White House to Scrap Bush’s Approach to Missile Shield

New York Times by Peter Baker, Nicholas Kulish | Sep. 18, 2009 (News Report)

President Obama announced on Thursday that his administration will scrap former President George W. Bush’s planned missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic and instead deploy a reconfigured system aimed more at intercepting shorter-range Iranian missiles. Full Story »

Posted by Kaizar Campwala - via New York Times (Most Emailed), Tom Friedman, Google News (U.S.), Publish2 (U.S.)

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by Manfred Ostrowski - Sep. 18, 2009

This is a rather short account which leaves a lot of things open. First, no reaction from Poland or the Czech Republic is mentioned, one wonders whether these states have been consulted at all concerning NATO's new strategies. Second, the whole issue now looks like some preparation for a threatening military conflict with Iran, which should make many feel uncomfortable.

I would not expect Russia to join some Western approach towards Iran. As Roger Cohen writes (IHT September 17, p. 7): "Iran is in effect a Russian ally". A military conflict with Iran and an Israeli attack against Iran must both be excluded. Sanctions will not work. I subscribe to Roger Cohen: "..talks are essential because there is no viable alternative."