The Old Reflexes

As if we wouldn’t recognize that old game: NATO wants to deploy a missile defense system in Europe and also get rid of nuclear weapons. The swift response from the Russian General Staff is that every Russian military district — there are currently four — will be armed with the new “Iskander” short-range missile at brigade strength. The word is that this program is receiving high priority in the modernization of the Russian army.

Deployment of this missile has already caused a stir since the Kremlin’s reaction to the plan to station U.S. missiles in Poland caused the Russians to say that they would not rule out stationing these same missile types in the Kaluga province and the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad. All these back and forth threats are reminiscent of 30 years ago when the Soviets deployed their SS-20 ballistic missiles and the United States responded with their Pershings. So the old reflexes are still alive and well on both sides. And that makes policy more predictable, if not one bit wiser. It’s precisely these same Russian missiles that the political warheads at NATO will use to justify keeping American nuclear bombs — bombs that can be carried by German aircraft as well — within easy reach on the “old continent.”

In the debate about NATO’s new strategy, still scandalously secret and scheduled to be held in Lisbon next month, all the talk is about inviting Russia to participate in the armaments upgrade debate. It would really be more helpful if they would remember how nations disarm, scrap their weapons and thus create an atmosphere of trust.