There are very troubling noises coming out of Russia today regarding potential military strikes on US targets if the White House moves forward with placing the missile defense shield in Poland.
The timing of this could not be worse, recalling the effectiveness of the beating of the war drums in 2004, we can count on the GOP to play this story up to the max in next week's convention.
From the >Associated Press
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is warning his country may respond to a U.S. missile shield in Europe through military means.
Medvedev says that the deployment of an anti-missile system close to Russian borders "will of course create additional tensions."
"We will have to react somehow, to react, of course, in a military way," Medvedev was quoted as saying Tuesday by the RIA-Novosti news agency.
Russian officials have already warned of a military response to the U.S. plans, but the statement by the Russian leader was likely to further aggravate already tense relations with the West. The comments come after Medvedev recognized two Georgian regions as independent nations, prompting criticism from the U.S. and Europe.
First we had US troops in Georgia performing War Games in July, followed by the all out war that occurred in August. Later investigation uncovered direct ties between the Georgian government and the McCain campaign. Now all of a sudden the White House is pushing full bore for the missile defense shield to be placed within a few hundred miles of Moscow.
The question we have to ask is, WHY NOW ? What is the imminent threat that we need to face down ? Is it Iran ? The UN has confirmed Iran is still years away from developing a warhead. So if not Iran, have we gone back on our word and now directly challenged Russia's security with a system that can allow us a first strike nuclear capacity ?
Why would we do this ? Is it strategically necessary ? Doubtful. Does it create international tension ? Yes Would a war of words with Russia play into the hands of McCain ? Possibly
We need to speak out against this, this is a very dangerous escalation in military posturing, the last thing our country and our forces need right now is a fist fight with Russia.
**UPDATE#1**
MSNBC includes this little factoid in their lead story this afternoon, discussing the Russian recognition of the separatist regions (yes its their typo).
Meanwhile, the the United States dispatched military ships bearing aid to a port city still controlled by Russian troops.
Not good. This is the same port where the Russians captured those US humvees last week and detained Georgian troops. This is all playing right into McCain's world view and bluster.
**UPDATE#2**
CNN reports this morning that the US ship Dallas has arrived in a Georgian port, bypassing the port taken by Russia.
A U.S. Coast Guard ship carrying humanitarian aid docked in the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi Wednesday, as Georgia's Western allies renewed their criticism of Russia amid escalating tensions.
Russia has, in turn, criticized the U.S. program to deliver $20 million of aid to Georgia. One general labeled the move "devilish," according to The Associated Press.
"The heightened activity of NATO ships in the Black Sea perplexes us," AP quoted Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn as saying in Moscow.