Robert Bell Speaks On Missile Defense in Warsaw

6 March 2008

Robert Bell speaks on missile defense

On March 3-4, 2008, Robert Bell visited Warsaw to speak on missile defense as part of the U.S. Embassy's missile defense outreach program. Bell, who was a Special Assistant to President Clinton for National Security Affairs, the National Security Council Senior Director for Defense Policy and Arms Control, and NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Defense, is one of the most knowledgeable experts on this issue.  He addressed experts, academics, students, defense industry representatives, and the general public during presentations entitled "Missile Defense in Europe: Past, Present, and Future."  On March 3, Bell made a presentation at the Center for International Relations moderated by the former Polish Ambassador to NATO Jerzy Nowak and attended by Polish governmental representatives, academics, and diplomats. Later that day, as a part of the Embassy's "America Presents" program, Bell addressed an audience of about 60 people at the Warsaw Public Library and answered numerous questions about the nature of threats from the Middle-East and the political realities of Russian rhetoric.  On March 4th, Bell spoke to the Defense Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce and gave a presentation at the Lazarski School of Commerce and Law. Bell reviewed how missile defense in Europe has progressed over time, demonstrating NATO's policy on missile defense, Russia's commitment to territorial defense, which included showing elements of Russia's current missile shield and missile defense radar, NATO's current missile defense system, and cooperation with Russia. Bell then discussed the present missile defense system within NATO and future cooperation with Russia on missile defense.

Bell's presentations generally highlighted two important facts unknown in Poland and not reported in the press - that Russia has its own missile defense program and that Russia works jointly with NATO on missile defense for Europe. Bell stated that Russia's rhetoric is completely oriented towards the fact that they are not comfortable with an increased American strategic presence in Central-Eastern Europe.