[img]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46394000/gif/_46394236_us_defence466.gif[/img]
[quote=BBC News]The US is to shelve its controversial plan to build a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic, US officials have said.
Reports say the US will switch to defence against short- and medium-range missiles as Iran's long-range missile plans have advanced less than thought.
The US decision marks 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 news.
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 Barack Obama earlier this year ordered a review of the defence system, which was strongly backed by his predecessor George W Bush.
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell confirmed that there would be a "major adjustment".
He said new intelligence had shown that Iran was "much more focused on developing short- and medium-range capabilities".
John Bolton, who was undersecretary of state for arms control and international security under President Bush, said the move was "unambiguously a bad decision".
Iran says its missile development programme is solely for scientific, surveillance or defensive purposes, but there are concerns in the West and among Iran's neighbours that the rockets could be used to carry nuclear weapons.
As part of long-running efforts to tackle the issue, Iran will hold talks on its nuclear programme on 1 October with the UK, China, France, Russia and the US - the five permanent UN Security Council members - and Germany.
The Wall Street Journal said the Obama administration "was expected to leave open the option of restarting the Polish and Czech system if Iran makes advances in its long-range missiles in the future".
Russia saw the US missile plan as a direct threat to itself, despite US assurances that it was aimed at "rogue" states, such as Iran.
In November, Russia moved its own ballistic missiles to Kaliningrad, between Nato member states Lithuania and Poland to "neutralise - if necessary - the [US] anti-missile system", President Dmitry Medvedev said at the time.
Mr Medvedev also said Russia would jam the US anti-missile system electronically.
Russia's ambassador to Nato, Dmitry Rogozin, said the move was "a breakthrough" for US-Russian relations, although they were waiting for official confirmation from the US.
The two countries are currently in talks about reducing their nuclear weapons stockpiles, and the US move could influence Russia to be more co-operative, our correspondent says.
Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the US move was "a positive step", Associated Press reported. [/quote]
I'm sure we all remember that plan to put missile bases in Poland? The one that pissed off Russia who at one point threatened at attack Poland if they went through with it? Yea, well turns out it's been canceled, and Russia is happy.
Full Article: [url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8260230.stm[/url]
Less chance on WWIII, good.
YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
This is awesome.
[quote]Iran says its missile development programme is solely for scientific, surveillance or defensive purposes...[/quote]
They're not fooling anyone.
I doubt that Iran would target Europe with it's missiles anyways (they'd rather fire them on Israel).
So yeah, it was only straining the relationships while being quite useless.
[QUOTE=acds;17353037]I doubt that Iran would target Europe with it's missiles anyways (they'd rather fire them on Israel).
So yeah, it was only straining the relationships while being quite useless.[/QUOTE]
It doesn't matter who they shoot, it end up bringing everyone else into the fight whether they like it or not.
This calls for a celebration! Sighs of relief for everyone!
Oh god, our hat has been left unprotected, we need more missiles god dammit!
And tommorow Iran nukes Israel and half of Europe.
[QUOTE=markg06;17353148]And tommorow Iran nukes Israel and half of Europe.[/QUOTE]
You can have 50 quid if that happens.
[QUOTE=markg06;17353148]And tommorow Iran nukes Israel and half of Europe.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, by using photoshop.
[QUOTE=Luxo;17353020]They're not fooling anyone.[/QUOTE]
They're just like N. Korea amirite?
Except Iran might actually go and attack someone :smug:
If this happens Russia should put missile bases in Cuba and do "Cuban Missile Crisis: Special Edition" with new CG effects.
[QUOTE=radioactive;17353964]You can have 50 quid if that happens.[/QUOTE]Hell, he can have my sister if that happens.
[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;17354177]Hell, he can have my sister if that happens.[/QUOTE]
brb getting iran to nuke israel and half of europe
Mkay.
Fucking awesome.
(I live in the Czech Republic, where the radar was supposed to stand. Public in there was fucking pissed about having it in there)
[QUOTE=markg06;17353148]And tommorow Iran nukes Israel and half of Europe.[/QUOTE]
Iranian nukes? PAH!
They couldn't get a helium balloon in the air let alone a sodding missile.
just as planned...
soo yeah, about time they changed their minds on that stuff.
[QUOTE=Chrisordie;17354535]Iranian nukes? PAH!
They couldn't get a helium balloon in the air let alone a sodding missile.[/QUOTE]
I bet $20 they could
Shrapnel counts as "sustained flight", right?
Now Russia can nuke Poland if they feel threatened yay!
:raise:
[QUOTE=Robbazking;17354505]Dont worry... sweden will fucking strike from nowhere, when all americas troops is in iraq, the dollar is piss and russia don't care.
100years of peace until now motherfuckers![/QUOTE]
It's good to know that Sweden is oblivious to the political geospheres of the world.
[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;17354177]Hell, he can have my sister if that happens.[/QUOTE]
What's your sister look like?
Now the UK is the first target if someone wants to nuke the US.
And all we have is nukes on submarines listening to Radio 4.
[QUOTE=Camundongo;17355182]Now the UK is the first target if someone wants to nuke the US.
And all we have is nukes on submarines listening to Radio 4.[/QUOTE]
we have a payload of missiles somewhere in the north
Why would Russia have a problem with this anyway.
[QUOTE=Thom12255;17355717]Why would Russia have a problem with this anyway.[/QUOTE]
They think we shoot at them, the generals are dumb.
I foresee a terrorist attack in the near future.
[QUOTE=j-richardson;17355676]we have a payload of missiles somewhere in the north[/QUOTE]
Aye up lad, t'up north we got missiles the sizes of hour t'cocks, t'eighteen t'metres up here lad.
