The Missile Shield is shelved! Huzzah!

[famousringo]

Looks like missile defense isn't scrapped, it's just shifting gears to actually address the missiles that Iran is developing:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jH0YjpygDi5_ckf0EOh5tBGbOnMAD9AR5R581

Russia seems mollified, and says it will scrap plans to deploy new missile sites aimed at Europe, while Gates insists that Russia was not a factor in the decision and he doubts they'll like the new missile defense plan any better. The plan still calls for LRBM interceptor sites later down the road, which the US would like to station in Poland.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/17/AR2009091700639_2.html

"As described by Gates and his top generals, Obama's new missile defense plan will unfold in three stages. By 2011, the Pentagon will deploy Navy Aegis ships equipped with SM-3 interceptors in the eastern Mediterranean.

A second phase in about 2015 will field an upgraded, land-based SM-3 in allied countries, and discussions are underway with Poland and the Czech Republic on basing the missiles in their territory, Gates said. In 2018, the third phase will deploy a larger and more capable missile, which will allow the defense shield to protect Europe and the United States against short- and intermediate-range rockets and, eventually, intercontinental ballistic missiles. "

That last bit could be tricky, because after years of being taken for a ride over missile defense, it looks like the people of Poland are glad to be getting off:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0909/But_the_Polish_public_likes_it.html?showall

I guess the best that can be hoped is that the decision to place interceptors closer to Iran and the Obama administration's general change in tone will convince Russia that this is actually aimed at Iran, rather than Russia.