From Spiegel:  NATO officials are considering deploying a long-planned missile defense system — aimed at protecting Europe from attacks from the Middle East — against Russia as well, SPIEGEL has learned.

In the run-up to next week’s NATO summit, the four countries [Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia] called for the remaining members to agree on language at the summit that would pave the way for the plan. . . .

But the majority of NATO members, especially Germany, are opposed to the proposal . . . Further debate on the issue has since been delayed until after the summit.

From RIA Novosti:  Ahead of the NATO summit at the end of next week, the four countries have urged the military bloc to mention Moscow as a potential aggressor in its summit communique and have safeguards against Russia hardwired into the document, as they did with Iran.

Image: US Patriot missile battery in Turkey, February 4, 2013 (photo: Glenn Fawcett/Department of Defense)