Czech It Out; Our Polish Missiles are Gone and We Have No RADAR

Obama has decided that the missile defense strategy of the Bush administration is "not cost effective."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8260230.stm

US President Barack Obama has shelved plans for controversial bases in Poland and the Czech Republic in a major overhaul of missile defence in Europe.

The bases are to be scrapped after a review of the threat from Iran.

Mr Obama said there would be a "proven, cost-effective" system using land- and sea-based interceptors against Iran's short- and medium-range missile threat.

I bet this makes those in eastern Europe feel all fuzzy inside. When it comes to defense, our allies know that we've got their backs, right? Just ask Georgia, we stepped right in there and quieted that noise huh!

I assume that the Obama administration has forgotten about all of those other states in the region which are not U.S. friendly. Iran is not the only threat in the region. This move also does not take into consideration the fact that Iran can always purchase long-range missile technology from another state.

There is a Russian element to consider as well.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has welcomed the US decision, calling it a "responsible move".

Another large problem here is that backing out on this deal is going to be seen as the U.S. backing down to Russia. Russia has played it that way. The Russians have called Obama's backing down on the missile program a "responsible move."

John Bolton, who was undersecretary of state for arms control and international security under President Bush, said the move was "unambiguously a bad decision".

He said: "This gives away an important defensive mechanism against threats from countries like Iran and other rogue states, not only for the US but for Europe as well.

"It is a concession to the Russians with absolutely nothing in return."

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