Article Posted on : - Aug 16, 2008

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia has issued strong warnings to Poland, including the possibility of nuclear missile attacks, in the wake of Poland's decision to permit an American missile interceptor base on its land.

Deputy Head of the Russian armed forces General Anatoly Nogovitsyn said, "Poland, by deploying (the system) is exposing itself to a strike — 100 percent."

Poland and the United States had on Thursday signed a deal for the United States to place an interceptor base in Poland, as part of American plan to build a comprehensive Ballistic Missile Defense shield against rogue nations. Though America has not officially counted Russia among the rogue nations, Moscow feels the positioning of the interceptor unit in Poland is aimed at Russian missile capabilities.

General Nogovitsyn said the Russian military doctrine permits the use of nuclear weapons against "the allies of countries having nuclear weapons if they in some way help them." At a press conference on Friday, Nogovitsyn had warned the US against placing the military defense in both Poland and Czech Republic.

In response to the Russian threats Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski on Friday said Russians could inspect the site to convince themselves that the site was not against Russia.

American officials have tried to play down the timing of the deal with Poland, because of the crisis in Georgia. However, America has been bristling against the Russian action in Georgia. US says the proposed system would protect Europe and the US from possible missile attacks from rogue states such as Iran.

America will place 10 missile interceptors, and in exchange Poland will get Patriot missiles to improve its own defenses. The agreement also includes a commitment that the two countries will come in aid of the other in case of trouble.