Misunderstandings occur when there is a viable breakdown in communications. It seems that the Russians dont understand how much hatered is due them by their former sattelites all of whom are praying for saftey under a western umbrella. Banning soviet symbols etc is response to Soviet opression.

mek, London , United Kingdom

@Paul C, Harlow, England
Do you apply the same standards, when you think about your own government securing oil supplies for your petrolium companies? At least Mr. Sarkozy's project is a peaceful one. One cant say that about the U.K. campaign in Iraq.

Chris, Potsdam, Germany

Its no wonder Russia feels the walls closing in. The real problem is the arrogant EU - EUROPEAN Union, which is greedily expanding eastwards. Need any further proof? Simple. Its intention to expand into NORTH AFRICA. Hmmm Sarkozy, Barrosso & Merkel obviously never did Geography at school.

Paul C, Harlow, England

No matter what is the conflict, something big is about to happen. It has been building up for the past decade or better to say, was it ever over since the WWI or II. One subject is certain, US has enough power to interconflict with other countries.Unfortunetaly, everyone notices and doing something.

Kirill Mikhaylov, San Jose, California, US

I still do not believe USA, i do not mean the people but their leaders, esp G Bush. Hasent found the weapons of mass destruction and hanged Saddam H, bombed Afganistan and havent caught Osama bin Laden to date, planing to cripple Iran with intimidation and fear. Wats up USA? Its not even for Euro

Naiknii, Christchurch, New Zealand

It's quite easy to understand: As Europe integrates economically and sees Russia and China as the only necessary parties to deal with, the Americans feel that they could fall into isolation... and so they come and mess things up in Europe again. The president of the Czech Rep. should be executed.

Horace, Firenze (Florence), Italy

might be a strong look at this , but is World War 3 on the horizon????

Tom, Chester,

USA administration is discusting to me. Lying and lying again to everyone - to there own people, to europenians, to russia. Ah yes, it is called information war. Or maybe democracy? How can they say anything about democracy while there are 2/3 of chez people against the US AMB?

Vladimir, Moscow, Russia

Proliferation of nuclear weapons no, but a shield to protect the west against any hothead in the middle east most definitely yes.

B Redfern, Zdole, Slovenia

America wants to destablise Europe, because Europe with all its member states will make up the biggest trading block in the west, that will rival their own United States. Their place in the world is questionable due to poor governmental adiministration. & poor economical decisions.

Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK

Only God can help so we will have peace and happiness.

Let us pray so that we do not have any aggressive and hostile diplomatic disagreements amongst our country peoples and the leaders of our countries. May God, the Blessed Virgin and his Angels and Saints help us, through Jesus Christ. Amen

Donovan Leon Guerrero, Agana Heights, Guam, U.S.A.

Russians play chess while Americans watch Idle. Russia will likely regain its "superpower" status and perhaps worldwide respect if it remains a "free" country. As for the U.S. and England, it appears they're collectively headed the way of the dodo bird.

frank, los angeles, usa

Why nobody write about that that more then 70% of Czech people absolutely doesn't want that radar and that Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs doesn't represent interests of Czech Republic but interests of some body else. Why he was invited for secret meeting of "Bilderberg Group" this year?!?!?!?!?!

Tomas, Vresina, Czech Republic

The world games now,is that russia,china,the middle east,some part of south americans,are rallying against the west and america.they have the right to act and respond too.there have been increasing chinese military build up,all these shows an empire is rising again.

offonabo, enugu, nigeria

We don´t want any american radar here in Czech, 70% of people are AGAINST... but our leaders are just crazy or very good paid for it, just as a communist leaders were.... It is the same again, now in a blue colour.

Jiri, Prague, Czech republic

Veniamin Nikolayev: What exactly have the Polish and the Czechs have to gain from this?
Security from the Russian bear's expansionism and bullying. 1939, 1956, 1968... Sad to see Russia did not change one bit and is becoming so much like the Evil Empire.

Petr, Pardubice, Czech Rep.

Ian Payne 'Russia has got away with murder as a former occupier & never paid for its cruelty !!' how about britian and the rest of europe and there colonial pasts and the cruelties towards those people, how have they paid, or America or isreal, why is it that only the russian should have to pay

Gary , Vancouver , Canada

To Erin, to this day all american foreign aid dollars have to be spent in the US. Those foreign aid dollars go to the most heavily subsidized farmers in the world. As for the Shield I hope this issue disappears after the US election.

Reydin Ramos, Toronto, Canada

julie from NC, how would you like Russian missle defense in Venesuella or Cuba? I don't trust US and NATO, since USSR they broke almost every single agreement. How many WARS US started? Korea, Vietnam, Afganistan, Irak, Serbia, Guatemala, Cuba, Equador...etc. And we HAVE to trust them? ur kidding

Marina, Moscow, Russia

i hope we build em' all over europe in any country that wants defensive missles. russia hasn't helped a whit with the iranian nuke problem,in fact they've been helping them.russia wants the u.s. to be a sitting duck against any rogue regime. there will be war btween the us and russia/china/iran

doug, l.a., u.s.

The YANKS wont be happy until they have achieved world domination fare play to the Russians surely whats good for the goose

glenn, brighton, uk

United States is the country that brought this problem into Europe, not Russia. US see Russia rising, economy and businesses having key roles in Europe and now the US together with its traditional ally UK are desperate to have their past "Atlantic" influence restored. Looks like the time is up.

yomi, europe,

I think the military companies are paying president bush to restart the cold war, just so they will get contracts from a nervous congress

Christopher, White PLains, U.S

The US needs to keep Europe safe from Iranian aggression. The problem is is that Russia is sticking up for Iran and is soft on solving the tensions with Iran in a serious matter. As for the missile shield, it should be placed somewhere else like Turkey.

Sam, Clarkston, USA

The US can posture all it wants, and Russia can posture all it wants, but the reality is that the US is heading towards economic bankruptcy because it imports 70% of its oil, and Russia is the world's biggest exporter of oil and gas. For background on the situation, see www.pickensplan.com.

Victor Panlilio, Calgary, Canada

OK. Someone made a VERY valid point: had Russia tried to station a nuclear arsenal, say (for the sake of argument), along canadian or mexican border, there would be no end to the outrage. It is simply a matter of not sovereignity.

Lylia, Halifax,, Canada

to erin, from virginia, the states of europe never owed the americans a dime for the ERP or marshall plan. that money was given out to those states which complied with the united states' political agenda and all of the money was spent in the united states.

james, toronto,

the US is putting its hands in all directions when its military itself is so much scattered. Bush calls for peace at one time and plans to make a defence shield on the other hand. what is he trying to do? It can cost the US dearly, as the Russians may also do something similar.

Deep, Darjeeling, India

So we want to defend against Iran/Syria? As its easier to hit a missile in the boost phase, it should be based in Israel. This ABM system exists because were fighting a war with enemies who are no friends of Russia. Its time to recognize Russia for what she could be to the west-a powerful ally.

Alex, York,

What a news...Russia = Iran #2 and Medvedev = Ahmadinejad #2. Here we go! And what a coincidence...Russia's a very best friend of Iran...They will point nuclear weapons at Western? Let them do so...let's get back in the old generations and destroy ourselves. We would maybe rest in peace for once...

Roland, Kuwait City, Kuwait

We all know that the main aim is oil or gas in Russia!
What is the purpose of NATO?!
It is obvious-Russia!
On the other hand, Russia isn't an "angel"!

So, we all live in the jungle where they talk about humanity and freedom but we know that they just think about their own survival!

PEACE

Milos, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska

who cares both are faking USA wont do anything and Russia wont either both a FAKES

jim, norwhich, USA

Yeah, funny how America is the devil, yet who does the world call upon when it needs help? Hmmm... If Europe paid back half of what it owes America just from the Marshall Plan, its collective economies would fold. Sometimes you have to play hardball and that often means being disliked by others.

Erin, Virginia,

The fun thing is, the U.S. administration says its against threats from Iran and North Korea, when its clearly directed towards Russia. Its sad to see Poland and the Czech Republic being puppet countries yet again, they just changed sides.

Chris, Potsdam, Germany

This is the best news for days. Why shouldn't Europe pay for its support of the mad regime in the US?
Thank God for Russia - we may have some balance of power restored - since we have shown ourselves incapable of mutual trust and disarmament and investment in a peaceful world, its what we deserve

Marguerite Finn, Norwich, UK

The slow process of disarmament and easing of tensions was going fine now we have similar diplomatic posturing to the cold war. War in western Europe looks distantly possible for the first time in many years, terrifying.

Joe, London, UK

Governments of USA and Britain looks like people with hang-ups, which had a big progress in the past, and big problems now. And irrigates by dirt someone who have small advance.

oleg, st petersburg, russia

The weapons aren't 'aimed' at anything. When a launch order is given the appropriate target package is loaded based on instructions. It's not as if the ICBMs are tilted westward now. The possibility that the weapons could be used against Western Europe always existed, so nothing has really changed.

Matt, Chicago, IL, USA

Russia at the moment has the option to launch its missiles against anyone, should the interceptor be placed there it wouldn't take much of an adjustment for them to impact Russias ability to do so. No country would ever allow this.

craig, cambs,

russia u are right, i don't like what american are doing, you can see clearly, they are just war monger and they create all these problems like israel and palestine for example. Now american are paranoid and they are like a stubbore and naughty child in the classroom, nobody wants him.

zaw, london, uk

These are the consequences of the divisions amongst european countries, fueled by biritsh eurosceptic propaganda.... Europe has the means to take care of itself today and deal peacefully with Russia but you Britons and your euroscepticism has brought to this. Congratulations.

Horace, Florence, Italy

I would rather be safe than sorry. Putin is buddy buddy with iran and I don't trust either one of them. Why is Putin so irritated by missle defense? Does he have something to hide?

Julie, north Carolina, USA

Russia has got away with murder as a former occupier & never paid for its cruelty !!


So did england with its colonies, so did belgium with its
african colonies, so di netherlands and host of ueropean powers

US did it in vietnam and S america,

It is still doing it in Iraq ?

Why this hypocrisy ?

john, Penn, US

They must be insane if they thrust Americans. Americans are biggest threat for words peace. They made aggression against Serbia. Invaded Iraq. Bombing any country if they don’t like it. plan to bomb Iran. putting sanctions here and there. Noam Chomsky said that Americans were been involved in EVERY

Luka, Carnaxide, Portugal

Yes, we should trust USA instead, the most aggressive bully world has ever seen!

johhny, stalingrad,

The funny part is that the Europeans brought this problem upon themselves by supporting the the US AMB deployment in Poland and the Czech Republic. What exactly have the Polish and the Czechs have to gain from this, other than some financial handouts from Washington?

Veniamin Nikolayev, Philadelphia, USA

The U.S. brought the cold war back to Europe.

Chris, Potsdam, Germany

you're mixing up two different conflicts in one article

frank, edinburgh,

Never ever TRUST Russia !!

Who told me ? My Polish Mother-In-Law did when i first met her in 1993. Poles will never trust the Russians after what the Soviet Union did to Poland & Eastern Europe from 1939 - 1989. Russia has got away with murder as a former occupier & never paid for its cruelty !!

Ian Payne, walsall,