Obama Offers Russians Deal on Missile Shield

Prez offers to nix Europe defense base in exchange for help disarming Iran

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 3, 2009 1:39 AM CST

(Newser) – President Obama has offered to cancel a new missile defense system in Eastern Europe if Russia will help stop Iran from developing long-range weapons, administration officials tell the New York Times. The agreement, outlined in a secret letter delivered to Moscow last month, would remove... Read full story »

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

You need to Log in to Newser to comment. Don't have an account yet? Sign up now!

2 comments

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

What's Popular Now on Facebook

'Serpent Pastor' Dies of Snake Bite

Miami Face-Eater Identified

New York Times (Source Grid »)

Medvedev wants specific US missile proposals
Reuters

Eastern Europe frets as focus switches to Russia
Bloomberg

World • Politics

Iran • Russia • missile shield • anti missile bases • missile defense system • Dmitry Medvedev • Obama administration • President Obama

More Newser Stories

Russia Silent on Iran Concessions

Critics charge that Obama may have scrapped missile shield for nothing

(NEWSER) - While Russia's leaders praised President Obama's decision to drop plans for a missile shield in Eastern Europe yesterday, they were conspicuously silent on whether they would, in return, join the West in pressuring Iran to halt its nuclear program, the New York Times reports. If Russia doesn't start taking a harder line against Iran, Obama will be seen as have caved in to Russian demands while receiving little in return. More»

Missile Shield Useless Against Iran's Arsenal: Study

System wouldn't protect Europe; Iran far from nuclear missiles

(NEWSER) - The US missile shield planned for eastern Europe wouldn’t protect the continent from threats posed by Iranian missiles, a team of American and Russian scientists found. Further, the Washington Post notes, it will be more than 5 years before Iran can build nuclear warheads and missiles to launch them, says the report, presented to top US and Russian officials. More»

US to Shelve European Missile Shield

Kremlin delighted as Obama administration ends Bush program

(NEWSER) - The Obama administration will scrap Bush-era plans to build a missile defense shield in eastern Europe, sources tell the Wall Street Journal—a move expected to delight Russia, which has strongly opposed the program. Washington is basing its decision on a new, more modest assessment of Iran's long-range missile capabilities. Instead of focusing on long-range attacks, the White House will encourage NATO allies to develop regional defenses for short- and medium-range missiles. More»

Obama Stands By Hot Mic Comments

Missile defense 'extraordinarily complex'

(NEWSER) - Asked about yesterday's "oops" when he and Dmitri Medvedev were overheard talking about European missile defense , the first thing President Obama said was, "Are the mikes on?" That got laughs, but Obama quickly turned serious, the Washington Post reports, calling missile defense "extraordinarily complex." He added, "I don’t think it’s any surprise that you can’t start that a few months before a presidential and congressional elections in the United States," not to mention elections in Russia. More»

Obama Ready to Cut Nukes Again

President issues nuclear warnings to North Korea, Iran

(NEWSER) - President Obama still thinks we could stand to get rid of a bunch of our nukes, and has promised a renewed effort to cut American and Russian nuclear arsenals following 2010's START treaty . "We can already say with confidence that we have more nuclear weapons than we need," the president said during a speech in Seoul, noting that he and Vladimir Putin will discuss nuclear cuts when they meet in May. "I firmly believe that we can ensure the security of the United States and our allies, maintain a strong deterrent against any threat, and still pursue further reductions in our nuclear arsenal." More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Obama Offers Russians Deal on Missile Shield

Prez offers to nix Europe defense base in exchange for help disarming Iran

Iran • Russia • missile shield • anti missile bases • missile defense system • Dmitry Medvedev • Obama administration • President Obama

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Russia Silent on Iran Concessions

Critics charge that Obama may have scrapped missile shield for nothing

Missile Shield Useless Against Iran's Arsenal: Study

System wouldn't protect Europe; Iran far from nuclear missiles

US to Shelve European Missile Shield

Kremlin delighted as Obama administration ends Bush program

Obama Stands By Hot Mic Comments

Missile defense 'extraordinarily complex'

Obama Ready to Cut Nukes Again

President issues nuclear warnings to North Korea, Iran

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?