Special Topics
European missile defense reversed
It's official. The Obama administration announced today that the contentious Bush-era missile defense system proposed for Eastern Europe is no more. Russia welcomed the news; Poland and the Czech Republic were dismayed. But it's clear that administration officials agree with what Bulletin experts have said all along--the plan was rife with technical and political problems.
A first take on Obama's missile defense rethink
From Moscow, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia provides his initial thoughts about the Obama administration's decision not to deploy missile defense installations in Eastern Europe.
The Polish reaction
Warsaw received the U.S. administration's decision on the European missile defense plan with mixed feelings. And despite suggestions of a new program with new opportunities, future U.S.-Polish cooperation won't be easy.
The Czech reaction
With the Bush-era European-based missile shield no more, Prague may need to look to the European Union and NATO for its security guarantees.
The false promise of missile defense
On the surface, missile defense seems enticing--prevent the delivery of nuclear weapons and prevent nuclear war. But in reality, it's useless.
Getting back to basics on missile defense
Missile defense has a military purpose, it's just not the one most people think of.
The European missile defense folly
The United States plans to protect itself from emerging missile threats by building a Europe-based missile defense system. Like its predecessors, the system has serious technological deficiencies.
Evaluating Iran's missile threat
The proposed European missile defense system is intended to guard against a missile attack originating from Iran--yet Iran's missile capabilities are relatively limited.