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Scientist's New Missile Defense: Killer Drones

Wired News USA
By Nathan Hodge: March 12, 2009

Stationing missile-defense interceptors in Europe has been, to borrow a phrase, a great way to lose friends and alienate people. The Bush administration’s push to build a third missile-defense site in Europe infuriated the Kremlin, and caused no end of controversy in Poland and the Czech Republic.

It now looks as if President Barack Obama may be backing away from plans to put ballistic missile interceptors in Eastern Europe, but …

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2009/03/scientists-alte.html

Job fears at construction firm – new development contract at Menwith Hill involved

Independent Television News
Tuesday, 10 March 2009

Hundreds of jobs are at risk after the Wrekin Construction Group, which banks with RBS, went into administration. …

On Monday, Wrekin Construction announced it had been awarded a contract by Defence Estates for construction work at RAF Menwith Hill, due to start later this month.

www.itv.com/News/Articles/Job-fears-at-construction-firm-186172370.html

Russian official more optimistic on disarmament

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: March 8, 2009

Russia’s foreign minister called yesterday for an end to 10 years of failure in global-disarmament talks, trying to build on an upbeat meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Sergey Lavrov said that a stalemate at the Conference on Disarmament on issues from atomic bombs to space weapons can be broken now that the U.S. administration is “in favor of multilateral approaches to the maintenance of international security and disarmament.”

“The right moment has come today, for the first time after the end of the Cold War, for making real progress in resuming the global-disarmament process on a broad agenda,” Lavrov told the 65-nation body. …

www2.journalnow.com/content/2009/mar/08/russian-official-more-optimistic-on-disarmament/

Russia offers hope for global disarmament talks

KTAR.com
March 7th, 2009
By BRADLEY S. KLAPPER
Associated Press Writer

Russia’s foreign minister called Saturday for an end to a decade of failure in global disarmament talks, seeking to build on an upbeat meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Sergey Lavrov said a stalemate at the Conference on Disarmament on issues from atomic bombs to space weapons can be broken now that the U.S. administration is “in favor of multilateral approaches to the maintenance of international security and disarmament.”

“The right moment has come today, for the first time after the end of the Cold War, for making real progress in resuming the global disarmament process on a broad agenda,” Lavrov told the 65-nation body.

The conference has failed to produce anything of substance since completing the nuclear weapons test-ban treaty in the mid-1990s. Confidence in the body was shattered in the early years of George W. Bush’s administration, when the United States withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and from six years of talks on a biological weapons ban. …

http://ktar.com/?nid=46&sid=1098486

Russia, China call for space weapons ban

UPI – GENEVA, Switzerland: March 7 2009

Russia and China say they want all countries to unite in declaring outer space off limits to weapons.

“Prevention of an arms race in space will contribute to ensuring the predictability of the strategic situation and preserving the orbital property,” Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, said Saturday. …

www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/03/07/Russia_China_call_for_space_weapons_ban/UPI-24331236454869/

Report Suggests Russia Is Developing Space Weapons

6 March 2009

A deputy defense minister said Thursday that Russia is working towards developing anti-satellite weapons to match efforts by other nations.

According to Russian news reports, Gen. Valentin Popovkin said that while the country continues to oppose a space arms race, it would respond to moves made by other countries.

Popovkin was quoted as saying: “We can’t sit back and quietly watch others doing that, such work is being conducted in Russia.”

He added that Russia already has some “basic, key elements” of such weapons. However, he didn’t elaborate further …

http://redorbit.com/news/space/1650425/report_suggests_russia_is_developing_space_weapons/index.html

Scientist group: Drop missile shield

United Press International – USA: WASHINGTON, March 4

President Barack Obama should drop plans for a U.S. missile defense system in Eastern Europe, the Union of Concerned Scientists said Wednesday.

In a statement, David Wright of the group’s Global Security Program said that there are both technical and strategic reasons for reversing the Bush administration’s plan to locate parts of the system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

The system is untested and there is no proof it would be effective, Wright said. But plans to install it have enraged Russian leaders, threatening U.S. security by hampering cooperation on important issues like halting Iran’s nuclear program.

“President Obama should say no to deploying a missile defense system that offers no security benefits and needlessly provokes Russia,” Wright said. “Missile defense is not a magic bullet. Real-world threats require real-world solutions.” …

www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/03/04/Scientist_group_Drop_missile_shield/UPI-38951236201674/

Japan to deploy ‘Son of Star Wars’

United Press International – USA: TOKYO, March 3 2009

Japan is preparing to become the first country to deploy a ship-based, long-range missile defense system as North Korea apparently readies a missile test.

The controversial system, dubbed “Son of Star Wars,” has been installed aboard Japanese naval destroyers which are set to be dispatched to areas off North Korea should Pyongyang move ahead with an anticipated rocket launch …

www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/03/03/Japan_to_deploy_Son_of_Star_Wars/UPI-20211236117963/

Japan to deploy 'Son of Star Wars'

United Press International – USA: TOKYO, March 3 2009

Japan is preparing to become the first country to deploy a ship-based, long-range missile defense system as North Korea apparently readies a missile test.

The controversial system, dubbed “Son of Star Wars,” has been installed aboard Japanese naval destroyers which are set to be dispatched to areas off North Korea should Pyongyang move ahead with an anticipated rocket launch …

www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/03/03/Japan_to_deploy_Son_of_Star_Wars/UPI-20211236117963/

Recent words aside, US continues Military Encirclement of Russia

Media Monitors Network – CA,USA
March 7, 2009

Southeast of Georgia and on Russia’s southern flank, US Central Command chief David Petraeus announced that Azerbaijan would be used as a transit route for NATO arms headed to the Afghan war theater. The US has also ordered more Azerbaijani troops deployed there to serve under NATO command and the US Missile Defense Agency is considering expanding its global missile shield program to include what is now a Russian surveillance base in Garbala, Azerbaijan. …

Two weeks ago US defense chief Gates reiterated that the Pentagon has a “continuing security relationship with Georgia both bilaterally and through NATO-Georgia Commission” and according to Civil Georgia “We’re involved in training. We are involved in military reform in Georgia.” …

http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/60405

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