This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7571660.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| US and Poland seal missile deal | US and Poland seal missile deal |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US and Poland have signed a deal to locate part of the US's controversial missile defence system on Polish soil. | The US and Poland have signed a deal to locate part of the US's controversial missile defence system on Polish soil. |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice travelled to Warsaw for the ceremony, after 18 months of negotiations. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice travelled to Warsaw for the ceremony, after 18 months of negotiations. |
| The deal has angered Russia, which has warned the base could become a target for a nuclear strike. | The deal has angered Russia, which has warned the base could become a target for a nuclear strike. |
| Washington says the system will protect the US and much of Europe against missile attacks from "rogue elements" in the Middle East such as Iran. | Washington says the system will protect the US and much of Europe against missile attacks from "rogue elements" in the Middle East such as Iran. |
| See map of US missile systemThe agreement, which has yet to be ratified by the Polish parliament, was signed by Ms Rice and Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski. | See map of US missile systemThe agreement, which has yet to be ratified by the Polish parliament, was signed by Ms Rice and Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski. |
| 'Aimed at no-one' | 'Aimed at no-one' |
| Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the negotiations had been "tough, but friendly", adding that the deal would make both Poland and the US more secure. | Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the negotiations had been "tough, but friendly", adding that the deal would make both Poland and the US more secure. |
| INTERCEPTOR MISSILES Look like ordinary missiles, but warheads are not loadedIntended to destroy target with kinetic energyClosing speed at interception is 24,000km/h (15,000mph) Guide to US missile shield | INTERCEPTOR MISSILES Look like ordinary missiles, but warheads are not loadedIntended to destroy target with kinetic energyClosing speed at interception is 24,000km/h (15,000mph) Guide to US missile shield |
| Ms Rice said the signing of the document was an extraordinary occasion, adding that the agreement would help Nato, Poland and the US respond to "the threats of the 21st Century". | Ms Rice said the signing of the document was an extraordinary occasion, adding that the agreement would help Nato, Poland and the US respond to "the threats of the 21st Century". |
| Speaking during the signing ceremony at the presidential palace in Warsaw, she emphasised that the missile system was "defensive and aimed at no-one". | Speaking during the signing ceremony at the presidential palace in Warsaw, she emphasised that the missile system was "defensive and aimed at no-one". |
| While Washington believes placing 10 interceptor missiles on a disused military base near Poland's Baltic Sea coast will protect much of Nato against possible long-range attacks, Warsaw sees threats much closer to home, says the BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw. | While Washington believes placing 10 interceptor missiles on a disused military base near Poland's Baltic Sea coast will protect much of Nato against possible long-range attacks, Warsaw sees threats much closer to home, says the BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw. |
| That is why it demanded - in exchange for hosting the base - short-range Patriot missiles for its own air defences and a guarantee that the US will come to its assistance in the event of an attack, our correspondent adds. | That is why it demanded - in exchange for hosting the base - short-range Patriot missiles for its own air defences and a guarantee that the US will come to its assistance in the event of an attack, our correspondent adds. |
| Moscow infuriated | Moscow infuriated |
| The demands had delayed the deal's completion, but the conflict in Georgia gave the negotiations more impetus, says the BBC's Kim Ghattas, who is travelling with Ms Rice. | The demands had delayed the deal's completion, but the conflict in Georgia gave the negotiations more impetus, says the BBC's Kim Ghattas, who is travelling with Ms Rice. |
| Both the US and Poland say the system is not aimed against Russia. | Both the US and Poland say the system is not aimed against Russia. |
| But the agreement has infuriated Moscow, our correspondent adds. | But the agreement has infuriated Moscow, our correspondent adds. |
| Russia's deputy chief of general staff, Gen Anatoly Nogovitsyn, said last week the plans for a missile base in Poland "could not go unpunished". | Russia's deputy chief of general staff, Gen Anatoly Nogovitsyn, said last week the plans for a missile base in Poland "could not go unpunished". |
| HAVE YOUR SAYFor Poland this is sheer folly to become a pawn in the battle between the US and RussiaJohn Li, Hong KongSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYFor Poland this is sheer folly to become a pawn in the battle between the US and RussiaJohn Li, Hong KongSend us your comments |
| "It is a cause for regret that at a time when we are already in a difficult situation, the American side further exacerbates the situation in relations between the United States and Russia," he said. | "It is a cause for regret that at a time when we are already in a difficult situation, the American side further exacerbates the situation in relations between the United States and Russia," he said. |
| Moscow has argued the project will upset the military balance in Europe and has warned it will be forced to redirect its missiles at Poland. | Moscow has argued the project will upset the military balance in Europe and has warned it will be forced to redirect its missiles at Poland. |
| But Polish President Lech Kaczynski stressed the missile defence shield was purely a defensive system and not a threat. | But Polish President Lech Kaczynski stressed the missile defence shield was purely a defensive system and not a threat. |
| "For that reason, no-one who has good intentions towards us and towards the Western world should be afraid of it," he said on Wednesday. | "For that reason, no-one who has good intentions towards us and towards the Western world should be afraid of it," he said on Wednesday. |
| Before the conflict in Georgia there was a reasonable amount of popular opposition in Poland to the missile defence deal. | Before the conflict in Georgia there was a reasonable amount of popular opposition in Poland to the missile defence deal. |
| But new surveys show that for the first time a majority of Poles support it, with 65% expressing fear of Russia. | But new surveys show that for the first time a majority of Poles support it, with 65% expressing fear of Russia. |
| Hitting a bullet | Hitting a bullet |
| The interceptors look like ordinary missiles, stored in silos, with highly automated warheads that are not loaded with any explosives.The agreement was signed by Condoleezza Rice and Radek Sikorski | |
| If fired, the missile is intended to home in on and destroy its target, above the atmosphere, due to the kinetic energy of the collision. | If fired, the missile is intended to home in on and destroy its target, above the atmosphere, due to the kinetic energy of the collision. |
| But the closing speed of interceptor and target will be 24,000km/h (15,000mph), making the task more difficult than hitting a bullet with another bullet. | But the closing speed of interceptor and target will be 24,000km/h (15,000mph), making the task more difficult than hitting a bullet with another bullet. |
| The US has spent more than $100bn (£54bn) in the last two decades on its controversial project to develop defences against ballistic missiles. | The US has spent more than $100bn (£54bn) in the last two decades on its controversial project to develop defences against ballistic missiles. |
| Critics say that, despite all that money, the Pentagon still has not proved the system can work in realistic conditions. | Critics say that, despite all that money, the Pentagon still has not proved the system can work in realistic conditions. |
| Last month, the US signed an agreement with the Czech Republic to base tracking radars there as part of the defence system. | Last month, the US signed an agreement with the Czech Republic to base tracking radars there as part of the defence system. |
| Washington wants the sites to be in operation by about 2012. | Washington wants the sites to be in operation by about 2012. |
| Return to top | Return to top |