by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Sept. 20, 2009
All Rights Reserved.

          Slapping the former Bush administration in the face, President Barack Obama ended missile defense contracts in Poland and the Czech Republic.  Former President George W. Bush signed missile defense pacts with Poland and the Czech Republic July 8, 2008, only four months before Barack was elected president.  Boeing Missile Defesne Systems stood to make billions, installing missile interceptors in Poland and corresponding radar in the Czech Republic.  Bush insisted that the U.S. must confront a growing Iranian long-range missile threat despite the fact that not one Western or Eastern European country expressed concerns over Iranian ambitions.  Bush insisted that missile defense was in the national security interests of the United States, despite Russian promises to escalate an arms’ race or possibly bomb missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic.

            When Barack announced Sept. 17 plans to scuttle missile defense, he was accused by former GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) of acting like former President Jimmy Carter to weaken U.S. military capability.  Carter was criticized for weakening military strength, opening the door in Iran to Ayatollah Khomenei’s Islamic Revolution.  Carter’s April 24, 1980 failed rescue mission of U.S. hostages pushed then GOP nominee Ronald Reagan to a Nov. 4, 1980 landslide victory.  Barack scuttled missile defense primarily because few military advisors, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates, believe Iran represents a credible missile defense threat.  Given the nearly $1.5 billion budget deficit, Barack couldn’t justify the billions needed to implement effective missile defense.  Republicans were quick to jump on Barack’s alleged pacifist tendencies.

            When war broke out last summer between Georgia and Russia, Bush’s decision on missile defense weighed heavily on Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s decision to attack Georgia.  Bush and former Vice President Dick Cheney’s support of Georgian President and U.S. ally 42-year-old  Miheil Saakashvili prompted Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to threaten draconic consequences should the U.S. go forward with missile defense.  Russian authorities, rightly or wrongly, view missile defense in Eastern Europe as a threat to Russia’s deterrent capability.  “This is going to be seen as capitulation to the Russians, who had no real basis to object to what we were doing.  And at the end of the day you empowered the Russians, you made Iran happy and you made the people of Eastern Europe wonder who we are as Americans,” said Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.).

           Graham knows that without Russian support on the U.N. Security Council, containing Iran’s nuclear ambitions is next to impossible.  Despite GOP criticism, Barack’s decision to end missile defense in Eastern Europe has the backing of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and a number of GOP foreign policy advisors.  Calling Barack an appeaser plays well to the GOP base but doesn’t answer how to enlist Russia’s help to contain a growing Iranian nuclear threat.  Obama denied that ending missile defense attempted to placate the Russians to help in confronting Tehran.  “Russia had always been paranoid about this, but George Bush was right.  This wasn’t a threat to them,” Obama told CBS News.  “And this program will not be threat to them,” said Obama, denying that he ended missile defense in Poland and the Czech Republic to gain Russian help on the Security Council.

            Recent intelligence reports indicate that Iran’s missile capability poses no real threat to Europe.  Bush’s original premise was to secure Europe against rogue missile threats, primarily from Tehran.  If no such threat exists, the costs both politically and economically can’t be justified.  “If the byproduct of it is that the Russians feel a little less paranoid and are not willing to work effectively with us to deal with threats like ballistic missiles from Iran or nuclear development in Iran, you know, that’s a bonus,” said Barack, offering the rationale for ending missile defense.  Painting Barack as weak doesn’t address the linkage between antagonizing Russia with missile defense and enlisting cooperation on the Security Council.  Graham knows the U.S. can’t have it both ways:  Antagonizing Russia and getting help on the Security Council.  Barack’s decision helps reset U.S.-Russian relations.

            Looking to score more cheap political points, Graham pounded Gates for placating the Russians.  “If you are trying to tell me this has nothing to do with administration trying to get a better relationship with Russia, I don’t believe you.  What they did, in my view, undercut two good allies, the Poles and the Czech Republic,” said Graham, knowing full-well that neither country has any clout on the Security Council.  Between now and the end of the year, the White House must exert maximum influence on Tehran to reconsider its nuclear enrichment program.  With newly reelected Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmandinejad threatening Israel and denying the Holocaust again, no one knows for sure how long Israel will wait before acting unilaterally.  Enlisting the Russians, whether inadvertently or deliberately, can only help avoid another possible disastrous military confrontation.  

 John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.