European Missile Defense Base may go to CR, Poland or U.K.

Posted on: Aug. 21st, 2006 || Source: cbw.cz | E-mail Article | Print Article

European Missile Defense Base may go to CR, Poland or U.K.

Opposition to hosting an anti-missile base has led the United States to look beyond its preferred option of locating interceptor units - capable of knocking out a ballistic missile fired by terrorists or hostile nations - in the Czech Republic or Poland, with British officials saying U.S. defense planners are making discreet inquiries.

Two separate public opinion polls conducted by Median in July and Stem in August found 83 percent and 51 percent of Czech, respectively, opposed to hosting a U.S. base. The Stem poll also showed that 61 percent want a referendum held on the issue, the main demand of the “Ne základnám” (no to bases) initiative, which includes more than 30 civic organizations, including Greenpeace and Soldiers Against War; a protest is planned for Aug. 21. The Communists (KSČM) will demand a referendum at the Aug. 29 session of Parliament.

“Definitely a new piece of information was that the site would also be used to protect the area of Europe,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Tomáš Pojar, who led a recent delegation of Czech foreign and defense ministry officials to the U.S. last week.

Pentagon and U.S. Missile Defense Agency experts presented plans to install radars and defense missiles by 2011 throughout Europe that could destroy enemy missiles launched from threat-posing countries such as North Korea or Iran, he said.

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