what a mess. sooner or later someone will launch one of these bloody things!! what then?
Will, Bristol

Watch Terminator 2: Judgment Day. And it's not funny at all. Those corporations that make billions deploying arms everywhere are to blame.

jose, london,

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I'd point out that anti-ballistic missile systems are defensive systems, not offensive weapons. Nations have the right to defend themselves. So, part of the problem is Russia's (or Putin's government's) insistence on being able to destroy any nation with their nuclear weapons.

The sustaining of the M.A.D. capability is part of the dispute. I don't think that M.A.D. capability is good in the long term, because
(1) the missiles could go off by accident in some circumstance
(2) things are more complicated now that there are more than two major nuclear powers (e.g. China).
What if: Power A and Power B are near conflict when Power C (led by crazy tyrants of some sort) launches a set of missiles from a submarine, pretending that they were launched by Power B? C tries to make A and B annihilate each other, and in a traditional M.A.D. situation that could succeed. But with ABM there would be hope... and so I see ABM systems as a positive factor, ultimately.
=========

Vesa, Espoo, Finland

Well done Putin ,the world needed a Man like you keep it up please don't forget 3rd world country.

Nes, London, UK

David was neither as big or well armed as Goliath, but with a stone he killed him. Russia is not in a conventional sense on a par with the U.S., but its missile systems could have a devastating effect on any U.S./Israeli foray into Iran. The RS-24 is not an aberation, but will join one of a series of next generation missile systems which Russia has in its arsenal. We at our peril ignore the capability and threat posed by the Topol-M (its submerged Bulava and MIRV variants) ICBM, the S-400 SAM, and the BrahMos cruise missile system, all of which the corresponding U.S./NATO missile system is inferior.

John Wood, Atlanta, GA, USA

OK, let say these interceptor missiles from Poland intercept couple of these RS24 which have 10 nuclear warheads each, where all those warheads would fall? In Europe. If Europeans don’t understand that it’s madness.

John, Montreal,

That`s the good news for Russia.
Putin is the best of Russia`s leaders for past 50 years.

Alexandr, Moscow, Russia

"Methinks they'd better quieten down and hop into bed with the EU, before the Dragon awakes. "

Which dragon, you mean dragon of Iraqi failure?
Russia is in no way Iraq, it has no fears, it is on the righteous side now and always, proud, powerful and brave, it rises its voice now and the world should listen. Better not hear the thunder.

Milos, Belgrade, Serbia

Poor paranoid Russians. Putin harks from the Cold War era, and placing missiles, building nuclear submarines etc, can only be interpreted by him in one way, the Cold War way.

Why don't we resserect Reagan's wacky idea, when he was developing the "Star Wars" missile defence system, to share the technology with the Russians. It worked on the same principles as MAD, mutually assured destruction, that if we launched our missiles and they launched theirs then we would shoot down theirs and vice versa.

Anyway their is nothing to worry about, if Putin wants a new arms race I doubt he can afford it, one of the principle reasons the Soviet Union lost the Cold War in the first place. Nobody at the current moment could, if it came to it, outspend the Americans.

Edward, Windsor, UK

So would it be alright if Russia installed a defense system in Cuba?

Sammiw, Chicago, USA

Those who think this system is targeted against Russia need to return to primary school arithmatic. Andy, Atlanta, Ga/USA.

Or maybe geography, I don't see any threat to Poland from North Korea or Iran, and BTW did Polish or other Europeans ask for this system to be deployed?

Monika, Hamilton,

These so called new missiles are nothing but dusted off designs from the 1980's that were put on hold at the time due to the changes that were happening inside Russia at the time. These mssiles don't increase the danger. What would create a problem was if they could create a missile with a very fast launch stage that was made impossible to track accurately. Even with the money Russia has from oil revenue now it is still spending much less on its military than during the Soviet era, so at the moment there isnt a genuine threat. The Russian military might have some good weapon systems but its real problem is the rottenness in its human resources. Corruption to the very top in its command structure which is only interested in making money from its conscripts. It has an army of 1.3 million who are mostly conscripts that are illiterate and unhealthy and didnt have enough money to bribe their way out of doing their service. This is more about smoke and mirrors, nothing really new here.

Russell, Lugano, Switzerland

If US going to target Iran's missiles they should deploy theirs in Iraq. Why do they want to deploy them in Europe? I still miss the point for all these smaller states. What do they get in exchange?

Mikhail, London, UK

Pavel is absolutely right. It is the potential of this system that is frightening. Today 10 missiles - tomorrow 100 - accompanied with Nukes. The Americans need to stop pretending that they really care about Europe and it's security.

Really they are killing two birds with one stone with this system. They are fragmenting Europe, creating tension between Russian and the rest of Europe and at the same time making Russia look like the offending party. Why should we make Europe a target of Russian missiles to protect the US. We are destablising and regressing our relations with Russia....and for what?

We are the sandwhich in all of this and we will end up being the belgium of any escalation in tensions. It is American aggression that is seeking to destabilise what has kept the world stable for the last 50 years or so. To blame Russia is irresponsible when it has not initiated such action.

I wonder how the US would like it if Russia was to set up some interceptors in Cuba again

MZR, stoke,

I am astounded by the level of willful ignorance in some of these comments. We are discussing a defensive system, meant to shoot down limited launches of ICBMs by rouge states. By definition the system is no threat to Russia, 12 anti-ICBM missiles cannot hope to stop the 492 Russian ICBMs currently deployed, not counting those on submarines, and assuming that none of these carry multiple warheads. Rather, this system is designed to prevent Europe being held hostage by a state with a handful of missiles. It cannot even support a US first strike, as the Russian submarine-based missiles are more then enough to destroy the US and EU several times over. Those who think this system is targeted against Russia need to return to primary school arithmatic.

Andy, Atlanta, Ga/USA

Russia's banging their saucepans, wanting to be noticed again huh?

Methinks they'd better quieten down and hop into bed with the EU, before the Dragon awakes.

Mark, Woking, UK

The U.S. has no genuine interest to protect Europe from North Korea and Iran. That's so bogus it's laughable. The U.S. simply wants to spy on Russia and the rest of Europe!
How about Russia reunite again with Cuba and place some missles down there. Maybe the U.S. would get the point then. U.S.-stay out of other people's business.

jean jaures, paris, france

I'd probably agree if we were talking about American SRBMs or something offensive to Russian civilians, but by being against anti-missile systems it only sounds like Putin wants Eastern Europe to remain afraid of his nuclear weapons. Crocodile tears.

Tamooj, Paris, FR

Me, Me, Me no its mine its mine its mine

joao, Porto,

The US anti-missile missiles in eastern Europe could be used to support a first strike by the US against Russia. The US missiles would then be used to shoot down whatever Russian missiles were able to launch after the US first strike. It is extremely destabilising for the US to proceed with this plan.

Mark, Glasgow,

I don't buy it. You can't make ICBMs evasive; they are huge and have tremendous inertia. American ABM systems will be effective. In this day and age, there is much to be said for defence against small numbers of missiles launched from rogue states.

Nick, Tampa, USA EX UK

Testing a land based multi vechile balistic missle is completely different to an anit missile system. The MVS is banned as it provides a strong case for first strike in any conflict. Anti missle systems prevent some of the damage a first or second strike will cause. Most european countrys have no nuclear deterent thus there need to join NATO where they are offered some protection by France, UK and US. Those country that left the Warsaw pact also need that protection against Russian but more realisticly South asia and middle east. The europeans will jump at an anti missile system as it reduces the threat of their nuclear armed neighbourghs. As for australia your just pissed of that your not involved.

Henry, Bath,

what a mess. sooner or later someone will launch one of these bloody things!! what then?

Will, Bristol,

Good comment Alexander Baldal. We should reject these missiles because they aren’t defensive, they are aggressive. They are in support of United States aggression. If there is a problem with Iran and North Korea, it is a function of the United States policy towards them. It is necessary to appreciate that the United States does not keep an overwhelming advantage in armed forces for peaceful purposes, and their record of aggression round the world is second to none; though the British must run them a close second. It is a mistake to think that the next major war, towards which the United States is moving, will be of advantage to anyone but the United States. They may get some preconceived benefit but we will all pay for it, so we have a vested interest in preventing it.

Henry Percy, London, UK

The Cold War ended when Russia ran out of money. Now they have oil money, and we see the beginnings of a new Cold War 2. The solution: we should use less gas and oil. Without oil money, Russia can’t afford a new Cold War.

l.karremans, Heusden,

US stupidity and arrogance has created a more dangerous world. First terrorism and now this missile race. What on earth did they expect Russia to do?

Jite, London,

way to go putin.well done

dedesertman, london, england

2 Jason Greer
Don't make me laugh!
Iran rockets cannot reach Poland, neither in 30 years would do. North Korea would sooner attack California and Western Coast, and rockets would not fly through Europe due to some simple reasons.
American anti-missle system is a long-term threat for Russia, now there are 12 missles. Tommorrow there would be 100 missles and one small military base. And in some perioud Russia would be surrounded with your anti-missle system. We know Americans and their "promises" very well and mr. Putin is absolutely right protecting his country.

Pavel, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Spectrum

It is YOU who sounds like a bully who lacks common sense. Actually, you sound perfect for Russia.

Mary Catherine, Elmhurst, US

Do you really think 12 or so missles is going to be a threat to Russia? They have thousands of ICBM's. If it ever came to that it would be the end of the world. For the time being I think it is a good idea to have a defence system against one or two. How does Putin see this as a threat? If they blasted us with what they have that would be it. There would be no win. The dust and fallout would kill everything everywhere. This system is to take out one or two missles from Iran or North Korea. I'm sure systems in the future may be more of a threat but this is nothing to Russia. They just like to bitch and take a step back toward the cold war.

Jason Greer, Atlanta, GA, USA

Time for Europe to face up to Putin who seems to want to threaten Europe with energy supplies and rockets. Looks like the future will be very precarious in Europe.

Tony, Maidenhead, England

America has consistently provoked Russia with Europe cheering along. It was America that first started abandoning arms treaties, expanding Nato when there was no imminent threat from Russia. Europeans continue to cheer along like fools as America continues to provoke Russia. Well, if there is a new arms race in Europe, then whatever the outcome, Europeans will deserve whats coming. By the way, wasn't WWII fought in Europe? Thats right, the Americans are safe on the other side of the Atlantic! Poor Europeans, cry babies, talk about poodles -Goerge bush's!

pete, sydney, australia

It's very nice to read reasonable and sober comments for propaganda article. Thanks God you understand that those were not Russians who promised not to deploy missles in Eastern Europe when we agreed for NATO widening, those are not Russians who always tells us about "democracy" thinking how to get control over our resourses, those are not Russians who now tries to implement anti-missle system making Europe a possible target for Russian nuclear weapon. We just try to protect our borders and do the same things as you would do. Just a "common sense".

Pavel, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

well.. what you can expect from russians?

jimmy , london, UK


Well Jimmy, you can pretty well expect the same reaction from the Russians as the US had when missile bases were going to be installed in Cuba.Not that hard to comprehend is it?

Oliver, Brighton,

Wonderful that now some balance in powers comes about. Super duper violent Amerca must be curbed in its mad global domination with military weaponry. Time to start using the thecnical know how and money to promote global birth control to end the misery overpopulation brings. Preventing victims [of greed] is better to kill/fight them [to take what is theirs] after they grow up. Create a new religon, Ron Paul.

Alexander Baldal, Philipsburg, Netherlands Antilles

That puts paid to the anti-missile shield against Russia. Now the Czechs and Poles ,overwhelmingly against the American system will wonder whether their countries are targeted.

Marco Borg, London, United Kingdom

US are deploying new arms all over Eastern Europe: Czech Republic, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania. What do you expect from Russians?

Martin, Canada,

Our politicians have become drunk with their own propaganda, thinking the rest of the world believes their words as much as their own stupid constituency does. Only Americans believe such garbage. The rest of the world well remembers how Saddam Hussein was 85-90% disarmed while trying to negotiate strongly with the UN, if for nothing else but trying to save a little face, when we hit him. We're always the betrayers at such times and its a legacy that can never be lived down. Putin is rightly protecting his borders so we don't do that to him! And now Americans fault him for using his common sense? This is the very problem with Americans, lack of common sense. Bully's will always suffer in the due course of time, and its soon our time.

Spectrum, Fargo, U.S.

well.. what you can expect from russians?

jimmy , london, UK

America is very naughty to sell weapon to other states and i expect england will follow suit as usual since it is for selling arms over the world poor intelligence of this governement and the next!

vincent, skelmersdale, uk

While Putin's stance is unnecessarily aggressive, the missile shield proposed by the US for deployment in Poland and Czech Republic is even less justified. For one, there is no country that can be seriously suspected of being capable and willing to attack central or western Europe. The only strawman is Iran but Iran has no reason to be suicidal. American argument is totally bogus and aims at assistin in spreading the US influence rather than providing a serious defense.

Giorgio Colassi, Hamilton, Canada