Report: Obama Offers to Scrap Missile Shield If Russia Cooperates on Iran

[kpete]

Source: FOX News

Report: Obama Offers to Scrap Missile Shield If Russia Cooperates on Iran

President Obama wrote to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to tell him Russia's aid in resolving the threat from Iran would make plans for a missile defense shield in Europe unnecessary, according to Russian news agencies.

FOXNews.com

Monday, March 02, 2009


President Obama offered to consider scrapping plans for a missile defense shield in Europe if Russia helps rein in Iran's nuclear program, the Russian newspaper Kommersant reported.

The article said Obama wrote to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to tell him Russia's aid in resolving the threat from Iran would make the missile shield plans unnecessary, according to an account from Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

A senior administration official told FOX News that Obama sent a letter to Medvedev but "we won't comment on the specifics."

Obama inherited plans to build the system in Poland and the Czech Republic from the Bush administration, but the new administration has equivocated over the project. Though the plans were put in place to deter nations like Iran and North Korea from launching attacks and developing nuclear weapons, Russia has interpreted the planned installation as a threat.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/02... /

[Demeter]

1. What Threat From Iran?

Iran is economically suffering from oil price drop.
Iran is in turmoil because so many young people want change. And the old people remember their freedoms under a western-style government.
Iran needs industry.

The only threat is that Iran dissolves into civil war.

The rumor of low-grade uranium is just that.

[stillcool]

3. the threat of Iran developing ...

into more of a dominant presence in the region.

[The abyss]

2. Trial Balloon?

This has got to be trail balloon news. But for what purpose?

The Iranians are building a power plant! They entire world knows this, with the possible exception of Fox News sub-scribers.

Why would Russia help us, they are helping with the construction?…. The construction of a power plant.

[Lerkfish]

4. "shield" is an intentionally misleading label.

the system, is a laser in belly of a plane that is computer-controlled to (hopefully) strike incoming missiles. It depends greatly on there being few enough missiles arcing in high enough to shoot them down before they hit the ground.
It does nothing for ground-hugging cruise missiles.

at least that's what it appeared to me from the specs I read on it. Ultimately, like the patriot/scud interaction, it depends a great deal on luck, and is not 100% effective.

if it evens lets one in, its a failure.

[FrenchieCat]

5. Like Russia using their economic leverage with Iran, to get Iran to do what is required

in reference to a whole host of issues, like Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel/Palestine, and yes....Nuclear Power.


and to the Russians, the Missile Shield proposed by Bush is a tasty carrot.

[harmonicon]

6. yeah, yeah, yeah...

whatever theatre you want. The missile shield has always just been a con. He should just admit that an scrap the whole damn thing, but if he needs an excuse, I hope the Russians give him one.

[hollowdweller]

7. Win Win

The missle shield is a total boondogle that does nothing but piss off Russia.

If Obama could trade it off for Russia to start working with the US again he would have just secured more security than the SDI in it's current stage of development could provide IMO.

Then there's the savings to the budget that could be directed to health care.

[Lasher]

8. Yup.

Mighty good move there.

[TheLastMohican]

11. I have to disappoint you

The times when the Russians were trading "real deals" worth billions of dollars like Bushehr nuclear power plant for "paper ABM shield" are gone together with the drunkard Yeltsin.
The Russians will definetely be asking for something more substantial.
Like stopping surrounding them with bases all over the place, or stoping funding all those color revolutionaries which turned out to be a fraud anyways.
And Obama might have to give up any and all support of american puppet governments in Ukraine and Georgia which will be overthrown in the nearest future.

[pasto76]

9. good the missile shield ios a cold war weapon

that has spent BILLIONS of dollars. we could sure use that elsewhere.

[quidam56]

10. My friends in Russia will be pleased to hear this....

I remember getting a letter from Moscow at least a year or so ago, she was upset - "your President Bush is pointing your nuclear rocket missiles at us from Poland and the Ukraine" I was dumbfounded at what dumb-ie was doing again. We don't need another Cold War.

[Hope And Change]

12. If the article is correct(can`t trust FOX news) than I think it`s a good move by Obama.