Missile defence shield in Europe abandoned by USA

Obama abandons missile defence shield in Europe

US president shelves scheme in Poland and Czech Republic, citing new intelligence on threat from Iran

• Luke Harding in Moscow and Ian Traynor in Brussels
• guardian.co.uk, Thursday 17 September 2009
  Barack Obama has abandoned the controversial Pentagon plan to build a missile defence system in Europe that had long soured relations with Russia.

  In one of the sharpest breaks yet with the policies of the Bush administration, Obama said the new approach would offer “stronger, swifter and smarter” defence for the US and its allies. He said it would focus on the threat posed by Iran‘s short- and medium-range missiles, rather than its intercontinental nuclear capabilities…………..analysts pointed out the decision would help Obama secure Moscow’s co-operation on a possible new sanctions package against Iran and would further his desire to “reset” relations with Moscow following a dismal period under the Bush administration.

  It would significantly boost the chances of a new treaty on strategic nuclear arms reduction between Washington and Moscow, they said. Both the US and Russia have agreed to come up with a successor treaty to Start 1 by December, when the current agreement expires……………..http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/17/missile-defence-shield-barack-obama

September 18, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | EUROPE, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear weapons