US: We won't be building the missile shield in Poland

[Admiral Yi]

The program made little sense technically or strategically; the question always was how long we were going to stick to it simply for the purpose of avoiding handing the Russians an empty PR victory. 

I agree the timing could have better.  Like Day 1 of the Administration.

Did you miss the memo?  Looks like they are going to stick to it, only better in every concievable way.

[The Minsky Moment]

The program made little sense technically or strategically; the question always was how long we were going to stick to it simply for the purpose of avoiding handing the Russians an empty PR victory. 

I agree the timing could have better.  Like Day 1 of the Administration.

Did you miss the memo?  Looks like they are going to stick to it, only better in every concievable way.

The memo I read said they are going to use different platforms, different architecture, different deployment.  Other than it being "missile defense" and involving Europe it is totally different.

[Legbiter]

Presumably the Americans get some quid pro quo from the Russians. Right?

We probably gave the Russians something else behind closed doors as well.

The Russians will view this climbdown as the US having sold Ukraine and Georgia down the river. The Ukrainian presidential election next January will be revealing.

[The Brain]

Wasn't Obama born in Moscow and attended a Party school in Pskov?

[Winkelried]

Wasn't Obama born in Moscow and attended a Party school in Pskov?

AFAIK he was known as Obamarx back then.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Presumably the Americans get some quid pro quo from the Russians. Right?

We probably gave the Russians something else behind closed doors as well.

The Russians will view this climbdown as the US having sold Ukraine and Georgia down the river. The Ukrainian presidential election next January will be revealing.

I heard iron is in for curtains this season

[Martinus]

Obama was just on CNN talking about installing a different kind of missile shield, one that's stronger, faster, swifter than the old one.

Didn't he also say that he hopes Iran will keep to its diplomatic promises?

Maybe has a drinking problem.

[The Minsky Moment]

The Ukrainian presidential election next January will be revealing.

In that case we all better hope Tymoshenko wins b/c I don't want to know what Yanukovich looks like once the flashy suits are taken off.

[Admiral Yi]

The memo I read said they are going to use different platforms, different architecture, different deployment.  Other than it being "missile defense" and involving Europe it is totally different.

And bound to make sense technically and strategically.

[Martinus]

The Ukrainian presidential election next January will be revealing.

In that case we all better hope Tymoshenko wins b/c I don't want to know what Yanukovich looks like once the flashy suits are taken off.

Will he be running against Tymoshenko? Or are you thinking of Yuschenko?

[The Minsky Moment]

Will he be running against Tymoshenko? Or are you thinking of Yuschenko?

Dont know - but Yuschenko is pretty fit so it doesn't work as well.

[The Minsky Moment]

The memo I read said they are going to use different platforms, different architecture, different deployment.  Other than it being "missile defense" and involving Europe it is totally different.

And bound to make sense technically and strategically.

That I do not know.  But if it costs less, already it is ahead on points.

[Neil]

I thought Tim would at least be smart enough not to promote nuclear proliferation.

If the nuclear powers refuse to maintain world order, then every country with the ability to do so must embrace nuclear armament.

Obama has declared that he welcomes the conquest of Europe by Russia, and will do everything in his power to ensure that an aggressive Russian regime is building murder camps in occupied Poland before his administration leaves office.  The Poles would be crazy not to build atomics.

[Josquius]

Kudos to Obama for choosing a perfect date to announce that: 70th anniversary of the Soviet invasion against Poland.

That is great.

It was a silly idea anyway. Good decision.
There's far better things to spend money on- even if the money stays in the military domain there are better options.

[Strix]

The memo I read said they are going to use different platforms, different architecture, different deployment.  Other than it being "missile defense" and involving Europe it is totally different.

And bound to make sense technically and strategically.

Or it will end up like the Big Dig!