As Czechs Protest At ABM Govt Threatens Return To Conscription

MISSILE DEFENSE

A member of the Czech Republic's Communist party protests against US plans to set up radar in his country, 01 May 2007. There are no "insurmountable issues" standing in the way of a deal between the United States and the Czech Republic to site a US tracking radar in the central European country, a US official said Tuesday. Phopto courtesy AFP.

by Staff Writers
Prague (AFP) May 27, 2007
The Czech Republic might have to reintroduce compulsory military service if it refuses to host a controversial US tracking radar system, European Affairs Minister Alexandr Vondra warned on Sunday. "Of course we can say no right now, but such a decision would have consequences," Vondra said on Czech Television."Among them in future it cannot be ruled out that we will have to renew compulsory military service," said the official, a deputy prime minister in the centre-right government.

Washington approached Prague early this year to site tracking radar on Czech territory. Together with 10 interceptor missiles in neighbouring Poland, the radar would protect the US and allies against attack from "rogue" states such as Iran, according to the Pentagon.

Czech compulsory military service ended in 2005 partly because the country could rely on its NATO membership and support from allies for its defence in an emergency.

But that support might not be so forthcoming if the Czech Republic refused to host the proposed radar system, Vondra warned.

The US proposal has angered Russia, created rifts within NATO and split Czech and Polish public opinion. Around two-thirds of Czechs oppose the radar, according to opinion polls.

The Czech government has backed negotiations with Washington over the radar, but members of the lower house of parliament will have the final say.

Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek cannot be certain whether he will command a majority for the controversial project.

The Czech Republic and neighbouring Slovakia were previously one state, Czechoslovakia, which was a member of the Moscow-dominated Soviet bloc until communism collapsed in eastern and central Europe.

earlier related report
Czechs protest at planned US anti-missile radar
Prague (AFP) May 26 - Hundreds of banner waving Czechs demonstrated in the centre of Prague on Saturday against US plans to site a tracking radar in the country as part of its extended anti-missile shield.

Organisers of the "No base" demonstration said around 2,000 people took part in the protest against the proposed base, backed by the centre-right government of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek. Police put the figure nearer to 1,000.

"No American base in the Czech Republic," "We do not want US occupiers and their radar," "Put the radar at the castle," (the official seat of the Czech president), read some of the banners.

"Only this US radar is welcome in the Czech Republic," read the text of one leaflet below a picture of Radar, the US television "MASH" hero.

"We are fighting a David and Goliath battle," declared one of the demonstration's organisers, Jan Tamas, after denouncing the government's decision not to call a nationwide referendum on hosting the US base.

"After a year we can see that the government ignores public opinion and all arguments against the base.

"We must call for their dismissal," Tamas said, prompting chants of "dismiss, dismiss," from the crowd.

"We want a national referendum, before we reply to the US request," said the mayor of Jince, Josef Hala, the site around 60 kilometres (40 miles) from Prague earmarked by US military experts for the radar.

Several hundred people from the towns and villages nearby were bussed into Prague to take part in the protest, organisers said. "We will not give up. We will do what we have to until the last," 60-year-old Stana Braunerova, from Brdy, around 10 kilometres (six miles) from the radar site, told AFP.

Another demonstration has been scheduled for June 4, when President George W. Bush is expected to begin a visit to Prague ahead of the G8 summit.

Premier Topolanek on Saturday repeated his support for the radar, which together with 10 interceptor missiles in neighbouring Poland, is aimed at defending against rocket attacks from "rogue" states such as Iran.

Siting a base forms part of the country's development following the 1991 withdrawal of the last Russian troops, Topolanek argued. "We should be active elements in political security," he added at a news conference following a meeting of party leaders.

Topolanek said that lower house lawmakers were unlikely to vote on the US radar until early next year which should give the government plenty of time to make its case to a sceptical public. Polls have shown around two-thirds of Czech opposed to the US radar.

Source: Agence France-Presse

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MISSILE DEFENSE

A Weekend Of Missile Tests And Deployments Across The Pacific

Washington (AFP) May 25, 2007
The US was Friday forced to abort a bid to shoot down a long-range missile over the Pacific in a blow to its controversial anti-missile defense shield which it wants to extend over eastern Europe. "The target did not reach sufficient altitude to be deemed a threat and so the Ballistic Missile Defense System did not engage it, as designed," said Air Force Lieutenant General Henry Obering.

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