At a recent ceremony in Deveselu, Romania, the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System (AAMDS) was declared operationally certified — a key milestone in Phase II of the European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA). According to U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs:

This Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System represents a significant increase in the capability to defend NATO European territory from attacks originating outside the Euro-Atlantic area, and is a key milestone in the development of NATO Ballistic Missile Defense.

If you happen to live in Romania, this is of course great news, since it means that your country is now fully protected from attack by Iran. This is especially critical for the security of Romania because, as is widely known, Iran, just like Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, possesses a variety of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), which can be unleashed at 45 minutes notice. What is especially pleasing to me, as an Englishman married to a Polish lady, is that Poland is also on its way to introducing the system on its territory, and the knowledge of a system protecting my in-laws from President Hassan Rouhani’s burning desire to seize control of Lower Silesia is bound to make me sleep soundly.

Or at least it would, but for those pesky Russians again and their unlimited propensity for unbridled aggression. What is it with them? Though the Aegis system is so clearly intended to protect Europe against the Iranian menace, sadly the government of the Russian Federation seems to have got the idea that it is actually directed at them. They have expressed, on numerous occasions, fears that the system is intended to neutralise their ability to withstand and retaliate against an invasion, that it can also be used as an offensive weapon to attack the Russian Federation, and that it is therefore a grave threat to their national security.

It is of course a groundless assumption. What possible reason would Russia have for thinking that the United States/NATO would want to aim such a system at them? Why, except for reneging on the promise not to move NATO East of Germany, an unprecedented propaganda and demonization campaign against the country and its leader, the placing of 1000s of troops right up to its border, the imposition of unlawful and unjustified sanctions aimed at crippling the country, and the policy of fomenting regime change in countries within its sphere of influence — apart from all that, where on earth did Russia ever get the idea that the West wanted to attack, destroy and Balkanise it, and that the systems in Romania and Poland are a part of this plan? Paranoid or what!

So instead of accepting the repeated assurances that the system is aimed at preventing Iran’s planned conquest of Europe, Mr Putin has instead used this harmless system as a pretext for yet further aggression:

“At the moment the interceptor missiles installed have a range of 500 kilometers, soon this will go up to 1000 kilometers, and worse than that, they can be rearmed with 2400km-range offensive missiles even today, and it can be done by simply switching the software, so that even the Romanians themselves won’t know…If yesterday people simply did not know what it means to be in the crosshairs in those areas of Romania, then today we will be forced to carry out certain measures to ensure our security. And it will be the same with Poland.”

Did you hear that correctly? Poor Romania and poor Poland. They were only trying to do their bit to protect themselves and Europe from Iran’s huge arsenal of WMDs, and lo and behold they end up with “aggressive Russian” missiles pointing directly at them!

Okay, enough of the sarcasm. Let’s get serious, because this is deadly serious. If any Romanians are reading this, I’m going to let you into a little secret. Before the Aegis system was operationally certified on May 12th, do you know how much of a threat Russia posed to your nation? No? I’ll tell you then. None whatsoever. Nothing in their actions or their words could have led your nation — were it run by sane people — to conclude that it was in any danger whatsoever from Russia. And were the system to be dismantled tomorrow, do you know how much of a threat Russia will once again pose to your nation? Again, none whatsoever. But since your government has decided to allow the United States to go ahead with this system, your nation has now become target number one, with whacking great crosshairs painted on it! Feeling any safer?

And the same goes for any Poles who might be happening to read this. If you think that the Russian Federation has any desire whatsoever to invade your country, attack your country, or dismember your country, then unfortunately that is because you have been listening to professional liars in the media, government and NATO, who want you to believe that “the Russians are coming”, so that they can keep you in perpetual fear, increase their power and military spending, and maybe even begin a conflict against Russia. As with Romania, installing the Aegis system gives you no more security, but it does guarantee the crosshairs. Feeling safer?

Where is the outrage in Romania and Poland at this folly? Where are the calls for this astounding act of stupidity to be stopped? People, wise up before it’s too late. If you have believed the propaganda that the U.S. cares about your security and that its unbeatable military technology will protect you, rid yourself of these delusions. Firstly, the U.S. cares not one whit about your security. That nation is now firmly in the grip of ideological nutcases who believe they have the God-given right to rule the whole world, and they are quite prepared to use your nation as cannon fodder in their ultimate goal of attacking Russia. Secondly, understand that despite all that guff about Iran, the Aegis system is a clear and deliberate provocation against Russia, and their response is as predictable as it is rational. Far from increasing your security, the installation of this system has decreased it a hundred times over. And finally, understand that should this latest manifestation of U.S. Aggression actually end up in a real showdown, all that so-called unbeatable military technology will be shown for what it is, and the countries of Romania and Poland will end up a smoking ruins.

If you can do anything to stop this folly, do it now, while you can.