Obama to Poland and the Czech Republic -

The decision was agreed to and announced by Secretary Gates. From what I understand, the new system will go on line sooner (and will probably cost less) than the system Bush had proposed.
If it was truly aimed at Iran -- which was the stated rationale -- what difference does it make if it is based more in Southern Europe and Asia (Turkey) as opposed to Poland and the Czech republic.

The US has been working intermittently on some sort of missile defense for decades and has spent well over $100 billion, with little to show for it. The way we are going about developing the system ensures that we field an incomplete, unproven, expensive, and highly provocative technology against a dubious threat.

The GMD system has a crappy test record of effectiveness, at best. It has made intercepts in six out of twelve attempts during testing, under scripted scenarions that do not reflect a realistic threat.

If any country were to initiate a long-range missile attack against the United States or its European allies, it is unlikely that the hostile nation would be so cooperative as to limit itself so that the attack would exactly meet what the U.S. missile defense system is designed to do. It is even more unrealistic that only one or two missiles would be launched.

Obamaman,
The Poles welcome the idea of a bunch of US soldiers 'in country.' protecting their border.

it on the 70th anniversary of the Russian invasion of Poland (an invasion that Obamaman probably supported).

it's great that the Poles want US troops protecting their border. They are already part of NATO.
But we should look at it from the Russian perspective. It's like they sent troops to Mexico (I know our relationship with Mexico is different than the Poles and Russians).

I still get a kick out of the "history" we present about the "Cuban Missile Crisis." Few mention that it was prompted by our decision to base missiles in Turkey, and the crisis was resolved when we quietly agreed to withdraw them.

...in Turkey? It amazes that some people act as if striving for strategic advantage over an adversary is somehow an unholy notion.

Rightly or wrongly there are always sides being drawn up in this world. When I find myself pitted against another I'm not interested in simply being equal or nearly as good, I see no problem with being on the high ground.

That Russia made much to-do about those missles in Turkey was very well covered at the time, for those of us who lived through that era this is not news and contrary to what seems to be some peoples opinions wasn't covered up. These things were mentioned quite a bit at the time this was happening, matter of fact we even learned that a school desk would serve as your own private bomb shelter.


Okay, that even seemed ridiculous at the time.

are our allies and justifiably fear the Russians. Putin is a very happy man this morning. I am sure that Obamaman is happy for him.

We all knew Putin would take out Obambi in the first round.

Like a greek tragedy, the W administration started to run into trouble when we started to act like bullies and promoted the idea of our right of unilateralism and to take out or attack whatever regime we didn't like.

Thank god we've learned our lessons. Who cares what the Russians think. The "story" was that these missiles were to be based in Poland and the Czech Republic to safeguard everyone against Iran. If that was truly the case, Obama is to be applauded for having the courage to change (another) misguided Bush program.

I still admire Bush Senior for breaking his no new taxes pledge for the good of the country. It is about time that politicians have the guts to admit when mistakes were made and change plans (for the better).

free to pay more taxes. Libs like you like that in addition to having sympathy for communism and dictators. When are you having tea with Chavez? W. was right and Obama has been played for the fool he is by Putin.

To explain why you support the GMD missile shield, such as it is, deployed to Poland and Czech Repulican.
What is the benefit to the US?

I await your response.

and Czechs themselves which is why they wanted it and feel betrayed. And yes, we have tossed them, the Ukraine and little Georgia to the Russian bear. Putin has a big smile on his face. Teh "reset" button is now the "capitulation button" with Obambi as President. What a rank amateur he is! Terrible. The Neville Chamberlain of the 21st century.

I know that Russia bashing is now big game for the right, but all this talk about poor Georgia is pure baloney.

Georgia started the "war" with Russia, pure and simple. Now Shaskavilli is trying a blockade -- which is basically an act of war.

Just think what we would do if Mexico attacked us? Russia was restrained under the circumstances.

I guess you have your head stuck in Pravda, Obamaman! russia sent in russians to overtake two areas of Georgia and overrun them. I guess on the 70th anniversary of the Russian invasion of Poland, you can't help yourself, comrade!

communist sympathies are showing. As are Obama's.

I suspect that if a referendum were held in the disputed areas, the citizens would vote to "secede" from Georgia. things are unsettled in the region, and the same can be said for the crimea which was historically russian but ceded over to the Ukrainian SSR by Stalin or Krushchev (I don't remember which one).

Thank god, the days of un-nuanced cowboy "diplomacy" are over.

is known as appeasement. Let's give Arizona back to Mexico while we are at it. Anglos like you who don't have a lot of hair would be kicked out. Appease, please!

Dear dolt poopymeister, you obviously have got a clue about what you speak. First of all it's very obvious to those of us that actually worked in that industry that you have no first hand knowledge. Stop reading the propaganda on Huffington, it's wrong at best, but it makes you look like a moron. If only you knew wha twe have for missle defense you would be eating you words whole. GMD is but qne component of many that we have in our arsenal. GMD is a tough nut to crack and mid-range missles have less vulnerabilities inheirantly by their very nature. You closing paragraph is completely ignorant. GMD is for medium defense youidiot, we HAVE different systems for long range. Nothing in you entire post has any relevance. Stick to things you know about...NOTHING!!!

Coop once again demonstrates his complete lack of comprehension of anything.

His entire political perspective is: Republicans is bad, Obama is God.

In Coop's world, a vastly complex defense system which involves cutting edge technologies (most of which didn't exist and had to be DEVELOPED to meet the need) must work perfectly on the FIRST TRY or it is forever a failure. Forever a failure. Period.

Never mind that recent tests have been fantastic successes. According to him, you should deem missile defense a failure because it wasn't divinely perfect and complete from the moment of inception.

Coop, ya pathetic dweeb, the internal combustion engine went through dozens of "failures" before it was "perfected." It is still being modified. I guess that means it was always a failed system, eh?

In the world of engineering, a "failure" IS a success because it teaches you something valuable while you progress down the road to a system that works. Even then, perfection and tweeking continues well after "success" is reached.

No go play with the other 12 year olds and stop pretending to be all grown up.

'Nobel Peace Prize" for being a wuss. Feel the love!