Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Good old buddy Gerhard S. defending Russians from weapons that aren’t pointed at them

Cleary miffed at seeing how everyone in Germany has forgotten how much better they had it under his leadership, and sick and tired of having to clean up around the house after wife Doris all day long, ex-Chancellor Gerhard S. has volunteered to slam US plans to build a high-tech missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, calling it dangerous and absurd.



Being now anything but dangerous himself, Mr. S. did go a bit absurd on us this time, however. Because anyone who as ever taken the time to look at the planned Ballistic-Missile-Defense-System (BMD), Vladimir Putin included, knows that it poses no threat to Russia’s missile defense system.

Putin’s recent theatrics in Munich aside (election time, he took a tip from Gerhard S. here, too), the United States has remained in constant contact with Russia about its BMD plans. And although this may be a technology bordering on science fiction fantasy, assuming it works, it is not designed to, nor will it be able to neutralize a force like the 1500 intercontinental warheads Russia has at its disposal. Rockets fired from Poland aren’t even in the position to reach such weapons in time.

Gerhard’s histrionics remind me of Gerhard’s histrionics. From the good old days, I mean. Only this time he’s not up for reelection. What on earth could be motivating this man? I have to assume that it’s something personal. Did the United States run over his kitten as a child or something?

And it’s not as if Germany needs to take threats made by hostile foreign forces seriously these days or anything. And their buddies higher-up (the ones with the rockets), they would never threaten Germany, either, right? Right. That’s why the rockets are being stationed in Poland and the Czech Republic, I guess.

Wir machen lieber ein Bombengeschäft mit ihnen.

Kommentare auf Deutsch? Selbstverständlich.

Posted by clarsonimus at 07:00:58 | Permanent Link | Comments (9) |
Comments
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1 - Of course the planned dislocation of a new Ballistic-Missile-Defense-System by the U.S. is a threat for Russia, at least in military categories: A threat doesn't say anything about ambitions but about capabilities. Ooops! Had to read that twice before I understood: You said that the planned US missile defense is no threat for the Russian missile defense! That is as true as misleading, I think. Or is the American BMD an anti-anti-missile defense? =D (Comment this)

Written by: 2020 at 2007/03/13 - 12:29:57
2 - 2020, the whole idea is to stop "rogue" missiles from "rogue" states (or others), Iran and North Korea, for instance. As far as I understand it, it couldn't be effective against an all-out attack from a country like Russia. And I bet the minute that Iran finally announces it has a warhead (they already have the rocket) in what, about two years, the Russians will suddenly express great interest in this program, too - or develop one of their own. And that Germany is seemingly willing to rely upon Poland and the Czech Republic to protect them here, so-to-speak, well, that's a bit strange, historically speaking, but hey, that's their business. (Comment this)

Written by: Clarsonimus at 2007/03/13 - 15:49:30 in reply to: 1
3 - Some years ago France offered us to take us under their "Atomschild".
Meaning, if we get attacked with an A-Bomb, France will "avenge" us with theirs.
It's nice but useless.
We are part of the EU and NATO.
If we get attacked (a big if), all EU and NATO partner are bound to help us in every way to the greatest possible extent.
Second, somehow i don't believe in absolut national sovereignty, by Poland and Czech Republic, over this U.S. planned BMD stations on their territory. There will be a single command center somewhere in the U.S.A (NORAD?).
So, if one day a big bad rocket is flying with direction Berlin, I don't think everybody would say "Uhm, yeah not our problem". (Comment this)

Written by: Volker at 2007/03/13 - 17:20:55
4 - Volker, I don't either. I just think it strange that "old Europe" keeps looking "alt/älter aus" in questions like this and lets others take the initiative. Ironic, too, that Germany would let itself get "surrounded" by these things, like Russia says it feels surrounded. (Comment this)

Written by: Clarsonimus at 2007/03/13 - 18:51:59 in reply to: 3
5 - Putting aside the fact that Germany has no enemys in the world, the only threat for us are terrorists, that can actually build a bomb without failing time fuse and high unemployment (that one is luckily on the decrease).
Irans mortal enemy is Israel and North Korea the one of the U.S.A. .
We aren't the first ones on their list.
You know we are "umgeben von Freunden", if these friends want to have bigger guns and a BMD, to feel more secure, why not? I know Poland is not our best friend in the world, but apart from the "Kartoffel" thing and the "Bund der Vertriebenen", we have a pretty normal relationship.
At least the "normal" people in our countrys.
Sry but I cannot see why we should station such rockets in our backyard.
There would be no benefit from that.
And Russia is only marking his territory. (Comment this)

Written by: Volker at 2007/03/13 - 20:26:27
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