Czech Missile Defense Base in Doubt
On Monday, we told you that the upper chamber of the Czech Republic’s parliament approved the deal for the U.S. to install a missile defense radar base. According to UPI, doubts linger about whether the lower chamber will approve the agreement.
Opposition party member and speaker of the lower chamber Miloslav Vlcek said plainly, “I am certain that the radar will not be deployed.”
Although U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg signed the agreement a few months ago, approval is not forthcoming. President-Elect Barack Obama is not enthusiastic about the bases in the Czech Republic or Poland, and the Czech Republic may be caving in to Russia out of fear. Russia has already said it will install missiles near Poland should the U.S. continue with its plans to build a base in that country.
Tags: Barack Obama, condoleezza rice, Czech Republic, Karel Schwarzenberg, Poland