Russia: Poland risks attack because of US missiles

A top Russian general said on Aug. 15 that Poland's agreement to accept a US missile interceptor base exposes the ex-communist nation to attack, possibly by nuclear weapons, the Interfax news agency reported. The statement by Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn is the strongest threat that Russia has issued against US plans to put missile system elements in former Soviet satellite nations. The day before, Poland and the United States signed a deal for Poland to accept a missile interceptor base as part of a system the United States says is aimed at blocking attacks by rogue nations. Moscow, however, feels it is aimed at Russia's missile force. "The USA is engaged in an anti-missile defense for its own government, and not for Poland. And Poland, in deploying [elements of the system] opens itself to a military strike. That is 100 percent," Interfax quoted Nogovitsyn as saying. He added, in clear reference to the agreement, that Russia's military doctrine sanctions the use of nuclear weapons "against the allies of countries having nuclear weapons if they in some way help them." According to Interfax, Nogovitsyn said that would include elements of strategic deterrence systems. In agreeing to deploy elements of the US missile shield, Poland "becomes an actionable object. Those targets are destroyed in the first order," Nogovitsyn said. At a news conference earlier that day, Nogovitsyn had reiterated Russia's frequently stated warning that placing missile-defense elements in Poland and the Czech Republic would bring an unspecified military response. But his subsequent reported statement substantially stepped up a war of words. "We have crossed the Rubicon," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, referring to US consent to Poland's demands after more than 18 months of negotiations. In an interview on Poland's news channel TVN24, Tusk said the United States agreed to help augment Poland's defenses with Patriot missiles in exchange for placing 10 missile defense interceptors in the Eastern European country. He said the deal also includes a "mutual commitment" between the two nations to come to each other's assistance "in case of trouble." That clause appeared to be a direct reference to Russia.