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Originally posted by CHRles Again, it's no surprise that countries like the Czech Republic and Poland are quick to side with NATO.

O RLY? Majority of Poles and Czech public is AGAINST the missile shield.

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/14947

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Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Few adults in the Czech Republic believe their country should join the ballistic missile defence system proposed by the United States, according to a poll by CVVM. 61 per cent of respondents oppose the construction of a U.S. missile defence shield base in the Czech Republic. Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Few adults in the Czech Republic believe their country should join the ballistic missile defence system proposed by the United States, according to a poll by CVVM. 61 per cent of respondents oppose the construction of a U.S. missile defence shield base in the Czech Republic. In December 2002, U.S. president George W. Bush announced plans for the development of initial defence capabilities, which include ground-based and sea-based missile interceptors, as well as sensors located in space. In 2004, the U.S. approached the governments of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland as possible partners in the missile defence system. Yesterday, Luxembourg foreign minister Jean Asselborn criticized the plan, saying, "For me it is incomprehensible that after the end of the 20th century and the fall of the Berlin Wall anyone should start escalating again. (...) We'll have no stability in Europe if we force Russia into a corner. We should help Poland and the Czech Republic to rally around a European position." Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek expressed dissatisfaction, declaring, "As for the 18 European Union (EU) member states who host U.S. military bases, it is not up to them to comment on the existence of such a presence in the Czech Republic." 73 per cent of respondents support holding a referendum in the Czech Republic to settle the issue.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topN...918058420070219

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WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish and Czech leaders spoke on Monday in favor of allowing the United States to use their territory for parts of an anti-missile defense system that has raised Russian ire, saying it would also protect Europe. The two NATO and European Union members are not expected to make a formal response for a few weeks to the U.S. request, which most Poles and several Czech opposition parties oppose. In a joint article published by Polish daily Rzeczpospolita, Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek and his counterpart Jaroslaw Kaczynski rejected criticism that the shield would offer protection only to the United States.

Czech President Says Opposition To U.S. Base Should Be Respected
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticl...e3be2c595b.html

quote:

PRAGUE, August 2, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Czech President Vaclav Klaus says opposition to a planned U.S. base near Prague must be respected -- and that it's up to politicians to explain to the Czech public why they should play host. Washington wants to place a radar station in the Czech Republic as part of a missile-defense system it says is aimed at countering potential threats from countries like Iran. But polls show some two-thirds of Czechs oppose the plan. In an interview today with RFE/RL, Klaus said that was in part because people did not feel a clear enough threat. "I think this opposition should be respected," Klaus said. "It is real. No one has invented it. No one is faking the polls that are being taken. So the first point is that this is the reality." The plans have prompted strong opposition from Moscow, which has described them as a threat to Russia.

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