| U.S., Czech Republic Sign Defense Agreement URL: PlusU.S., Czech Republic Sign Defense AgreementU.S., Czech Republic Sign Defense AgreementThe Associated PressThe United States and leaders of the Czech Republic agreed Tuesday to place a radar system in this former Soviet satellite that would warn of long-range missiles coming to Europe from the Middle East. (July 8)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] [Notes:Dateline: Prague, Czech Republic][Notes:NATS up Rice: "I'm very pround to stand with you today..."] U-S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is calling it a landmark agreement. [Notes:Map Czech Republic]It's a deal between the U-S and the Czech Republic.The goal is to place a radar system in this former Soviet country.That system would warn of long-range missiles coming to Europe from the Middle East. [Notes:SOT Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State: "it is an agreement that is befitting for friends and allies who face a common threat in the 21st century and wish to address it through the application of the best defensive technologies that we can bring to bear."] That common threat ... She says .... is Iran. [Notes:Various vid protests]But the deal isn't sitting well with many Czechs.Only about a third say they support the agreement. [Notes:SOT Jan Majicek, spokesman for protest organizers: "We are protesting against it because there were (was) no information for the citizens before the elections so nobody knew about this project, and because we completely disagree with current US policy."] [Notes:Various vid Russia Foreign Minister]And Russia's not convinced either.Officials there believe the system's aimed at their country ... And **not** Iran.Russia's Foreign Ministry says Moscow would be forced to take counter measures if the deal goes ahead. [Notes:SOT Vitaly Churkin, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations: "every military action causes a military response. This is the fundamental rule, this is what military people are about. If there is a military action, if there is change in strategic posture, there is a counter change of strategic posture. You can read it in every military text book."]Meanwhile, Rice says the U-S also wants to place part of the system in Poland ....But ... She says Warsaw hasn't agreed to the plan yet. [Notes:Split screen McCain, Obama]She says the next American president would have to decide whether and **how** to go forward with the missile defense system. ___ ___, The Associated Press.(****END****) Tags: czech missiles u.s. republic defense agreement |