The United States has all-but abandoned plans to house anti-missile bases in Poland and the Czech republic, according to a senior White House lobbyist.
Riki Ellison, the chairman of the 10,000 member-strong Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, said in Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza on Thursday (26 August) that the US has changed its mind to avoid a rift with Russia and is now looking at Israel, Turkey, the Balkans or ship-borne facilities instead.
http://euobserver.com/9/28587
Absolutely disgusting IMO and my biggest beef with Mr. Nice to date.
Avoid a rift with Russia? Laughable.
Backing away from thugs like Putin and Medvedev will never work and Mr. Nice is playing with fire here. Russia is increasing it's presence and influence (recent gas crisis, Russian spies being deported on daily basis, etc.) in Europe (NATO countries) and when NATO needs to show a strong stance what does he do? He buries his head in the sand.
Burying your head and "trying to work out" differences with autocrats who have no interest to play fair (Russia, Iran, China, ...) is now the official US foreign policy.
Shame.