The United States is likely going to cancel plans to house a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. According to the New York Times, administration officials have confirmed that such a change in the missile shield plan would improve relations with Russia. Currently the Obama administration is reviewing the missile shield plan in a month long process to determine the best possible scenario which will not sacrifice safety but will be as appealing as possible to all parties involved. The goal is to get the plan finished by next month so that Obama can meet with Dmitry Medvedev to discuss the changes to the plan.
Possible changes to the plan include potentially dropping the Polish and or Czech site and instead moving them to Turkey and or the Balkans. Additionally a land-based version of the Aegis SM-3 will be developed to further protection.
The officials commented that these changes aren’t to appease Russia. Instead they say the changes are to address the threat of Iran in the best way possible. I have to admit that this explanation makes me laugh. We were going dead ahead with the missile shield plan until Russia threatened war over the issue. Now they are trying to pretend that the shield will be moved not to appease Russia but simply because they have discovered a more strategic location. Bottom line – I am happy that we are moving the shield because we can’t afford Russia as an enemy. However I think it somewhat silly that officials are pretending that this change has nothing to do with Russia.
