Islam Times - Initial phase of missile network in Europe complete: Top US official

Islam Times - A senior American official has stated that Washington plans to announce the completion of the initial phase of the deployment of a US-backed missile network in Europe.

Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, a special assistant to US President Barack Obama said the declaration is expected in the forthcoming two-day NATO summit in Chicago that will begin on May 20.

Randal’s remarks came during a preview of the summit in which she described the plan as the Phased Adaptive Approach of the missile system in Europe, including the deployment of a major radar system in Turkey.

She also noted that additional work is underway in the next phase of the US-backed global missile network.

The deployment of the missile network has already enraged Russia. Moscow says the US-led system poses a significant threat to its national security.

The United States will host the 2012 NATO summit in Chicago later this month, with leaders from the 28 member countries expected to travel to the major mid-western US city for the summit, where the future of the US-led war in Afghanistan will be on the top agenda.