While the United States works to get approval from the Czech government to build a U.S. anti-missile system in the Czech Republic, Russian leaders are all up in arms, calling it a "a mistake which will bring about negative consequences for international security."

The U.S. system proposed to be built near the Russian border with the Czech Republic is intended to protect European countries from the threat of Russian made, long-range missiles currently being supplied by Russia to the Iranian government. Iran continues building it's arsenal of WMD.

The U.S. base would be manned by approximately 200 U.S. military personnel, and could be operational by 2011.

Russia to raise European anti-missile plan with U.S.

Russia said on Friday a U.S. plan to deploy an anti-missile system in Poland and the Czech Republic was a "mistake" which would have negative consequences for international security.

The State Department announced on Sunday the two countries had agreed to start detailed talks on allowing their territory to be used for the system, designed to shoot down missiles with rockets.

U.S. officials say the system is intended to counter a long-range Iranian missile threat, not Russia.

"This issue will be a subject of our detailed analysis and dialogue with the United States and their partners."

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov rejected Washington's reassurances on Wednesday, saying Iranian missiles could not reach Europe.

The Russian military say they have modern missiles which can neutralize the planned U.S. missile defense system. But political leaders insist any NATO activity near Russian borders carries broader geopolitical threats for Moscow.

Russia, whose reviving self-confidence is backed by a windfall of oil and gas revenues, suspects Washington and NATO of trying to surround it and replace Moscow as a patron of ex-Soviet states.

"The creation of a U.S. anti-missile base in Europe can only be viewed as a considerable change in the configuration of the American military presence in Europe," the Foreign Ministry statement said.

"The presence of such a base near our borders will be a factor we will have to take into account when planning the next military and political steps, building national defense," it added.

We can't just sit back while Russia continues to supply our enemies with WMD.

In talks with Chinese officials about the UN sanctions recently placed on Iran, Iran's nuclear chief said, with regard to obtaining nuclear capabilities for peaceful means, "if we are threatened, the situation may change."

Threaten us and we will nuke your ass! That's what I hear.

Anyone who doesn't believe Iran's mission is to build several large nukes to threaten others, including the U.S., is being naive to say the least. (Hat tip: LGF)

Iranian official: If threatened, we will use nuclear weapons

Iran's chief nuclear envoy Ali Larijani said on Friday that Iran is committed to the peaceful use of nuclear technology but warned the situation could change if his country is threatened.

"We oppose obtaining nuclear weapons and we will peacefully use nuclear technology under the framework of the Nonproliferation Treaty, but if we are threatened, the situation may change," He told a news conference after two days of talks in Beijing.

Iran's nuclear chief said his country has produced and stored 250 tons of the gas used as the feedstock for uranium enrichment, state-run television reported Friday.

Vice President Gholamreza Aghazadeh, who is also the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said Iran has kept the uranium hexaflouride gas, or UF-6, in underground tunnels at a nuclear facility in Isfahan to protect it from any possible attack.

"Today, we have produced more than 250 tons of UF-6. Should you visit Isfahan, you will see we have constructed tunnels that are almost unique in the world," State-run television quoted Aghazadeh as saying.

Regional crisis in the making while libs talk.

On the heels of the Iranian nuke statement, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said, if Iran attains nukes, Egypt will also have to in order to defend itself.

Is Egypt declaring its intentions to develop nuclear weapons? Thus it appeared in a speech delivered by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Thursday on the occasion of meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Sharm e-Sheikh.

“We don’t want nuclear weapons,” Mubarak stated, “But since they appear highly present in the area, we must defend ourselves."

Nice!