Final Word from Monday, June 4, 2007
We might not ever know what Václav Klaus thinks of the idea of a U.S. radar station in the CR. He says he favors the facility, as long as numerous related issues are worked out. This is positive enough to win the good graces of U.S. President George Bush and Czech PM Mirek Topolánek, and vague enough not to alienate the 60% of Czechs who oppose the radar. He never says which of the details could turn his Yes into a No. He's less careful about what he says to Russia. He stressed in Moscow that it isn't the intention of the CR to attack Russia in any way, which can be read as distancing himself from whatever the Americans might have up their sleeves. Even if Klaus secretly opposes missile defense, he needs Topolánek too much to say it openly. Only if Topolánek stabbed him in the back in the presidential elections could we expect Klaus to take a harder line on the radar issue.[Czech Republic MD prime minister United States of American base]