Discuss this editorial.

To the warmongers: Poland is 2,400 miles from Iran. Iran is 7,000 miles from the United States. The longest range Iranian missile goes 1,200 miles. We have military bases in Iraq -- on the border with Iran. We have geosynchronous military satellites over Iran. Polan is zero miles from Russia. The justification for putting American missiles in Poland to protect us from Iran is....

War is a crime @ 6:44 PM PST, Nov 17, 2008

I thought Russia was supporting a nuclear Iran by providing them with materials.

Jim Huff @ 4:32 AM PST, Nov 17, 2008

The author needs to go back and check his facts. There are very many proven missile defence programs and the one being planned for deployment in Poland has been tested thoroughly. It would be affective against the future threat posed by Iran or Pakistan. Not so affective against Russia which makes there complaints all the more strange.

Kristian @ 7:08 PM PST, Nov 14, 2008

The real world is on the otherside of the looking glass. For years certain republicans have been obessessed with the idea of a "missile defense shield" or "star wars" as it used to be called. Some have even credited "star wars" with the downfall of the Soviet Union! Now Bush wants to put a "missile defense shield" in europe and Russia gets all upset. What seems to be escaping everyone is that it is all cloud cuckoo land. It is an impractical scheme, as every missile scientist knows. It represents no threat to the Russia or anyone else. It is simply a waste of money.

Stefan Schreier @ 6:50 PM PST, Nov 14, 2008

One way to eliminate the Iranian threat is to slap a $1- $2 tax on a gallon of gas, for a couple of years. The seething and unrest must reach a fever -pitch in Iran due to the devastated oil prices. Assorted fruitful results will follow - assuming Israel doesn't go berserk without American go-ahead. Russia needs a pat on the head and assurance that it is, yes, an important country. Thats whats nagging them. Bill Clinton as an envoy for Russia would do a world of good -he can repeat the head-patting he has perfected among the third-worlders, though it might be a little more strenuous with those stern russians.

Raj @ 6:36 PM PST, Nov 14, 2008

When we are talking about Iranian missiles, we need to understand Iran is in serious economic turmoil/ If we really want to mess up Iran, we need to find ways to cut down on our use of oil - causing the price of oil to drop further. The Iranian government will then have to choose between its missiles or its economy.The lower the price of gasoline, the deeper the hole the regime of mullahs will dig for itself. Obama plays a mean game of basketball. As of now Barack O'Balla has control of the ball and the clock's winding down.

William Joseph Miller @ 3:23 PM PST, Nov 14, 2008

Congratulations on your common sense. Your editorial apparently overlooked an importnat field test conducted several years ago. The military tried to shoot down a decrepit satellite with a star wars missle. the launch was dealyed several days because of inclement weather. I've been to both Poland and the Czech Republic. Even in mid-summer, the weather in Poland and the Czech Republic is miserable. Will our star wars missile system work? It doesn't make any sense to install a missile system that can only deliver when the sun shines

William Joseph Miller @ 3:19 PM PST, Nov 14, 2008

One only has to remember back to the Cuban Missile Crisis and see how the US reacted to the idea of placing Soviet missiles so close to the US. It hard to believe some of the airheads commenting here are getting all bristled up with the nonsense of challenging Russia in such a foolish way. Don't we have better things to do?

steveC @ 12:23 PM PST, Nov 14, 2008

It's fun to see once again the liberals complaining, oxymoronically, that missile defense is both unworkable and destabilizing. And if the Russians don't want a nuclear Iran, how come we have to bribe them by giving up a missle defense? The editorial also seems to believe that we should worry about Iranian missiles and nukes only after their existence has been confirmed -- i.e., when it is too late.

James @ 12:17 PM PST, Nov 14, 2008

The continued research on missile defense maybe in some way beneficial although it's not likely. Presently, after twenty plus years of research and about 160 billion spent, it is now possible to intercept an incoming missile providing, the time, precise location of the launch, and the enemy missile is equipped with transmitting a signal on a known frequency to allow our defensive missile to home in on. Now it shouldn't be too hard to get our enemies to have the courtesy to co-operate and advise us of these details. Right? Otherwise it's a great way to further destabilize the planet by disrespect our treaties and obligations.

Denis E Coughlin @ 10:15 AM PST, Nov 14, 2008

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