Obama's Missile Move Leaves Allies in the Lurch

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 17, 2009 11:56 AM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama’s decision to scrap plans for a missile defense shield is a political bombshell, writes Robin Oakley for CNN. America’s allies in Poland and the Czech Republic are left holding the bag after expending significant political capital on the unpopular system. Abandoning it might make their lives easier, but it won’t make them likelier to embrace future US causes. Moscow, meanwhile, must choose whether to tout its victory or embrace the move as a sign of easing relations.

The move certainly indicates a less adventurous foreign policy under Obama, and a reluctance to spend money on a system of questionable viability—critics say that the idea of essentially hitting a bullet with another bullet at speeds of four miles a second is wildly unfeasible. Obama said today he remains “committed” to missile defense but intends to take a “new approach,” using technology “that is both proven and cost-effective.”

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

In this May 26, 2007 file picture, a demonstrator carries a banner during a protest march in downtown Prague against a possible location of a U.S. missile defense radar system in the Czech Republic. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, file)

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are greeted by Czech President Vaclav Klaus and his wife Livia Klausova at Prague Castle, Sunday, April 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

US President Barack Obama, left, poses for a picture with former Czech President Vaclav Havel, right, at the end of Obama?s meeting with the European Union leaders in Prague, Sunday, April 5,2009. (AP Photo/CTK, Michal Dolezal)

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President Barack Obama announces that he is shifting a planned US missile defense program away from Eastern Europe to other locations. (AssociatedPress)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 19 comments

Guest

Sep 18, 2009 9:15 PM CDT

oh , and the KNOWN capabilities of our current defense systems , are just that KNOWN and except for classified intel , you can go read about it , so go . and also know that our President , is following the unanimous wishes of ALL the top military commanders , who I think know more than the average right wing pundit , or half educated Glad Hander

Guest

Sep 18, 2009 9:05 PM CDT

Poland and the Czech Republic will be receiving some sort of goodies , you can count on that ,.... and we may get some kokua from that criminal enterprise Russia

oldgoat

Sep 18, 2009 3:00 AM CDT

So reader I suppose the US should have stayed out of WW1 and 2 then? Or for that matter Korea? Were we suppose to just tuck and run? Remember Nixon and his secret plan to end VN? How many died after he went into office? The last I knew Bush wasn't a Dem and he was the one that pushed for Iraq right? And RR tucked and ran after the Marine barracks bombing in Lebanon.

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Russia • Barack Obama • diplomacy • Eastern Europe • Poland • Czech Republic • missile defense system • Western Europe • foreign policy • Obama administration • President Obama

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