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Leaders speak on U.S. missile site

Gov't to decide on base by end of September

By Brandon Swanson
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
July 05, 2006

What the party leaders say

"I personally say yes to a U.S. base in the Czech Republic. It would reinforce our alliance within NATO. What's more, it is important from a security point of view. However, we cannot hold any adequate discussion on the issue during negotiations on the new government."
Mirek Topolánek,
chairman, Civic Democrats


"[Foreign] bases amount to a serious influence on the country's psyche, its inner integrity. That is why it is worth considering a referendum on the issue, providing there is political agreement to do so. Should we one day say yes, then this would have to be with the backing of a strong majority."
Jiøí Paroubek,
chairman, Social Democrats


"I've said it a thousand times: Nobody approached us on this issue; nobody said under what conditions there would be an anti-missile base in the Czech Republic. We can only discuss the issue once all this is done. We lack legislative conditions to hold [a referendum]."
Miroslav Kalousek,
chairman, Christian Democrats


"We are resolutely against a U.S. anti-missile base in the Czech
Republic because this would strongly increase hazards to the security of Czech citizens. To host any such base on our territory is not a duty of NATO membership. We hope the government will not force Czech citizens into this."
Vojtďch Filip,
chairman, Communists


"To set up this base on our territory would be a significant security hazard. Should the United States take action against Iran without international support, then the Czech Republic would become part of this conflict, regardless of the fact it would have nothing to do with it. We are cautious, even against this idea."
Ondøej Liška,
deputy chairman, Green Party

The possibility of a U.S. anti-missile base in the Czech Republic was one of the worst-kept secrets in Czech foreign affairs: Everybody knew it was on the table, but nobody wanted to talk about it. Until now.

It took the end of the June 2–3 parliamentary elections to loosen the mouths of politicians about the prospect of the U.S. using Czech lands for a base that would function as the third arm of its controversial missile defense shield, but they are finally talking.

And the opinions are as varied as the principal players themselves, ranging from adamantly against to firmly for.

The U.S. has discussed putting a missle base in the Czech Republic, Poland or Hungary since at least 2003.

But the Czech government will decide by the end of September whether to host the base, said Army Chief of Staff Pavel Štefka June 26.

His words sent a flurry of speculation through the Czech press about where a U.S. base would be located.

The Czech News Agency quoted an anonymous \"anti-missile defense expert\" who said it could be hidden 40 meters (131 feet) underground in a remote location. The daily Mladá fronta Dnes reported that the site could be at existing bases Dobøíš, central Bohemia, or Rapotice, south Moravia (See map).

Dobøíš spokesman Stanislav Valtr called the rumors \"pure fiction\" and said the part of the base where missiles could be stored was restituted to a family.

Rapotice Mayor Marcela Smékalová said the Defense Ministry transferred that site to the Justice Ministry last year and a prison is being constructed there.

— Petr Kašpar contributed to this report.

Brandon Swanson can be reached at bswanson@praguepost.com



Reader's Comments:
[13/07/2006] : I'd like to thank our friends in the Czech Republic for considering hosting defensive missiles on their territory as part of a shield for the free world.

We Americans cannot do everything ourselves to protect everyone everywhere. For protection to work everyone must do their part. The Czech Republic has demonstrated that it is adult enough to understand this.

We suffered a murderous attack in my city in 2001. Almost 3,000 of our citizens were killed here in a horrible fashion, burned and pulverized. Bali, Madrid, London and now Bombay have also suffered massive attacks. Those who supported the attackers are now seeking to create nuclear weapons to unleash untold horror upon the world. While missiles are not the only possible method of delivery for their gifts of devastation, they remain the most practical. Therefore a defense against them is a practical insurance that a prudent people would wish to put in place.

I sincerely hope they will never need to be used. But, if the time comes when they are needed and they are not available then Europe and the United States are likely to suffer terribly.

I would prefer the insurance rather than the hope that danger will pass me by.
Dan Maloney
New York
[07/07/2006] : Tell the Americans to go somewhere else and stop interfering in other countries.As the Cubans once said : Yankee go home.
Alec Fort
Oxford
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