To the editor:

Why is a sea based system 1,000 miles to the west of Poland better than a land based system on the eastern border of NATO?  It took political will and courage in Poland and the Czech Republic to defy the Russians so what will happen the next time we need help from any Eastern European country? Why did we announce this change on the 70th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland? Unbelievable! If there was any doubt that Americans don’t understand the history of Eastern Europe, that boneheaded blunder erased it.

I don’t believe that changes in Iranian development of intermediate range ballistic missiles stated by Secretary Gates was the reason for this strategic policy change. I do believe that President Obama caved to Russian objections. What did we get in return?
After bewildering the American people with a domestic program anchored by an incomprehensible health care plan, he radically undercuts US military security, European military security, and general US diplomacy. I hope there is some wonderful news in the future concerning our relationship to Russia and wonderful news about Iran’s military pretensions.

Michael L. Waldron
Niles