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President Obama today offered to scrap plans for a missile defence shield in Eastern Europe if Russia helped to stop Iran developing a nuclear bomb.
He appealed in Moscow for a new era of partnership between Russia and the United States to fight the spread of nuclear weapons to rogue states and terrorist groups.
"That is why we should be united in opposing North Korea's efforts to become a nuclear power and preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon," he said.
Russia strongly opposes US plans to site the missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, which Washington says is necessary to defend against a surprise attack from Iran. Mr Obama made clear that he was willing to strike a deal with the Kremlin.
"I know Russia opposes the planned configuration for missile defence in Europe . . . I have made it clear that this system is directed at preventing a potential attack from Iran and has nothing to do with Russia," Mr Obama said in a speech to students graduating from Moscow's New Economic School.
Obama shelves Europe missile plan
US President Barack Obama has shelved plans for controversial bases in Poland and the Czech Republic in a major overhaul of missile defence in Europe.
The bases are to be scrapped after a review of the threat from Iran.
Mr Obama said there would be a "proven, cost-effective" system using land- and sea-based interceptors against Iran's short- and medium-range missile threat.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has welcomed the US decision, calling it a "responsible move".
Russia had always seen the shield as a threat.
opposing North Korea's efforts to become a nuclear power, and opposing Iran's efforts to acquire a nuclear weapon
if the threat from Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program is eliminated, the driving force for missile defence in Europe will be eliminated
Originally posted by Genus
I'm surprised no one's hopped on to say it's a coincidence yet. :-p Good catch, maybe this will hopefully help open more people's eyes to the fact that the US is as corrupt as corrupt can get... and the poor citizens are fighting an uphill battle if they want to sever free...
Originally posted by Amagnon
Rofl - the idea that the missile defenses were ever anything to do with Iran is laughable.
They were about Russia - and everyone knows it - and this was a nice chess move by the US controllers - it costs them nothing to discard a 'plan' and they have gained Russian support in policy against Iran.
I doubt Russia's heart is in it though - they aren't likely to accept any force used against Iran without doing something - and that something would probably be threatening the Caspian line in Georgia.