Russian Missiles Could Reach Mideast Via Belarus

Russia's recent decision to supply Belarus with Iskander missile systems comes in response to the deployment of a US antimissile system in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Russian media quoted official sources as saying that the Western missile shield is a plot to undermine Moscow's nuclear deterrence. Washington has claimed that the shield is aimed not at Russia, but at states such as Iran that are seeking to develop nuclear weapons that could one day strike the West.

European analysts said the creation of a launch pad in Belarus would allow Russia to place "tactical and psychological" pressure on neighboring Poland, where public support for the proposed deployment of the US antimissile system is low. Analysts have said that Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes to turn Europeans against the project by making it clear that they - rather than the Americans - would suffer the consequences of any nuclear confrontation.

However, military expert Pavel Felgengauer wrote in the Russian daily Novaya Gazeta that he suspected there is much more to the Iskander deployment than the desire to pressure the Europeans.

According to Felgengauer, the deployment represents a threat not only to European countries but also to Israel, because the missiles could be sold to Iran and Syria.

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