EDITORIAL
In the middle of a week that saw the already strained relations between Russia and the United States rapidly deteriorate over the ongoing crisis in Georgia, word that Poland had finally signed off on a deal with Washington to allow 10 interceptor missiles on Polish soil as part of the US missile shield sharply ratchetted up the tensions even further.
The preliminary deal was signed by deputy Polish Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer and US chief negotiator John Rood. It still needs to be endorsed by both governments and the Polish parliament.
Before the signing, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk remarked: "We have crossed the Rubicon." Unfortunately, this may not be an overstatement.
Russian opposition to placing components of the missile shield in former Eastern bloc countries is intense, as it feels this is a pretext for upsetting the balance of power in Europe. But cooperation on the military shield is only part of the newly "sweetened" deal. Washington has agreed that it will aid Poland militarily in case of a threat from a third country, and also to establish a permanent military base on Polish soil.
Meanwhile, in a press conference held on Thursday concerning the Georgia crisis, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates warned Russia was in danger of hurting relations with the US "for years to come," but was quick to add he does not see "any prospect for the use of American military force in Georgia."
Amid the competing accusations at this time it is hard to unravel the situation in Georgia. What is clear is that Georgia, perhaps believing it had the backing of Washington, launched an attack into the breakaway region of South Ossetia, which favours unification with Russia, and Russia, perhaps predictably, responded with excessive force in subsequently invading Georgia.
For the first time in this century, the spectre of tank columns roaring across Eastern Europe to unleash misery on innocent populations was played out as it was so often in the past century. No country knows this bitter history better than Poland.
While the dynamics of "mutually assured destruction (MAD)" which kept direct military confrontation between the former Soviet Union and the US off the table during the Cold War are still in place, this agreement, on top of the hostilities in Georgia, has the potential to help push back the clock to the dark days of proxy wars.
Now is the time for Washington and Moscow, as well as Tbilisi and Warsaw, to show restraint and wisdom. In that regard the timing of the missile shield deal is questionable. US officials have said the deal was not meant to antagonise Russian leaders at a time when relations already are strained over the fighting between Russia and Georgia, but there is no doubt that will be the effect.
The two issues should not be confused. Russia may be the more guilty party in Georgia, as most of the world press seems to have concluded, but that does not mean Russia's stance on the missile shield is necessarily wrong.
According to the MAD doctrine - aptly named, but strangely logical - any defensive missile shield between Russia and Europe would tip the balance of power somewhat, and the almost inevitable result would be a new arms race that possibly would pull in China.
Russia's real concerns may be mostly a matter of injured pride that its former territories are housing American weaponry, however, since many experts believe that the enormously expensive missile shield could easily be fooled.
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