December 15, 2007 (LPAC)--Gen. Yuriy Baluyevsky, Chief of the Russian General Staff, warned on Saturday that U.S. interceptor missiles placed in Poland could trigger a Russian nuclear counter strike. "If we suppose that Iran wants to strike the United States, than interceptor missiles, which could be launched from Poland, will fly towards Russia," he said, according to RIA Novosti. Since their flight trajectory would look very similar to ICBMs, they could trigger Russia's automated warning systems. "The issue of, to put it mildly, confrontation with Russia, including a direct confrontation, is unfortunately still regarded by my counterparts from the Pentagon as relevant," he said, adding that US missile shield plans for Central Europe are aimed at changing the security system in Europe, not against possible missile attacks by so-called rogue nations.

Baluyevsky's remarks come about a week after he returned to Moscow from Washington, where he met with top Pentagon officials on Putin's July offer at Kennebunkport, for cooperation on missile defense. These negotiations are still very far from resolution.

One Washington Russia specialist, just back from talks in Moscow with top officials of the Putin administration, added to the picture of growing sources of U.S.-Russian conflict. He reported being told that Russia has two "red lines" which, if crossed, could trigger war. One is the independence of Kosovo--with the endorsement of Western powers. The other is a U.S. attack on Iran. While frictions between Washington and Moscow are real, and are being additionally stoked by continuing vicious British provocations against Putin, there are also indications of continuing U.S.-Russian channels of cooperation. Despite the stalemate on the missile defense issue, sources close to both governments have reported that the past week's meetings between Gen. Baluyevsky and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen went extremely, well and a good personal rapport has been established between the two military commanders.