Final Word from Thursday, August 10, 2006
STEM found that 51% of Czechs are against hosting a U.S. missile-defense site, while 32% are in favor and 17% don't know. This is more believable that the MFD poll that put the No figure at 83%. Since that survey, the debate has become more sophisticated. One of the main arguments now used by naysayers is that it should be a Nato decision. Ex-Foreign Minister Jiří Dienstbier said in Právo that the CR can't make such a serious decision on a bilateral basis. The Americans say, though, that Nato isn't far enough along to decide on missile defense and that the nuclear-happy Iranians won't wait. Dienstbier countered that it's hard to take serious the idea that Iran or North Korea will have the technology to attack the U.S. or Europe. That, in essence, is the question Czechs must answer: Is the threat of attack imminent enough to warrant sidestepping Nato and striking a deal with the U.S.? [Czech Republic United States of America North Atlantic Treaty Organization]