will be capable of carrying out this task [targeting sites in the Czech Republic and Poland]," Solovtsov said.

This was one of the toughest comments yet by Russian officials on the issue since President Vladimir Putin warned of a "new Cold War" in a speech in Munich two weeks ago.

Yes, the Russians are opposed to us conducting military operations with our allies.

Putin continues:

Russia's president has said he doesn't trust U.S. claims that the system would be designed to guard the U.S. East Coast and Europe against missiles launched from "rogue nations" in the Middle East.

Which is a curious statement, given the fact that the system would only impact the Russians if the Russians were planning on attacking the U.S. or its allies in Western Europe. Which tells me that Russian foreign and military policy is reverting back to those pre-Glasnost and Perestroika days. That in and of itself is a good reason to support expanded missile defense capabilities.

I'm sure glad that President Bush feels looked into his soul and felt OK. That makes me feel better...