President Obama will reverse the previous administration’s commitment to establish a missile shield in Eastern Europe — specifically Poland and the Czech Republic — to protect the region from growing ballistic missile threats:
This decision was guided by two principal factors. First, we have updated our intelligence assessment of Iran’s missile programs, which emphasizes the threat posed by Iran’s short- and medium-range missiles, which are capable of reaching Europe. There’s no substitute for Iran complying with its international obligations regarding its nuclear program, and we, along with our allies and partners, will continue to pursue strong diplomacy to ensure that Iran lives up to these international obligations. But this new ballistic missile defense program will best address the threat posed by Iran’s ongoing ballistic missile defense program.
Second, we have made specific and proven advances in our missile defense technology, particularly with regard to land- and sea-based interceptors and the sensors that support them. Our new approach will, therefore, deploy technologies that are proven and cost-effective and that counter the current threat, and do so sooner than the previous program. Because our approach will be phased and adaptive, we will retain the flexibility to adjust and enhance our defenses as the threat and technology continue to evolve.
So let’s all pray that Iran, or any other rogue nation for that matter, develops nothing but short and medium range missiles. President Obama’s alternative missile defense system would require phased upgrades through maybe 2020, whereas the missile shield proposed by the Bush administration is currently available and tested.
Is this a compromise (or sacrifice) in order to bring Russia into the fold in negotiating for a nuclear-free Iran?
By the way, does President Obama know that today in 1939 is the anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland? Yes, good timing to break the news to one of our best allies in Eastern Europe.
