Obama scraps Bush's European missile shield

America today scrapped a Bush-era plan for an Eastern European missile defence defence shield that has been a major problem in relations with Russia.

Making the order President Barack Obama said a redesigned defensive system would be cheaper, quicker and more effective.

“Our new missile defence architecture in Europe will provide stronger, smarter and swifter defences of American forces and America’s allies,” he said in an announcement from the White House. “It is more comprehensive than the previous program; it deploys capabilities that are proven and cost effective, and it sustains and builds upon our commitment to protect the US homeland.”

The missile defence system, planned under the Bush administration, was to have been built in the Czech Republic and Poland. Mr Obama phoned Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to alert them of his decision.

He said the plan aimed at defending against an attack by Iranian missiles into Europe was scrapped in part because, after a review, the US has concluded that Iran is less focused on developing the kind of long-range rockets for which the system was originally developed, making the building of an expensive new shield unnecessary.

New technology also has arisen that military advisers decided could be deployed sooner and more effectively, he said.

Anticipating certain criticism that he was weakening US security, Mr Obama said repeatedly that this decision would provide more – not less – protection.

“I’m committed to deploying strong missile defence systems that are adaptable to the threats of the 21st century,” the president said.

He said the US will continue to work cooperatively with what he called “our close friends and allies” – the Czech Republic and Poland, which had agreed to host the Bush-planned shield at considerable cost in public opinion and their relations with Russia.

He also made a pointed reference to Russia and its long and heated objections to the shield. “Its concerns about our previous missile defence programs were entirely unfounded,” Mr Obama said.

However the decision is likely be read as at least in part as an effort to placate Russia at a time when its support against Iran’s suspected nuclear program has not been forthcoming and is sorely needed.