Anti-Missile Defense and Iran's Nuclear Intentions

Two bits of news deserve the rubric: How far do you intend to push this game of chicken?

Missile Defense: U.S. anti-missile defense policy has been misguided. It continues to argue the system’s merits for placement in Poland and the Czech Republic despite the failure of the technology so far when decoys are employed. Yet Russia has been similarly imprudent. Its latest rhetorical fusillade comes from Armed Forces chief Yuri Baluyevsky, who said over the weekend that any missile fired from the anti-ballistic system could inadvertently trigger an automated strike by Russia’s own defenses. Vladimir Putin has been vocal but articulate. Baluyevsky’s remarks, by contrast, are Soviet-era blather.

Iran: And now is the news that Russia has delivered the first nuclear fuel rods to an Iranian power station that’s at the center of Western concerns regarding the country’s enrichment of uranium. In statements today, Russia and Iran confirmed the shipment to the plant near the city of Bushehr. The plant can start six months after the final shipment is made, and it’s not clear when that will be. Meanwhile there’s talk in Russia and the West that this is part of Putin’s plan to get Iran to cooperate with international inspectors, and stop enriching uranium. I’ve argued previously that Putin would like to win the diplomatic prestige to be accorded any person who can resolve the Iranian-Western standoff. Putin must be confident of what he’s doing. But it’s a perilous game.

Photo: Fuzzy Gerdes
Rights: Creative Commons