Missiles

The advance in military cooperation between Russia and the US goes on. The time of confrontation and warnings seems far behind us after Obama went into the White House.

Next face to face will be during the G-20 meeting and is expected the missile shield America plans to put in Europe will be part of the agenda.

Since the beginning, Russia betted for a joint initiative -or otherwise, nothing at all- but that offer was repeatedly refused by Bush administration. With Obama in the office, Biden opened a door for cooperation with Russia in his first international appearance with NATO partners. Ok, Biden was reassuring the willing of Washington in going on with the Project, but at least was handing its hand to Moscow for cooperation.

In a latter letter from Obama to Medvedev -although it is still uncertain that letter ever existed- American president linked the cancellation of the missile shield to the help of Russia against a nuclear Iran. By the way, also the American-Russian nuclear disarm will be in the agenda.

Meanwhile, at the same time Moscow and Washington are talking about burying their missiles, other nations eaging to get into the nuclear club are testing theirs. In Iran, to the worrying about the launch of a satellite on last month, now we have to add the tests for a new type of missile. The wondering comes around which one and what for. Korea, on the other hand, is also testing its own long range missiles no matter what says Ms. Clinton. The weapon is suspected to have a range action able to reach Australia.

Normally, Australia shouldn’t be worried about that. In the end, they are protected under the nuclear umbrella of the USA and the UK, based on their Trident missiles. Unfortunately, American engineers have forgotten how to make them. Apparently, they lost the blueprints to make a critical component of the nuclear device while moving out from their old premises. It jeans a delay in the fabrication -or update or old devices- of at least twelve months and $69 million more to the budget. Obama will be happy.



Photo: Trident missile (going wrong). CNN

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