Is Bush Trying To Pick A Fight With Putin ?

I really don't understand what Bush is trying to do with his idea of putting a missle-defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. It's almost like he's trying to pick a fight with Putin and Russia.

Does it bother him that the Cold War is over? Is he trying to bring it back? I know he says the shield is to protect against Iranian missles, but Iran doesn't have a missle that can reach Europe and is unlikely to have one anytime soon. Besides, if it was really for protection against Iran, then wouldn't it make more sense to put it in southern Europe closer to Iran?

I don't blame the Russians for being upset. By placing the shield in northern Europe on Russia's border, it certainly looks like Bush is aiming his action at Russia. Russia doesn't trust us fully yet, just as we don't fully trust them. From their viewpoint, their only protection against an attack from the West is their ability to retaliate with missles of their own.

But a missle-defense shield could take away their ability to retaliate, and open them up to a first-strike from the West. It is easy to see why they would be nervous about Bush's proposal. After all, Bush has shown with his attack on Iraq that he is willing to declare war without a reason to do so.

With this proposal, it looks as though Bush is trying to engage in brinkmanship politics (like JFK during the missle crises in Cuba). That's scary, because Bush is not half as smart as JFK. He'll screw it up like he has with all his other endeavors, and wind up leaving the world a more dangerous place for everyone.

Can't we impeach this fool before he starts another cold (or hot) war?