As so often seems to be the case, the problem with missile defense was not the actual plan, but the stated rationale.
The net effect of the Eastern European missile defense shield would have been
1) moderately increased security against Iranian nuclear threat (helpful, but not something one would want to rely on …)
2) an infuriated Russia …
3) because it perceived its nuclear influence over Europe to be weakened …
4) closer relationships with the historically oppressed peoples of Eastern Europe.
IMHO, #3 and #4 would be beneficial to the national interests of the United States. the question is whether #2 is worth the benefits of 1, 3, and 4. Reasonable for Obama to say “no,” but sort of like shooting fish in a barrel, b/c #3 was not a publicly admissible rationale.
Russia: Poland risks attack because of US missiles – Yahoo! News
A top Russian general said Friday that Poland’s agreement to accept a U.S. missile interceptor base exposes the ex-communist nation to attack, possibly by nuclear weapons, the Interfax news agency reported….
The statement by Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn …added, in clear reference to the [U.S. Polish missile defense] agreement, that Russia’s military doctrine sanctions the use of nuclear weapons “against the allies of countries having nuclear weapons if they in some way help them.” Nogovitsyn that would include elements of strategic deterrence systems, he said, according to Interfax.
Or if the allied countries are “in some way” annoying?
Starting the Cold War over with U.S. Patriots in Poland. The Polish start line didn’t do the Germans much good in WWII.
U.S. and Poland set missile deal – International Herald Tribune
A senior Pentagon official described an unusual part of this quid pro quo: an American Patriot battery would be moved from Germany to Poland, where it would be operated by a crew of about 100 American military personnel. The expenses would be shared by both nations. American troops would join the Polish military, at least temporarily, at the front lines — facing east toward Russia.
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