Here we go with that smart diplomacy again:
U.S. officials visiting Warsaw tried to reassure Poland on Monday that the cancellation of the final stage of a European missile defense system will not sideline the country and was not made to appease Russia.
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced last week that plans to place long-range missile interceptors in Poland in the next decade are being abandoned. As part of the announced changes, the U.S wants to place other interceptors in Alaska due to the threat from North Korea.
Well, at least this time the change wasn't done on the 70th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland. So this is progress of sorts.
And recall that in 2009, the Obama administration claimed it was getting rid of a Bush-era missile planned for Europe in favor of proven Navy missiles. I didn't understand how these missiles could effectively cover all of Europe let alone defend America. Only later did I find out that the new plan relied on the Navy missiles only for a faster deployment of limited capabilities to defend Europe, and that longer-ranged missiles capable of defending America had to be developed.
So we didn't replace a new system with a proven system, after all. And now we are cancelling the new system for Europe because we are having problems developing it in order to pay for more Bush-era missiles in Alaska.
And we get to worry the Poles again. Bravo, Obama administration. Smart diplomacy and smart weapons acquisition! The nuance! It burns!
UPDATE: Thanks to Stones Cry Out for the link.
