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'Arrow' missile test (archives)
Photo courtesy of the Israel Aerospace Industries
Obama: New program swifter, smarter
Photo: AP

US says forces to employ Israeli 'Arrow' in missile system

Missile system to have been built in Eastern Europe, amid Russian protest, found unsuitable for defense against Iranian threat, says US president

Vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General James Cartwright, announced Thursday that the Israeli 'Arrow' missile defense system would be employed by US forces.

 

The Israeli Defense Ministry said in response to the announcement, "We are familiar with the capabilities of the 'Arrow'. We presented them before Congress, which approved its continued development."

 

Earlier Thursday, US President Barack Obama shelved a Bush-era plan for an Eastern European missile defense plan that has been a major irritant in US relations with Russia. He said a redesigned defensive system would be cheaper, quicker and more effective against the threat from Iranian missiles.

 

"Our new missile defense architecture in Europe will provide stronger, smarter and swifter defenses of American forces and America's allies," Obama said in an announcement from the White House.


President Obama holds press conference (Photo: AFP)

 

"It is more comprehensive than the previous program; it deploys capabilities that are proven and cost effective, and it sustains and builds upon our commitment to protect the US homeland."

 

The missile defense system, planned under the Bush administration, was to have been built in the Czech Republic and Poland. Obama phoned Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer on Wednesday night and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Thursday to alert them of his decision.

 

Obama said the plan was scrapped in part because, after a review, the US has concluded that Iran is less focused on developing the kind of long-range missiles for which the system was originally developed, making the building of an expensive new shield unnecessary. New technology also has arisen that military advisers decided could be deployed sooner and more effectively, he said.

 

Anticipating certain criticism from the right that he was weakening US security, Obama said repeatedly that this decision would provide more, not less, protection.

 

"I'm committed to deploying strong missile defense systems that are adaptable to the threats of the 21st century," the president said.

 

He said the US will continue to work cooperatively with what he called "our close friends and allies" – the Czech Republic and Poland, which had agreed to host the Bush-planned shield at considerable cost in public opinion and their relations with Russia.

 

He also made a pointed reference to Russia and its long and heated objections to the shield. "Its concerns about our previous missile defense programs were entirely unfounded," Obama said.

 

Still, the decision could, and mostly likely will, be read as at least in part as an effort to placate Russia at a time when its support against Iran's suspected nuclear program has not been forthcoming and is sorely needed.

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.17.09, 18:09
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