Obama shelves missile shield

The US has abandoned plans for a missile defence shield in eastern Europe. President Barack Obama said he was dropping plans to base interceptor missiles in Poland and build a radar system in the Czech Republic. Russia welcomed the decision to scrap the programme, which had complicated US efforts to enlist Moscow's support over Afghanistan, Iran and nuclear arms control. The shield was intended to defend against long-range missile launches from "rogue" states like Iran. But Russia saw it as a threat to its own missile defences and its overall security. Mr Obama said he had decided to drop the plan - formulated under the George W Bush administration - in favour of "stronger, smarter and swifter" defences that were "proven and cost-effective". Critics of the shield plan had warned that the technology had not been tested in realistic battle conditions. Mr Obama said he had assured the heads of state of Poland and the Czech Republic of America's commitment to defending its Nato allies. Pentagon officials said the decision to move away from the shield was based on intelligence indicating Iran is focused on developing short and medium-range missiles rather than the long-range intercontinental missiles originally feared. Eastern European states, especially Poland and the Baltic states, saw the missile plan as a symbol of US commitment to the defence of the region against any encroachment by its former Soviet rulers 20 years after the end of communist rule.

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ITN | September 17, 2009

Tags:. .abandoned. .overall. .focused. .swifter. .baltic