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Prague Post February 10, 2010 Czechs in talks to host missile command center High-level meetings under way as part of Obama administration plans By Benjamin Cunningham The missile-defense plan of the Obama administration shifts emphasis from long-range to short-range missiles. A high-level defense policy expert with ties to Washington, D.C. said the Czech Republic is in discussions with the Obama administration to host a command center for the United States' altered missile-defense plan. The official, who requested anonymity because discussions are ongoing, said, "The Czech Republic is not out of the picture." .... In recent days, the Obama administration's altered missile-defense plans have begun to take shape as Romanian President Traian Basescu announced Feb. 4 that his country will host missiles. In September 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama scrapped the Bush administration's plan that called for interceptor missiles based in Poland and a radar base in Brdy, southwest of Prague. A scaled-back successor plan called for Mediterranean Sea-based radars to monitor potential projectiles launched by Iran, and shorter-range missiles to be deployed in an undisclosed southeast European country, which now appears to be Romania. Among Obama's rationale for changing course was the untested nature of technologies proposed by the Bush administration. The Obama administration argues that the short-range missiles are already proven technology. On Feb. 1, a U.S. test of the missile-defense system failed in the South Pacific, with the radar element to blame. The test was meant to mimic a missile launched from Iran and included a missile launched from Kwajalein on the Marshall Islands, and an interceptor from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Both of those technologies proved effective. "The Sea-Based X-band radar did not perform as expected," the Missile Defense Agency said on its Web site. Officials will investigate the cause, the agency added. This was the first-ever simulation of a long-range Iranian attack. "If Obama needed more evidence to back his shift, the failed test gives it to him," said Tomas Valasek, director of foreign policy and defense with the London-based Centre for European Reform. .... The Czech Republic has appeared to be sidelined from missile-defense developments in recent weeks, especially as Poland announced Jan. 21 it will receive American Patriot missiles and deploy them near the border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. .... But the possibility of a command center based in the Czech Republic is in its "early stages," the defense policy official said. Prime Minister Jan Fischer is slated to visit Washington D.C. as he returns from attending the Winter Olympics' Opening Ceremonies in Vancouver. .... - Klara Jiricna contributed to this report. =========================== Stop NATO http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato Blog site: http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/ To subscribe, send an e-mail to: rwroz...@yahoo.com or stopnato-subscr...@yahoogroups.com Daily digest option available. ============================== --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST --^---------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to: arch...@mail-archive.com EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bNM5nn.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: antinato-unsubscr...@topica.com For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit: http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER --^----------------------------------------------------------------
