Posted on 09/20/2009 6:20:29 AM PDT by GWConservative
White House National Security Adviser James L. Jones says President Obama's decision to abandon a long-range missile defense site in Eastern Europe was driven by U.S. intelligence concerns that Iran is further along than previously thought in developing medium-range missiles that could strike Western Europe and the Middle East with nuclear warheads.
"We think they are heading toward weaponiz[ing] these missiles, which obviously we want to dissuade them from doing," the retired four-star Marine general told The Washington Times, explaining why U.S. officials dramatically shifted from years of focus on guarding against longer-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
Gen. Jones also acknowledged that the policy shift announced on Thursday will pay "an ancillary benefit" to U.S. efforts to improve relations with Moscow, taking issue with a statement by White House press secretary Robert Gibbs that the change was "not about Russia."
"The fact is, there is clearly a relationship here in all of these issues," he said. "We are trying to reset the relationship with Russia, based on one of mutual respect and mutual interest."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Maybe I need more coffee, or the Stupid Gas from the pulp mill is affecting me more that I realize... they are increasing missile range, building nukes, and we are chopping missile defense.
Does not compute...
Once again the opacity of the ZerO administration makes a decision in the dark. The safest place to be is an enemy of The United States.
I suppose in exchange we will get Stalin body to lie in the Capitol.
I heard that funding for AGEIS has been cut. How are we going to have an effective sea based system when it is being cut as we speak?
They asked for it, they got it.
Does not compute...Unless you start with the assumption that Barry is one of them, then it all makes sense.
= appeasement.
If Iran just put a satellite into orbit it can hit any country with a nuke.
If Iran had the capability to develop advanced communications and weapons platforms for space, maybe so.
I am more concerned they and their buddies in N.Korea might hatch a plan to put a nuke in a cargo container. And who would stop them? No missile defense shield can help there. Money is not without limits, and I am wondering if the Europeans want a missile defense shield enough to pay for it.
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