Biden: US committed to missile defense in Europe

[The Northerner]

Source: Associated Press

BRUSSELS – U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday that Washington remains determined to deploy its planned anti-missile system in Europe to counter the danger of Iran's nuclear program and its long-range ballistic missiles.

"The United States and European Union have stood side-by-side to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons," Biden told the European Parliament. "Iran's nuclear program violates its obligations under NPT and risks sparking a nuclear arms race in the Middle East." The NPT is the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The Obama administration last year scrapped Bush-era plans for an expensive missile defense network based in Poland and the Czech Republic. It replaced them with a more flexible plan to deploy Patriot air defense missiles in several countries in eastern Europe and on ships in the Black Sea and Mediterranean.

The original plan strained ties between the United States and Russia, which saw it as directed against its own ballistic missiles. Russia has been somewhat more receptive of the new program, although it still maintains there is no need for it at present.

On Thursday, the chiefs of defense of NATO nations met in Brussels with their Russian counterpart, Gen. Nikolai Makarov. After the meeting, NATO's top military officer, Italian Adm. Giampaolo Di Paola said Makarov had offered missile defense as an area in which the alliance and Russia could cooperate.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100506/ap_on_re_eu/eu_biden_eu_nato

[dipsydoodle]

1. Dream on Joe

.

[skyounkin]

2. Sigh.

Hopeless and chump change.

I can believe in that.

[ixion]

3. Yet another example of the Obama admin continuing Bush Era projects and/or policies

:argh:

[fascisthunter]

4. those promoting this should be "committed"

our country is falling apart and this genius is talking about defense shield for Europe.

[OhioChick]

6. Couldn't agree more. n/t

[Nihil]

8. Whilst agreeing with the spirit of your post ...

>... this genius is talking about defense shield for Europe.

No, he's talking about a "defense shield" *in* Europe, not *for* Europe.

We don't want that crap over here either! :hi:

[fascisthunter]

9. true...

ooops

[unkachuck]

5. what's the matter, Joe?

....the Cold War's not good enough for you? MAD was certainly effective on restraining the Soviet Union; but MAD won't restrain Iran?....doesn't Iran have an address?

....three-quarters of a trillion dollars yearly we piss away on 'defense'....no other country, or combination of countries, even comes close to what we piss away each year needlessly....what's wrong with this picture Joe, at a time of economic hardship?

....you know Joe, if we wanted unbridled war-mongers scudding with bullshit, we certainly could have elected Republicans....

[conspirator]

7. It's news like this that make me wonder why people still bother to vote nt

[Vidar]

10. More Bush Lite policies.