NATO's Missile Shield

Russian continues to raise strong objections to the deployment of an anti-ballistic missile system that will protect the US and Europe from rogue missile attacks. Secretary of State Rice called Russian objections "ludicrous" and while that may not have been the most diplomatic statement it was certainly accurate. The Russians know full well that the system is designed to protect against a limited number of missiles and would quickly be overcome by the numbers and countermeasures that they could employ. The protection the system provides is against a non-state actor or a rogue state that gets its hands on a few ballistic missiles and tries to use them or hold the western world hostage until some demand is met. This system is a defense against the asymmetric terror threat that New York, Washington, London and Madrid know all to well is real. The Russian sabre rattling is a slight of hand to distract attention away from their slow but steady slide back to authoritarian control. Tony Blair has been a strong supporter of the system, it will be interesting to see if this support waivers when Gordon Brown replaces him.