Posted on 09/17/2009 9:21:56 AM PDT by Steelfish
September 17, 2009
Dismay In Europe As Obama Ditches Missile Defence
Philippe Naughton and Tony Halpin in Moscow
President Obama dismayed America's allies in Europe and angered his political opponents at home today when he formally ditched plans to set up a missile defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.
The project had been close to the heart of Mr Obama's predecessor, President Bush, who had argued before leaving office in January that it was needed to defend against long-range ballistic missile attacks from rogue states such as Iran and North Korea.
But it had hobbled relations with Russia, which considered it both a security threat and an unnecessary political provocation in its own backyard.
At a White House appearance today, Mr Obama confirmed that the defence shield envisaged by the Bush Administration, involving a radar base in the Czech Republic and interceptor rockets sited in Poland, was being abandoned.
Instead, after a comprehensive review, he had decided to accept the advice of both the Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, and of the Chiefs of Staff opt for a "smarter, stronger and swifter" system involving both sea-based and land-based mobile interceptors.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Article 5 was activated for the first time in NATO's history after 9/11. It is the reason why NATO is in Afghanistan. In this case, a "series of words" have resulted in action and a loss of blood and treasure, not only for the US.
Taking away the missile shield and leaving only words is, in a very realistic sense, abandonment. That is especially true when one considers to what degree the new President has failed to establish credibility.
As I have pointed out earlier, this is not just a military issue, but a political one. Poland and the Czech Republic stuck their necks out in agreeing to station this system on their soil. The Russians have made all kinds of threats against them. We are now pulling the rug out from under them. Yes, it does raise questions about our commitment to them and the alliance, i.e., NATO.
I absolutely agree with your assessment that it raises questions about our commitment to them and the alliance, i.e., NATO.
Those nations put themselves at risk because they believed the word of the United States of America meant something. Under current management, it apparently no longer does.
Some more silliness. McCain-Feingold was passed by Congress and signed by the President. It is now being challenged in SCOTUS.Yep, they upheld it once and who knows what they'll do this time.
The Russians don't use a democratic process to crack down on dissidents. Since the breakup they have an equivalence of our congress and elect a president. And a court, I don't know of any dissidents ,do you? Talk about cracking down, look at what the Democrats did to Traficant for speaking truth against power!
Lot of hearsay, all the facts are not on the table IMHO. What do you dispute. It is no secret that the Russians are responsible for the construction of Iran's nuclear reactor. They also built the Anwar Dam in Egypt There is no disputing that Russia is selling Iran arms including an anti-aircraft missile defense system. So, everyone is selling and buying arms. We sold a bunch to the Afghans to defeat Russia, and then to the terrorist headchoppers in the Balkans .
You don't have a clue as to what is going on in Russia. They are not our friends, they are better friends than the Islamists especially Putin he has 75% approval in Russia, supports marriage and families, wears a necklace sporting a cross and passed a flat tax in Russia to boot.
Obama's decision is more woolly thinking.Best move he made so far, we should climb aboard and take credit I prefer Reagan's trust but verify relationship. You're problem is you don't trust and won't verifyYou really are nuts.Thanks
It did. And succeeded. The USSR is no more. Now Russia has a 'small population of ~138 million' spread over a vast land area to protect. They no longer have have a communist ideology to project. They laugh at us going socialistic while they are adapting to capitalism.
NATO should wrap it up and quit it's beligerent attempts at expanding.
Russia has lots of gold, even more oil, and a former KGB chief (Putin) as its chief authority. They are far from out of the game.
I would not blithely assume they no longer desire lands like Belarus and Ukraine that split away from the former USSR. Especially when one recalls their overt presence in Georgia.
BTTT
The allies may be stunned but the average American is not. We know the Bozo for the communist traitor he is.
Iran, Russia, North Korea, and the traitors that put him in the White House are pleased. These areobama’s allies.
We have a Churchill, her name is Sarah Palin.
They are.
Michael Savage noted that Benjamin Netanyahu met with Putin a week or so ago.
Perhaps—he suggests—this agreement was part of Russia looking the other way if an attack on Iranian nuclear assets takes place by Israel.
That and Arabic.
We will need more than a Churchill, my man. It will take a miracle.
Aria wrote: I can’t stand the sound of that voice on your link....gives me the big time CREEPS!
Me too!!
On February 27th, speaking to Kristof of The New York Times, Barack Hussein Obama said the Muslim call to prayer is “one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset.”
In an interview with Nicholas Kristof, published in The New York Times, Obama recited the Muslim call to prayer, the Adhan, “with a first-class [Arabic] accent.”
The opening lines of the Adhan (Azaan) is the Shahada:
“Allah is Supreme! Allah is Supreme!
Allah is Supreme! Allah is Supreme!
I witness that there is no god but Allah
I witness that there is no god but Allah
I witness that Muhammad is his prophet? “
According to Islamic scholars, reciting the Shahada, the Muslim declaration of faith, makes one a Muslim. This simple yet profound statement expresses a Muslim’s complete acceptance of, and total commitment to, the message of Islam. Obama chanted it with pride and finesse.
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