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Thursday, September 17, 2009

That's Over

Posted by on Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 8:41 AM

Some relief from all of the domestic disappointments can be found in the actual de-Bushing of American foreign policy and agreements:

(BBC) The US is to abandon its controversial plan to build a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic, the Czech prime minister has announced.

Reports from the US said it would be dropped because Iran's long-range missile plans had advanced less than predicted so were less of a threat.

The US decision marked a major foreign policy shift which could impact on its dealings with Europe, Russia and Iran.

Russia, which saw the missile plan as a threat, welcomed the move.

The US signed a deal in August 2008 with Poland to site 10 interceptors at a base near the Baltic Sea, and with the Czech Republic to build a radar station on its territory.

President Obama earlier this year ordered a review of the defence system, which was strongly backed by his predecessor George W Bush.

The condition of the world is somewhat improving.

 

Comments (13) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
improved right up until the second N Korea or Iran nukes your ass into atoms
Posted by bye bye on September 17, 2009 at 9:13 AM
lark 2
Good Morning Charles,
I disagree. It isn't de-Bushing as one would say. The Clinton Administration actually started this:

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/bmdo-00zz…

Tensions with Russia began with him. Also, I don't think its that great of an idea. But, I don't know enough about it to dismiss it entirely.
Still some Europeans are clearly upset:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/wo…

Posted by lark on September 17, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Vince 3
Weaponizing eastern Europe in the face of Russian resistance was a seriously bad idea. It disrespected Russian interests and security. Why would we ruin relations with such a powerful nation when such a weak little nation like Iran rattles it's puny weapons. I mean really, we could turn Iran into a cinder if it launched anything at an ally. Or even threatens to. It was another example of Bush's irrational policies.
Posted by Vince on September 17, 2009 at 9:44 AM
4
Kissing Putin's ASS is a sorry basis for international policy...
Posted by Obama the Surrender Monkey . . . (oh my- is that racist?) on September 17, 2009 at 9:45 AM
5
3
It's a dog eat dog world, Vince.
Either you are calling the shots
or you're somebody's bitch.
Obama seems to relish being the bitch,
be it the GOP or Putin
he doesn't mind spreading his cheeks.
Posted by Tamale on September 17, 2009 at 9:49 AM
The Amazing Jim 6
We can now expect all those tea-baggers to thank the president for cutting a multi-billion dollar boondogle from the budget. Right?
Posted by The Amazing Jim http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=100000076496291&ref=profile on September 17, 2009 at 10:00 AM
7
They're still building a 'missile defense shield,' according to that article, and to the NPR report I heard this morning. It's just a short- to medium-range shield, as opposed to the long-range Bush wanted to build.
Posted by rgm on September 17, 2009 at 10:07 AM
8
We can finally write finis to Reagan's Fantasy. It would have been nice to extract something strategic from the Russians in return, though; Star Wars sole value was as a foregone-spending bargaining chip, it sure as shit wasn't capable of shooting down any missiles.
Posted by Toe Tag on September 17, 2009 at 10:07 AM
9
@7: A short to medium range shield, while difficult, has a chance of working. The physics of ICBMs work heavily against building a long-range missile shield that isn't trivial to circumvent.
Posted by Orv on September 17, 2009 at 10:09 AM
10
@2 That's correct, you're ignorant. The fact you freepers elide is that Obama's system works
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM-3

while Bush's system didn't
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_Base…

Moreover, two-thirds of Czech's didn't want Bush's bungle on their territory.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=4…

Mind you, I'm a bloody minded Wilsonian who wants to see American troops spreading freedom at bayonet point.

You scum just want to see Obama fail. Go to hell.
Posted by firewalkwithme on September 17, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Will in Seattle 11
@9 for the scientific fact-based win - as anyone who worked in Boeing mil side could tell you if they were permitted to admit to the truth.
Posted by Will in Seattle http://www.facebook.com/WillSeattle on September 17, 2009 at 10:49 AM
jimmy 12
Weapons makers do really well when entire world is at each other's throat. Easing tensions is always bad for the bottom line. The tea baggers never gripe about the corruption and waste within the bloated, sacrosanct defense budget. That part of socialist federal government spending is beyond reproach.
Posted by jimmy http://www.mybigfatlazyblog.blogspot.com on September 17, 2009 at 11:30 AM
13
De-Bushing of foreign policy? Missiles that were never set up are now not going to be set up. I highly doubt the children of Iraq and Afghanistan feel any happier that Obama is dropping bombs on them instead of Bush. It's shocking what antiwar rhetoric will buy you when you're a Democrat.
Posted by Lonnie on September 17, 2009 at 3:08 PM

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