Embassy Press Attache Speaks on Missile Defense in Lodz

Press Attache Andrew Schilling speaking at Lodz Academy of International Relations (more photos)

Embassy Press Attache Andrew Schilling visited two academic institutions in Łódź on November 14 to discuss missile defense issues with students and faculty.  Schilling spoke first at the Łódź University, Faculty of International Studies and Political  Science; he then drove across town to the Wyższa Szkoła Studiów Międzynarodowych (Higher Schol of International Studies).  In each venue, Schilling outlined the current plans and state of ballistic missile defense, and the proposal to base a European component of MD in Poland (ten missile interceptors) and the Czech Republic (an X-Band radar).  Schilling addressed numerous questions and concerns from the audience regarding Russian opposition to the European Interceptor Site, by underscoring the continued consultations between the U.S. and Russia about missile defense, and by pointing out that the modest number of interceptors proposed for European basing could not pose a threat to Russia, nor could they neutralize the massive Russian strategic rocket force.