The signing Thursday of an missile shield deal between Poland and the United States has ramped up the pressure between Russia and the Bush administration to a level not seen since the end of the Cold War.

The apparent fast-tracking of the deal appears to be in direct response to the recent Russian invasion of Georgia following its former client state's decision to attack separatists in the province of South Ossetia. Georgian leaders claim they were provoked into the assault while Russia, a supporter of the separatist region, has accused Georgia of attempted genocide against the South Ossetian people.

The agreement commits the United States to deploying a Patriot missile-launching unit in Poland, in exchange for permission to place part of the intended European defence shield in the European country.

The U.S.-Polish deal, which started from January 2007, was inked Thursday after more than 18 months of talks...Under the agreement, the United States will help augment Poland's defenses by deploying a Patriot missile-launching unit, which includes 96 missiles and by setting up a military base, in exchange for placing 10 missile defense interceptors in the European country.[source]