Russia and Georgia in battle for South Ossetia

In this image, made from television screen, what Russian First Channel claims – are burning Georgian armored vehicles are seen in Tskhinvali in the South Ossetian breakaway region of Georgia on Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. Georgia launched a massive attack Friday to regain control over South Ossetia, using heavy artillery, aircraft and armor. South Ossetian officials said at least 15 people were killed Friday and an unspecified number were wounded

The USA is ready to refuse from the initiative to deploy elements of its missile defense system in Poland. The tough stance of the Polish government became the stumbling block in the talks between the two countries. Warsaw demands very expensive preferences in return for the construction of a US missile base on its territory. It is not ruled out that the USA will deploy its missiles only in the Czech Republic.

The USA is ready to refuse from the initiative to deploy elements of its missile defense system in Poland. The tough stance of the Polish government became the stumbling block in the talks between the two countries. Warsaw demands very expensive preferences in return for the construction of a US missile base on its territory. It is not ruled out that the USA will deploy its missiles only in the Czech Republic.

The conditions, which the Polish government puts forward to the USA, are very hard to implement. An anonymous source from Poland’s diplomatic missions in one of Western countries said that no one talks about Poland’s unwillingness to deploy the US missile defense system, although it is very hard to meet Poland’s requirements on the matter.

The source said that the costs for the modernization of the Polish army and its equipment with up-to-date air defense systems (which is one of Poland’s conditions for the construction of the US army base) may exceed $14 billion.

“There is no way the Pentagon could obtain this money. The US Congress cuts the funding of the national missile defense program every year. That is why the Pentagon has to look for an alternative for Poland,” the diplomat said.