Israel Matzav

Rasmussen won't name Iran as missile threat

In a huge concession to Turkey, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen will not name Iran as a potential threat that is meant to be countered by NATO's ground missile system. Instead, Rasmussen will say that there are many countries that could potentially threaten the NATO allies (Hat Tip: Joshua I).

“More than 30 countries in the world have missile technology, and some of them can hit targets in allied territory,” he said in an interview with The New York Times, published on Tuesday.

The remarks are expected to be welcomed by NATO member Turkey, which insists that no country should be singled out as a threat in the proposed missile defense system. Turkey, which has drastically expanded its economic and security cooperation with its neighbors under a policy of zero problems with neighbors in recent years, is especially concerned about an explicit reference to Iran, which is from where many in the West agree is where the threat comes. US officials have openly named Iran in several occasions, but Ankara is adamant that no NATO document on the issue should include a reference to Tehran. Classifying Iran as a threat may also sour the political atmosphere at a time when the US and European countries are considering a new round of talks with Tehran on its contentious nuclear program.

Russia, which opposed a previous version of the missile defense system plans drafted by the George W. Bush administration, is also not mentioned as a threat, given the desire for a better relationship with Moscow and the willingness of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to come to Lisbon and discuss Russian participation in the new missile shield.

What a world! No one is a threat and everyone is a threat. What could go wrong?

Labels: Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Iran, Missile defense, NATO, Turkey

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:55 PM