Moscow - Russian military experts are recommending reactivating a radar
facility on Cuba in response to US plans for a missile defence shield
based in the Czech Republic and Poland, it was reported in Moscow
Wednesday. Alexander Pikayev of the Instit...
Posted : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:19:02 GMT
Author : DPA
Moscow - Russian military experts are recommending reactivating a radar
facility on Cuba in response to US plans for a missile defence shield
based in the Czech Republic and Poland, it was reported in Moscow
Wednesday. Alexander Pikayev of the Institute for World Economic
Sciences was quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency as saying a facility
closed down in 2001 in Lourdes, Cuba, could be put back into service.
The reported proposal follows a warning Tuesday by a top US Air Force
general that the deployment of Russian bombers to Cuba would cross a
"red line" and the United States should urge its former Cold War foe
against taking the step.
Russian media had earlier reported the military was also weighing
whether to reinstate a Cold War practice of resuming bomber flights to
Cuba or deploying them there.
"We should engage the Russians not to pursue that approach. And if they
did, I think, we should stand strong and indicate that that is something
that crosses a threshold, crosses a red line for the United States,"
General Norton Scwhartz, nominated by Bush to become the top Air Force
officer, told a Senate committee.
"At the moment, there are just thoughts - but that doesn't mean there
isn't something concrete behind it," an unnamed Russian officer had told
Izvestiya newspaper at the beginning of the week.
The White House refused to directly comment on the report because the
Russian government has not publicly stated its intentions. But spokesman
Dana Perino reiterated the view that the stationing of missile defences
in Poland and the Czech Republic does not threaten Russia.
The United States is working on agreements with the two countries to
counter Iran's growing ballistic capability.
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