The Scrapping Of Europe's Missile Defense Program -- News Roundup

President Obama said that the new U.S. strategy “will provide stronger, smarter and swifter defense.” Luke Sharrett/The New York Times

Dismay In Europe As Obama Ditches Missile Defence -- Times Online

President Obama dismayed America's allies in Europe and angered his political opponents at home today when he formally ditched plans to set up a missile defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.

The project had been close to the heart of Mr Obama's predecessor, President Bush, who had argued before leaving office in January that it was needed to defend against long-range ballistic missile attacks from rogue states such as Iran and North Korea.

But it had hobbled relations with Russia, which considered it both a security threat and an unnecessary political provocation in its own backyard.

Read more ....

More News on Today's Decision To Cancel Europe's Missile Defense Program

Full Text of Obama's Speach -- Moscow Times
U.S. replaces Bush plan for Europe missile shield -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Obama revamps Bush-era missile shield -- Yahoo News/AFP
Obama scraps controversial long-range missile defense shield -- McClatchy News
Intel report drove new missile plan -- AP
Bipartisan Senate concern over Obama decision on missile defense -- the Hill
McCain Calls Obama's Missile Defense Move 'Seriously Misguided' But Will It Work? -- ABC News
Missile Defense Decision Draws Praise, Criticism from US Lawmakers -- Voice of America
Cheers and jeers to W.H. missile announcement -- Politico
Democrats to Obama: Um, what exactly are we getting for selling out Poland to Russia? -- Hot Air
Dear Poland, Happy Soviet Invasion Day. Love, Uncle Sam -- The Danger
Background on Europe missile shield and Obama's decision to scrap it -- L.A. Times

RUSSIAN REACTION

Obama Drops European Missile Plan -- Moscow Times
Russian NATO envoy skeptical about new U.S missile shield plans -- RIA Novosti
Euphoria (in Russia) over Obama's Decision To Shelve Missile Shield -- Spiegel online
Russia hails US missile overhaul -- BBC
A victory for Russian diplomacy? -- BBC
Kremlin Cautiously Optimistic on U.S. Overhaul of Missile Defense Plan -- Washington Post
Analysis: Barack Obama's Missile Shield Decision Will Be Cheered In Russia -- The Telegraph
Russia, U.S. signed no anti-missile deals - Foreign Ministry -- RIA Novosti

EUROPE'S REACTION

Mixed US missile shield reaction -- BBC
Eastern Europe grumbles about downgrade in US ties -- Yahoo News/AP
Polish PM wouldn't take U.S. calls -- Politico
The View From Prague: Goodbye and Good Riddance -- Wall Street Journal

OPINIONS AND ANALYSIS

US missile rethink a huge shift -- BBC
Obama's Secret Plan to Save Money on Missile Defense -- Washington Post
Iran Nuke Report Could Call Into Question Basis for Missile Defense Shift -- FOX News
Thaws and Tensions in Missile Defense -- Simon Tisdall, The Guardian opinion
The Fallout of a Reversal on Missile Defense -- New York Times opinion
Obama helps strengthen General Electric-Putin ties -- The Examiner
Obama's Missile Offense -- Wall Street Journal editorial

WNU Editor: We will be updating this story tomorrow at 8:00 AM EST, September 18, 2009.