A chance to improve radar's reputation

So it is almost done. The government will today or tomorrow sign a contract specifying conditions of the deployment of American soldiers on the Brdy radar base. This document, accompanied by the earlier agreement on the deployment of the radar itself, will then be put on a vote at the lower house. And that's where the uproar will start.

To avoid an international embarrassment, the governmental radar supporters will have to persuade someone from the anti-radar coalition, which has a majority in the house. It is more than clear that the radar opponents will fry the government over the issue, as a revenge for the sniffiness with which the radar negotiators failed to try and explain the significance of the radar at least to the lower house, and as an opportunity to win points with the voters since the majority of Czechs reject the radar.

Surveys show that the opponents constitute only a little over 50%, but their voice, unlike that of the radar supporters, is more audible thanks to an active anti-radar movement.

The government will simply have to explain and persuade – thus getting a unique opportunity to improve the radar's reputation. Until now we haven't learnt much about the facility's purpose. The negotiators have dodged most questions by saying the issue is too complex and involves classified military information, and that it is important not to disclose their negotiating position in advance.

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