Havana, Cuba. – The recent announcement of Romanian President, Traian Basescu, that his country will install ballistic interceptors is doubtlessly a dangerous YES. Those weapons, part of the new antimissile system designed by Washington for Eastern Europe, pour gunpowder on the complex issue of the relations with Russia. 
 
The argument that this weapons system is for the protection of Romanian territory and is not pointed in Moscow´s direction sounds pretty worn-out and out of context if the cold war is truly over and we live in an age of distension. 
 
Otherwise, a question would arise:  Who is the enemy and target of this missiles system in Central and Eastern Europe? 

By the end of 2009, President Barack Obama had already discarded the original idea of the shield approved during Bush´s government, which the Czech and Polish authorities had so warmly welcomed. 
 
Russia realized that the warlike device was too close to its border with Warsaw and strongly objected it. It even assured that it would respond with military measures of its own. 
 
In this situation, Obama pretended to take a less provocative turn. Advised by the Pentagon, he approved this new system that Romania has just welcomed, like Poland and the Czech Republic already did. 
 
The shield against ballistic missiles favored by former president George W. Bush has been replaced by a system designed to destroy short and medium range missiles in midair.   
  
The specialists say Romanian geographical location had a lot to do with this decision. The country is strategically very valuable as launching platform or traffic point to project force towards the Middle East.
 
Some former Eastern European rulers are not content with this new version of the antimissile shield. Most of them were instrumental to the collapse of socialism in their countries. They sent a letter to president Obama, where more than asking, they demand that the idea of the antimissile shield is not discarded. They claim it would have a great impact in the region. 
 
Characters like Polish Lech Walesa, Czech Vaclav Havel and others reminded Obama of his promise to support them within NATO. 
 
The letter to Obama urges him to strengthen Europe-USA bonds. It suggests advancing in the anti-missiles shield in Poland and radar facilities in the Czech Republic. Both programs were advocated by the previous George W. Bush´s government. 
 
The Romanian government has joined this dangerous game by approving the installation of US ballistic interceptors in its territory. 

Translated by: Pedro A. Fanego

( 03.12.2009 10:13 AM )