The Sophian

Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Opinions

Media Credit: Vokha Charnysh

International security is rarely increased by adding new rockets, no matter how defensive the names of the installations. Especially if the rockets are stationed on the border with Russia.

On Aug. 20 U.S. State Secretary Condoleezza Rice and Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski sealed the long-negotiated missile defense deal. Ten missile defense interceptors on Polish soil will allay America's fears of Iran's strike and, in exchange, 20 U.S. Patriot missiles will lessen Polish anxiety over Russia. Earlier this summer an agreement signed in Prague provided for another important component of the US missile defense system - a tracking radar base, which will be set up on the Czech territory despite loud complaints of the worried Czech public. The U.S. plans to put the Polish and Czech sites into operation by 2012. But will the missiles make Europe safer?

Reluctant to sign the agreement for a long time, Polish authorities admitted that they do not regard Iran as a threat and see no need in the missile shield. But after Russian troops entered Georgia, Poland grew wary of its eastern neighbor and hurried to cooperate with the U.S., stressing the mutual commitment between Poland and America to come to each other's defense in times of trouble. While Washington claims its 10 interceptors will be aimed at no one, Polish air defense upgraded with American Patriot missiles will probably face Poland's long-time nemeses Russia and Belarus, with whom Poland was united into one state, Rech Pospolita, for over two centuries.

The U.S. move has irritated Russia to destabilizing the already shaky European security structure. According to Washington, the defense shield in Poland is meant to protect against missiles from Iran, a hypothetical threat that may never materialize. On the other hand, Moscow, irritated at the U.S. violating its sphere of interest, is becoming quite a real threat, if not for the U.S. but for the former Soviet satellites that may become target. Russia argues that the weapons are aimed at Russia and undermine its nuclear deterrent and tries to reassert its influence in the region.

The opposing parties in both the Czech Republic and Poland are justified in their concerns that hosting U.S. military installations endanger their countries. A Russian general has explicitly threatened Poland by saying that it is now the target for Russian missiles. Will 20 American Patriot missiles protect Poland?

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