In an outlandish last century diplomatic statement, Russian General Nikolai Makarov, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia forces threatened preemptive military strikes against United States missile defense sites in Europe just days before Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin becomes President of Russia.
Directly threatening United States Force structure and NATO by military force is a Russian condemnation for the civilized rules and due process of international diplomacy and statesmanship, clearly unacceptable in today’s world and reality.
A statement such as this by General Makarov should rightfully cause our President and the State Department to withdraw and walk away from current talks and cooperation on missile defense with Russia. Not to do so would only encourage this behavior that will continue to increase in intensity and resolve.
United States missile defense in Europe is required and agreed upon by NATO to defend Europe, and the United States of America from ballistic missile threats coming from the Middle East and Iran.
Respectfully,
Riki Ellison
Chairman & Founder
Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance
Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance
NATO has announced that its long-planned European missile shield is up and running. Putin is locked and loaded. I doubt anything major would happen if Putin knocked off the shield.The Jackson-Vanik amendment (for Pete’s sake) a law imposing trade restrictions on Russia that dates back to the Cold War remains in-effect, as is. Opponents of repealing Jackson-Vanik, like Republican Senator Jon Kyle of Arizona, say Russia still falls short on human rights and the rule of law. But Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov – no friend of the Kremlin – says Jackson-Vanik is irrelevant; post-Soviet Russia allows free emigration.