Obama KILLS Missile Defense Shield in Poland and Czech Republic
President Barack Obama has decided to scrap plans for a U.S. missile defense shield in the Czech Republic and Poland that had deeply angered Russia, the Czech prime minister confirmed Thursday.
NATO’s new chief hailed the move as “a positive step” and a Russian analyst said Obama’s decision will increase the chances that Russia will cooperate more closely with the United States in the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.
Premier Jan Fischer told reporters that Obama phoned him overnight to say that “his government is pulling out of plans to build a missile defense radar on Czech territory.”
“The same happened with Poland. Poland was informed in the same way about this intention,” Fischer said.
He said Obama assured him that the “strategic cooperation” between the Czech Republic and the U.S. would continue, and that Washington considers the Czechs among its closest allies.
In Poland, officials declined to confirm Fischer’s remarks, saying they were waiting for a formal announcement from Washington.
The plan, proposed by the Bush administration, aimed to defend the United States and its European allies against a possible missile attack from Iran or elsewhere in the Middle East. In all, 10 interceptor rockets were to have been stationed in Poland and a radar system based in the Czech Republic.
But Russia was livid over the prospect of having U.S. interceptor rockets in countries so close to its territory, and the Obama administration has sought to improve strained ties with the Kremlin.
This announcement does NOT make America safer, emboldens Russia and kicks our allies in Poland and the Czech Republic in the nuts. This announcement is not a win-win diplomatic break through by Obama.
Read the “EXCUSES” the Obama Administration use to explain the shift in policy.
It is a sell-out and surrender.
When Russia blackmails the Ukraine over natural gas and launches a military attack on Georgia what will the appeasers in Europe and the United States say? RESET?
Obama sold out are new allies in Eastern Europe and makes America less safe to an Iranian missile attack.
A lose-lose today for America.
Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Missile Defense
21 Comments
Curly
I think that any step towards peace is something good.
Avoiding tension due to our military presence in countries far from our borders is a step in the right direction. Poland, the Czech republic and Georgia are not traditionally our sphere of influence like the Americas.
We wouldn’t accept a simmilar kind of stunt pulled by Russia in, say… Cuba, would we?
Regards and peace to all.
Flap
Your analogy to Cuba is laughable.
10 defensive interceptors in Poland is not the same as what the Russians attempted to do during the Kennedy administration.
And, what do you have to say about the latest Russian military deals with Venezuela?
Curly
Cuba was just an example. The Earth’s geography is not symmetic as you might think I think…
The Russian military deals with Venezuela were a reaction, a predictable consecuence on our precense in Georgia, remember? Now we have Russia making deals not only with Venezuela, but also Brazil, Cuba, Bolivia…
Is it not really obvious? Why did Russia send ships to Venezuela and Cuba?
I think my question stands: What gives us the right to be in Black Sea waters, Poland and the Czhec Republic, that denies Russia the right to be in the Caribbean?
Flap
Read some history.
Ever hear of the Soviet Union?
Sheesh….
Curly
I think Obama is acting exactly as he said he would and I salute him for that. That’s a president worth having and listening to. He is extending a friendly hand that will surely make others unclench their fists.
Obama is acting in congruence with his own words.
Flap
Dream on…….
When the tanks roll in Georgia and the Ukraine, you will say it is a reaction.
Same ol’ story with Russian/Soviet appeasers/supporters.
Curly
Read history??? ha, ha, ha… Ever heard of Glastnost and Perestroika?
The Berlin Wall has been torn and the Soviet Union has ceased to exists for quite a few years… Have you been stranded in a desert island without a radio?
Perhaps you think the Japanese are still our ennemies from WWII…
The world is moving forward while you are still affraid of the Soviet Union. Now that’s funny
Curly
My question stands: Why do we have a military presence in the Black Sea, Poland and the Czech Republic, and also believe that Russia should not have a military presence in Latin America?
Flap
Apparently you have neither read history, understand it nor understand new Russian expansionism.
But, perhaps you are a Russian supporter.
Good luck with that.
Curly
I support Obama. He is making us take a look at ourselves before we accuse other countries of what we interpret they are going to do in the future.
Soviet Union… Soviet Union…??? Really??? Get real, will ya!
Flap
Why do you have a Mexico IP address?
Curly
ha, ha, ha
So, you are telling me to read histoy… You who are affraid of the Soviet Union; now that’s funny.
I’m not a russian supporter. I just think the world around us is moving forward and evolving, learning foreign languages and interacting, while we still have the same dull and outdated views of the 20th century.
Curly
Why do you have a British IP address?
Curly
Why do you call yourself “Flap”?
Curly
Why do you dislike president Obama so much?
Curly
Can’t I be in Mexico on holiday?
Perhaps I’m required to tell you about my leasure activities here also…
Curly
Can we get back to the issue here, without becomming oversensitive?
Thank you.
As I was saying, I believe in world peace, in easing tensions if possible, in stopping the superman, rambo, macho talk…
Flap
Nice try but you are exhibiitng too much troll like behavior.
You are on moderation.
Wiseburn
let the poles and czechs pay for their own missile defense. our defense contractors would love to sell to them. US is borrowing from china, japan and the saudis to pay for it. finally a smart move by His Obamaness to cut some overseas spending.
Steve
Flap
I disagree and Senator Lieberman sums it up pretty well:
“This deeply regrettable decision sends the wrong message to Tehran, Moscow, and our European allies at a critical time in our effort to stop Iran’s nuclear weapons program,†Sen. Joe Lieberman says in a statement. “Moreover, it means that we will have a less capable missile defense system to protect the United States and our European allies against the Iranian threat. The administration must take immediate and tangible action to reassure our allies in Central and Eastern Europe that we are committed to their security and independence.â€
Link: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0909/Lieberman_blasts_missile_move.html
Arthur
Missile defense there is not very helpful but I’m worried about Ukraine. Putin is set to get it and when it’s done – new USSR will be created.