Obama shifting missiles, Eastern Europe

There's a growing body of opinion that Obama will surrender US interests to any foreign dictator. For more. see this, from the UK Telegraph, headlined "Barack Obama surrenders to Russia on Missile Defence": http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100010237/barack-obama-surrenders-to-russia-on-missile-defence/

Yet another mistake made by this President.

How does changing the well thougt out and planned USA missle defense system plan from intercepting "long range" missles targeted to the United States to "short range" missles targeted to the EU make sense?

Is this really a better strategy and protective blanket for the USA and our allies? or is it an appeasment for Russia, the EU Bully?

All of a sudden, we and other countries around the planet are not to worry about Iran's nuclear warheads being amied at long range targets like the USA? Oh, I understand the logic, "shifting intelligence on Iran's missile capabilities" is the impetuous behind this decision? Lather, rinse, repeat. Shifting Intelligence, ever heard that one before you bunch of Bush haters?

Beyond kissing the Russian boot buckle, are we to kick the Czech Republic and Poland under the Obamabus? I guess these two small countries haven't much to offer the USA so why care? There is much more at stake here on the foreign political scene.

The great powerhouse and Goliath of the Soviet Union was knocked to it's knees, liberating Europe from it's strangle hold of military and economic communism. Assisting the Russian government's return to Totalitarian POWER in the EU is a big mistake. This is yet another Obama blunder. His weakness, flip flopping, apologetic foreign maneuvers to appease the bully on the block cannot be good for the USA in the long run but then again, we are experienceing the tactics of a relentless campaigning president not a leader.

Dear Barry

Soweto/Hussein Hopenchange:I will not be treated as a sheeple. My land, my property, and my earnings are not yours. They are given only in the defense of this nation, its people, its liberties, and its ideals. My heritage has worked to create this nation, has secured this nation, and sought to maintain this nation. My lineage will seek to preserve this nation in its liberties, rights and privileges.

I will not be spoken to as a lesser, your act of representation does not afford you status or title of nobility. It does however provide you the requisite to represent; your district, your state, your constituents; your fellow citizens. It does not provide you the duty nor debt to represent your business, your interests, your financiers or their business. These I abhor, and I will seek to remove you from your representation by this offense.

You were not elected for the common good of man, or the betterment of society, nor to try and achieve such. You were elected to protect and preserve. Failure to do so is derelict; and I will work to relieve you of such duties.

You were not elected for your associations with party, rather for your resolution and desire to represent. Failure to place your representation above your party is a failure of your simple responsibility.

You were not elected to cater, coddle, or seek the interests of the select. You were not elected to promote your ideas, your future, or your ways, short of also representing our ideas, future, and ways. Do not foist upon me your ideals, your views, and your morals; to do so belittle my own, this nation’s, and its citizens within.

Seek to protect and preserve that which is already afforded, and minimize that which is not. Do not afford that which you are not entitled to give, or is wrong to take. I have not given to you the right, either implicitly or explicitly, to take what I have earned, regardless of the results. You have only been afforded the duty to protect and preserve, betterment was never involved.

I have been given the intellect, the ability, and the responsibility to self-determination, self-reliance, and self-empowerment. I do not require your assistance in these, and consider it an affront to believe that I do. Your desire to control, direct and guide my decisions through deceit and deception is an attack on the liberties you took an oath to preserve.

Your failures to perform the duties ordained, and to which you swore an oath to execute will only require that I work to disenfranchise you, render you voiceless, and render you obsolete, relegating you to the dustbin of the tomes of history.

Sincerely,

This Citizens of the United States

As a full blooded "Repuke", let me say this is one of the best things the current admin has done. First it eases Russian fears that we are trying to circle them in. Which then allows us to press them on an Iranian solution. And no matter who says what, the Iranians are building a nuclear weapons program. In 2003 I was against hitting Iraq as I felt we needed to hit North Korea then Iran as both have been building nuclear programs since the Clinton years.

Then again, if Iran and Israel nuke each other, it would take care of two issues.

We need this missile defense to guard against Iran launching a nuclear bomb they don't have on ICBM's that can reach the US that they don't have. We must never fail to adequately protect ourselves from utterly fictious threats! Bush understood the need to protect us from non-existant threats like Iraq's WMD's. We need another President who is willing to spendnbillions protecting us from weapons that do not exist.

Hello Czechs and Poles, how's the view from under the bus?

"Our new approach will deploy forces that are proven and cost effective,'' and do so sooner than the planned shield in the Czech Republic and Poland, the president said. "To put it simply, our new missile defense architecture in Europe will provide... swifter and smarter'' defenses.

Now of course this makes no sense to the people who think from their groin area and not their minds. Common sense is nowhere as important as good ol' kickin ass mentality.

This action by President Obama is just like standing on the steps of the Kremlin and waving the white flag.

Barry just caved in once again to his good friends the Russians and the Iranians. And he managd to do it on the 60th anniversary of the Russian invasion of Poland - no coincidence there. He is soooo far over his head.

Guess he thinks Iran is not going to have nukes. Suprised that all of these advances in technology have been made so quickly! WOW. Aren't we lucky to have him as prez? not

The Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense Gates all unanimously supported this decision. .The new system actually provides better protectionm than the deeply flawed system that Bush initiated.

However I'm sure that won't stop the screaming from the right. They really don't care about defense, they just care about demonizing Democrats and Obama in particular. I'm sure springfield thinks the Joint Chiefs don't care about US security and are secretlty working for the Russians.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-missiles-text18-2009sep18,0,2298424.story

Thank you Mr. President. This act alone is worth your election.

For all the hawks posting on this board, I would like one piece of hard evidence that Iran has the capability (or will have such capability in the next ten years) to deliver a nuclear warhead on a strategic missile to Prague.

JH

Hmmm...how would I defeat a missile shield??? I know I would launch thousands of dummy missiles and overwhelm the system to sneak just a couple of deadly warheads by....or I guess I'd just give a large clunky exposive, a "dirty bomb" if you will, to a third party and have them drive it on a semi trailer, a boat or in a private jet into enemy territory. Chickenhawks are so dumb to sink BILLIONS into a defense system that can be easily defeated as proved above.

"Smart Power" to the rescue!

Joe Biden is making room for Israel to go under the Obama bus too.

The sad part is that Obama actually thinks this act of cowardice, betrayal, and folly will bring him some diplomatic advantage with the Russians... but they won't be doing anything they don't already want to- not Putin.

Slim Smiley clearly doesn't know how much about negotiating with the KGB, lol

http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com

Shades of 1938 when Neville Chamberlain abandoned (then) Czechoslovakia and Poland to Hitler. I'm waiting for Obama to also say "Peace in Our Time."

Hey little bill, this is called DEFENSE not ATTACK.

What has been determined by creating a fake moniker with "as good ol' kickin ass mentality."

Are you still sitting on the pottie and can't reach the paper? Where did anyone talk about "kickin ass". This is an adult conversation about "the" missle defense shield which had been discussed over and over and agreed upon by many EU nations. The bully on the block didn't like it so our president, in his apologetic fashion, caves to the old regime of Mother Soviet Union.

I don't know how you can go so far back in time, you can't be that old and certainly have reading comprehension problems.

Oh, I forgot, it's Bush's fault. Don't get any poop on your fingers little guy.

What about those of us that work on this missile shield system? What do we do for jobs now? Yeah; good idea; lets put even more people out of work. Someone explain to me; how does putting thousands of people out of work help the economy? Who really cares if we need it or not; it will help the economy going to continue this program. Lets keep it going for now. Think of it as the Hoover dam project during the last depression; it kept food on the table for lots of families.

What a bunch of idiots.. I suppose the FACT that this decision has the unanimous agreement by the Secretary of Defence (a Republican) and the Joint Chiefs of Staff never entered your little minds? Why should the US believe in the Neo-Cons who have YET to be right on anything militarily for our country? As I said, reactionary idiots who won't examine the facts.

OK Mr. Ben,

What do you think Russia is all about these days? Are they concerned about the USA or concerned about keeping Poland, the Czech Republic and the other "break away (example - Georgia) republic's under their Soviet - Communist boot?

I do not, nor have ever condoned or called for war. You and little billy can make stupid statements and hope someone believes you but don't put those words in my mouth.

The Joint Chiefs? maybe you should recall what you called the Joint Chiefs under Bush, then go toss your cookies somewhere else. One says more troops in Afghanistan and others say, well we've probably got enough. President Obama promised and end! period. Oop's there's that little bit of vomit in the mouth of Don Fitzgerald again. Instead our president increases the numbers of US troop's to die over there but not necessarily to the numbers of his Joint Chiefs.

Come on, be realistic. Not everything our president has done and is doing is flawless. You might just agree with the US President apologizing and begging forgiveness from the likes of Mother Russia. I disagree on that one.

Bush - Gone. Obama - in.

As I read the right's response....somehow listening to the generals on the ground comes to mind. Since this has been approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense Gates, I guess that line was all lip service.

Will one of the right wingers please explain how they believe that the Bush anti-missile system in any way protects Poland and the Czech Republic from Russia?

The previously proposed anti-missile system in Poland would have had a total of 10 interceptors based there. Russia has well over 3,000 nuclear armed missiles.

Springfield. The Soviet Union no longer exists. Russia is not a Communist country. You might want to look at a map someday. Russia doesn't even share a border with Poland or the Czech Republic any longer. Even if Russia does have designs on those two countries 1o anti-misslie interceptor rockets and a radar station aren't going to do anything to protect them. Rational people, like the Joint Chiefs, understand that.

As to the other part of your nearly incoherent rant, Obama did not promise an immediate end to the war in Afghanistan. Far from it. He promised to focus on that war rather than the disasterous distraction in Iraq.

The military is recommending a change regarding how best to protect Europe from potential missile attack from IRAN (most posters here seem to think the system would have been monitoring Russia instead).
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I guess it's happened, our entire military structure has gone soft. That can be the only explanation - it couldn't be that they are thinking strategically about how best to accomplish a goal. Not when their change doesn't fit the previous administration's plan.

" Ben", and "bill r": Do you really believe you can make something of the Joint Chiefs and Gates not publicly protesting? Obama is the boss of all of them. Next time your boss tells you he is going to do something you disagree with, why not publicly denounce him. Let us know how that works out for you.

Rick

The appeaser strikes again and the result will be the same. They win and we lose!

Well what is the US getting in return? Withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia?No. Reduction of Russian interference in the Ukraine?No.Russian support for tough Iranian sanctions?No.Russian cooperation with North Korea?No.Obama just gave away a large bargaining chip and gets nothing in return.This reinforces the perception held by foreign leaders that Obama is inexperienced in Foreign affairs and is weak.

" Ben", and "bill r": Do you really believe you can make something of the Joint Chiefs and Gates not publicly protesting?
Posted by: Rick Caird | September 17, 2009 1:44 PM

So you're saying the joint chiefs and Gates is selling out the country? Funny...I thought Gates was appointed by another president with the full support of the right.

Ps...I don't have a boss...I'm retired! Before that...selfemployed!

Rick, so you're saying that the Joint Chiefs are lying about matters of national defense? Is that the low regard you hold them in?

The recent discussions about additional troops for Afghanistan show that the Joint Chiefs and this Adminstration don't always fully agree in their public statements . So i really don't have any reason to believe aren';t telling the truth now. Do you Rick?

"So let me be clear: Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile activity poses a real threat, not just to the United States, but to Iran's neighbors and our allies. The Czech Republic and Poland have been courageous in agreeing to host a defense against these missiles. As long as the threat from Iran persists, we will go forward with a missile defense system that is cost-effective and proven. (Applause.) If the Iranian threat is eliminated, we will have a stronger basis for security, and the driving force for missile defense construction in Europe will be removed. (Applause.)" - President Barack Obama, April 5, 2009

Why doesn't Obama relocate these missles to Saudi Arabia, you know, our "ally" in the Middle East? Oh, that's right, Saudi Arabia would rather pay off terrorists rather than help its "friend" the USA.

I'm so glad our president is making good on his promise to repair our relations with the rest of the world. George Bush and his bellicose, bullying foreign policy did more damage to our image around the world than any other modern president. Thank you, Mr. Obama.

Man, you people are PATHETIC. None of you have ANY idea of what you're commenting about, but you think you know all the answers.

The stupidity of the average voter is THE PROBLEM with this nation. And the arrogance of you people, to think that clueless idiots' opinions should be taken seriously (or the fact that you hold opinions at all when you are obviously ignorant of what you're talking about) is going to ensure that our nation does not move forward.

I can only hope that you people are too stupid to find your way to the polls on election day. It's really the only hope this nation has to improve is if you fanatical nuts who just spew what you heard on the radio can't figure out how to unlock your front door on election day.

The fact that the stupidity put on display here can pass for any kind of discourse demonstrates exactly why our nation has fallen from grace. Our underbelly of very stupid people has been exposed.

You people make me sick.

Unless the wrongs of the past are addressed, we are doomed to pay the tax of a guilty conscience, (arms). The rhetoric over the motivations of our-enemies-of-the-week is deafening. Instead, let us focus less on fear and more on the Rule of Law and Human Rights.

hmm... actually, if you think about it, the land-based radar/interceptor system is fixed, location known eventually & therefor vulnerable to outright attack or cause the enemy to move & evade it making where its fixed irrelevant. All in all, some sort of nuclear submarine / aerial / satellite based detection & defensive attack system WOULD be alot more flexible & handy... if it is properly planned out & executed...

And Obama does it on the 70th anniversary of the Russians invading Poland!

I can't think of much that Obama is doing right. The entire economy is being trashed with this massive spedning. He's appeasing our enemies whenever he can. He is the sum of all fears.

The obvious place to put anti ballistic missiles (ABMs) is on ships, US Navy ships, between the point of the threat and the target and as close to the takeoff point of the attacking missiles as possible.

How did the bases in Poland fulfill this?

Think of the advantages of ship carried ABMs. They are not likely to be attacked by ground forces, such as terrorists from Iran or commandoes from Russia. They can be moved where the threat is greatest. So, if Iran is no longer a threat, the same ships can handle the next crisis. The money spent on the ship based systems is nearly all spend in the USA, where if they were based in Poland, much of the money would be spent in Poland.

It is easier to attack missiles going up than coming down (largely because of fake warheads and the ability of warheads to swerve). So why wwas Poland ever picked as the place to put missiles that defended Europe against Iran?

(They could never have defended against Russia. They have far too many missiles.)

The shameful history is definitely repeating itself! In 1945 Roosevelt sold out Eastern Europe to half a century of communist slavery to make nice nice with "uncle Joe", the heinous Joseph Stalin, now Obama is doing the same dastardly deed to please "cousin Putin". How many millions of people will be sacrificed this time?

Gee, all bile and not a word of discussion about the missile defense article - "Everyday American" can just add his/her comment to ANY article without changing a word - or reading the article or other people's comments for that matter.
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At least we can view it as a non-partisan broadside - we're all pathetic! That should help bring us together.
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Thank you, Everyday American!

The military is recommending a change regarding how best to protect Europe from potential missile attack from IRAN (most posters here seem to think the system would have been monitoring Russia instead).
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I guess it's happened, our entire military structure has gone soft. That can be the only explanation - it couldn't be that they are thinking strategically about how best to accomplish a goal. Not when their change doesn't fit the previous administration's plan.

" bill r": It also makes no sense to someone who understand this so called "new technology" is not available for deployment and is simply a technique for going back on a previous US commitment. Going back on previous commitments is something this very weak President is good at. Do you think Russia appreciates this? No, they are glad to know Obama will easily blink. You can bet that Iran and NoKo are also watching this very weak President. Do I need to remind you that when Kennedy looked weak we got missiles in Cuba and crisis?

Rick

Poland and Czech Republic should just bring their troops home from Iraq and forget about the phoney "war on Terror." Invasion of Iraq was a sham cooked up by lying neocon traitors with secret loyalties. Remember weapons of mass disseption?And now this? Obama gaurantees Israel's security but doesn't care about east central europe so why fight this phoney war?

Barbara Wroblewski @ 5:15PM:

I don't think Obama knows much about history and I don't think he cares. Obama seems to be sympathetic to Socialism.

The way I describe him as he is the sum of all fears.

The next election is a ways off!

I was saying it before Nov 08. Obama will sale us out I just did not think he would go this far this fast.

Wow, Obama just saved the country from wasting billions and billions of dollars on an entirely useless yet controversial weapons program that was only making us enemies. This is a prudent and fiscally responsible decision, especially in an era where spending on the military has been so obscene. There is no defensive value to the United States to be sticking missile programs in Eastern Europe - its just more antagonism to an old rival.

This very expensive missile program was absolutely a waste of money probably concocted by the cold war chickenhawk Cheney to continue to try to fight against (and reviving) the Soviet Union (RIP).

Don't get me wrong, I would fiercely defend the Czechs and Poles against any new domination, but that's last century's story.

The real humor comes from conservatives still willing to spend this country in oblivion with obsolete military spending, and the same conservatives thinking they are protecting America while they just about bankrupted us in the past eight years (spending billions and billions in Iraq). We didn't defeat the Soviet Union, they just spent themselves to oblivion - and its sure seems what all the knucklehead neocons are trying to do here, too.

This is why I don't vote for Democrats. Bye bye Poland, bye bye Czech Republic!

Oh noes! That means...wait, what does it mean? That we're not spending a billion here and a billion there on stuff that doesn't actually protect us or anyone else.

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Posted by: Barbara Wroblewski | September 17, 2009 5:15 PM
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I think your post is just a little bit on the hysterical side.
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Let’s start off considering exactly *why* we sought to put ABMs in Poland and the Czech Republic, shall we?
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It WASN’T to deter the Russians. That’s right. The placement of missiles in Eastern Europe was designed to interdict a missile attack from IRAN. The plan had nothing to do with keeping the Russians at bay or to protect Eastern Europe from another Russian invasion. The protection against Russian aggression, if at all, is given by Poland’s and the Czech Republic’s membership in NATO. NATO membership obliges other members (i.e. the U.S. and most of Europe) to come to a member’s defense in case of invasion.
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Furthermore, we have better means of interdicting missiles from Iran. As someone mentioned (above), we have successfully tested ABMs deployed on naval vessels. The platform our Navy provides is much more mobile and versatile than land-based deployment. Naval deployment also keeps us out of entanglements with specific countries. That’s a win-win situation.

It's too bad that Obama couldn't have waited until February 11, 2010 to make this decision as he could have done so to commemorate an even more appropriate anniversary and pay homage to the former President to whom he is most often compared. What kind of concessions does he expect from Russia for this, anyway? That they buy back their weaponry from Venezuela?

The Iran defense is a facade argument and is in fact untrue.

Make no mistake these missiles were designed to give US nuclear primacy vs Russia and are offensive in nature. Had these been actually placed into the Czech Republic and Poland, it could have illicited a premptory response from Russia, whose own defense minister said they would strike if they were placed.

To all the doubters, this was a very smart and necessary move by the US. It has really nothing to do with Obama or Socialism...Bush would've had to back down also (in fact he did several times). Nobody wants a hot war against a nuclear power and this would have brought us much closer to that.

As far as I can tell, none of the posters here have the intel reports the president and his advisors have, NOR do they have the contacts in Europe, Africa or the Middle East that the government does. Now if you did I could see you saying that what he sees and what he hears as compared to his actions and policy are false but as far as I know you do not have the same information. If you DO have that same information then heaven help us all...we won't be safe from ourselves or anyone else.

@jac holtzman "I would like one piece of hard evidence that Iran has the capability (or will have such capability in the next ten years) to deliver a nuclear warhead on a strategic missile to Prague"

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5120NN20090203
They've already put up a satellite in orbit. The long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit could also be used for launching warheads. Might want to do a little research before you post.

I hope this is a positive move in the right direction for our country.

"Ben and Billr". No, I have not said anyone (except Obama) was lying. I simply said you support your boss or leave. The fact Gates was appointed by Bush is irrelevant. He now works for Obama. I assume you have had one boss replaced by another and you did not go about undermining the new boss.

To return to the discussion, though, Obama has settled on an old technology (Patriot missiles) to bridge the gap between now and the first potential, sea based, deployment of the new system. At the same time, he tells us Iran does not have the ability to deliver its weapons, but does not note Iran has launched a satellite recently. Obama lies again.

Rick

Rick, you are saying their lying. You are saying they are publically supporting a program they do not in fact support. That bwould be a lie by them, on a very serious matter. Now It may be that you don't have the courage or personal integrity to disagree with your bosses on important issues, but I think the Joint Chiefs probably do have that courage and integrity.

Now you complian that the sea based ABM' aren't operational yet. Well guess what Rick? The land based system isn't operational yet either, nor is it close to being operational. Beyond that, the sea based system will be operational sooner than the land based one would be, and the sea based system has a better track record in development. The Joint Chiefs believe this system will work better, sooner and cheaper. But yet again you are so blinded by your hatred of Obama that you are willing to ignore all facts, and are willing to basely question the honor of the Joint Chiefs just so you can attack Obama.

Ben, I disagree. It is common practice in government to provide support for a decision that is already made even if I think it is a bad idea. I can still support a bad idea once the decision is made and not be lying. Many times I disagreed with IBM, but I still went out and did what I was told. That is part of being employed.

Wait a second. The current sea based system is operational and has been tested and, in fact, shot down a falling satellite. The ground based system has successfully intercepted its target in every test since 2002. Why would you say it is "not operational or close to operational"?

I am not blinded by "hatred of Obama". I am very concerned about the abandonment of our allies in Easter Europe in exchange for exactly nothing from Russia and Iran. What kind of message do you think Obama sent to Taiwan, South Korea, Israel, and anyone else who thought the US was a dependable ally. I assure you it was not a good message. Obama and his administration know nothing about doing foreign policy.

Rick

Well what is the US getting in return?
Posted by: MikeP | September 17, 2009 1:54 PM

MikeP It's not so much what the U.S. gets, but what G.E. will get. Talks were scheduled yesterday between Mr. Imelt from G.E. and Mr. Putin....hmmm the timing is surely coincidental I'm sure.

So once again you Right Wing Nuts are way off base onthis issue (as well as most others) Seems Obamas plan worked quite well consideering Russia says it has scrapped plans to deploy missiles in a region near Poland after President Obama canceled plans for a missile defense system in Central Europe!!!

Scottie,

"... consideering Russia says it has scrapped plans to deploy missiles in a region near Poland..."

Key word is SAYS. Can you trust the Russians?

Key word is SAYS. Can you trust the Russians?

Posted by: Terry | September 19, 2009 3:08 PM

About as much as I can trust the republicans!

That's about as much as I can trust Barack "$9,000,000,000,000 Deficit" Obama and merry band of thieves led by Harry and Nancy

*****
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | September 19, 2009 4:01 PM
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But Scot,

You don’t trust Republicans at all. If you trust the Russians the same, then you lead us to believe by your statements that you don’t trust Russians at all. In which case, Terry’s point is still that you don’t or shouldn’t trust the Russians when they “SAY” they scrapped plans. As a consequence, there is still a question as to whether anyone has gained anything by scrapping the plan.
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But you see, Terry is working from an invalid premise. The faulty premise is that the planned missile deployment in Poland was supposed to act as a deterrent against the Russians. In reality, it was not deterrent against Russia, and nobody in their right mind could have viewed it as such. The stated purpose for the missile base was to deter an attack from Iran, and I believe that was the real intent.
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I believe this because it would have been extremely foolish to set up a missile site in Poland to either deter Russia with ABMs or to pose an offensive threat. Russians have enough ballistic missiles to overwhelm the feeble defense the ABM site would have provided. If we assume the missiles planned for Poland were for offensive use against Russia or other potential enemies (which is contrary to their stated purpose of deterring an attack from Iran), it provided no better offensive capability than what we already have in our nuclear submarine fleet. Unlike a nuclear submarine, a fixed missile site could be destroyed easily in a pre-emptive strike. We have too many subs for that to be so easily accomplished with them. So, again, it would have been a foolish waste of time and effort for us to posture against the Russians using such a site.
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I also believe the Russians were posturing and bluffing with the threat of a corresponding nuclear missile site opposite Poland. Russians are a lot more paranoid about their defensive posture than we are. It comes from centuries of being invaded by foreigners. Some people don’t realize that the “Iron Curtain” across Warsaw Pact countries was set up to provide a physical buffer against another invasion.
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We would all do well to stop viewing the situation with Russia as some kind of “them-against-us” phenomenon. There is no cold war yet, and we don’t need to re-start it. I am sure you will agree that we would do better by trying to deal with them peacefully - like we should have done after the fall of communism and the breakup of the Soviet Union. Russians are less inclined toward socialism than most Democrats. They still have recent and bitter memories of it. That’s something Republicans should learn well and remember.

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Posted by: Alz | September 17, 2009 5:46 PM
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You know, Obama may very well be sympathetic to socialism, but this isn’t an example of that sympathy. You seem to think that Obama is doing this to appease Russia. While it’s true that Russia has turned into a bit of a bully, that doesn’t change the fact that it stopped being a communist or socialist country. I mean, didn’t anyone notice what happened to Russia between 1991 to the present? If it isn’t a socialist or communist country any more, then how could its appeasement be construed as sympathy for socialism?

Defense contractors getting edgy.

Defensive.

Just like the insurance companies.

My goodness. O, my. Budget cuts for the Star Wars boondogglers.

The mediocre military strategist already pointed out why Star Wars doesn't work and can't work (except for fattening defense contractors' bottom line).

Time for US to give up illusions of Empire. Let Europe defend itself.

They know how to maintain an army over there, right?

The folly of world domination: Rome, Spanish Empire, Dutch Empire, British Empire....

Guess who's next?

"Missle defense"---just another, higher-tech Maginot Line.

If the Europeans want another Maginot Line, let them pay for it.