What about the radar?

Czech diplomats are increasingly nervous as the Parliament should soon pass a decision on the placement of the US radar on Czech soil. The outcome is quite uncertain. So far, everything seems to suggest it will be a battle of votes with the opposition strictly against and the coalition voting in favour of the radar.

Waiting for Bucharest

The government is not in an easy position. The public is against the radar, active opponents know how to attract media attention, and the opposition is not willing to help in the least. The campaign promoting the radar is hardly noticeable and Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanová could apply for a patent for invisibility that Stealth fighters could only dream of. But in truth, it is not easy to explain to the public there is a threat that nobody can see out of their window.

The government might play a very strong hand if NATO pledged support to the missile shield. In that case the opposition Social Democrats (ČSSD) would lose their key arguments. That was also the reason why PM Mirek Topolánek along with the US Missile Defence Agency (MDA) Director Henry Obering announced last week the planned shield would be part of the NATO defence system.

The Czech government's effort to make the MDA part of the game is praiseworthy, but it can hardly succeed. Let's have a look at France's approach, for example. France has made it clear in numerous talks held with the Czech…