Czech citizens: We don't want your missle defense system in our back yard

From McClatchy:

VESIN, Czech Republic — After four decades of Russian domination and the oppressive presence of a nearby Czech military base, villagers in the Brdy region west of Prague got back access to their rolling hills at the end of the Cold War and along with it myriad paths into the thick forests leading to rich patches of wild berries and mushrooms.

That apparently is coming to an end. Not even two decades after one superpower departed the country, another, the United States, this spring announced agreement with the Czech government to set up a base to install U.S. radars for a missile defense system.

There are only about 600 people in this poor but bucolic village in the Brdy district west of Prague, but the view along the cobble-stoned streets is nearly unanimous: they are against the U.S. plan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the American plan a threat to Russian security and threatened to retarget Russian nuclear tipped missiles against Europe. His vitriolic attacks on the missile defense plan seems to have prompted President George Bush’s invitation for the summit in Kennebunkport, Maine, that began Sunday evening.

Local villagers have little faith in either leader. They expect their nearby forest will again become forbidden territory and that far from enhancing their security the U.S. installation will add a new threat.

And, they're right.