Eastern Europeans see shield-dropping as a slight

Scuttling a missile defense shield in the Czech Republic and Poland helps smooth relations between the United States and Russia. But at what price?

Some of America's staunchest allies are the Eastern Europeans -- and yesterday they expressed dismay at what many see as a slight after decades

Among them were some famous names, including Lech Walesa, the former Solidarity leader and Polish ex-president. "I can see what kind of policy the Obama administration is pursuing toward this part of Europe," he said ruefully, adding: "The way we are being approached needs to change."

For most of the past decade, warm relations with Washington were practically a given across the "new Europe." George W. Bush famously courted the region after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and leaned on it for troops to fight alongside U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Barack Obama took office undecided about Bush's plan to base 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and sophisticated radar in the Czech Republic -- a system designed to shoot down long-range missiles that might be fired from Iran or elsewhere in the Middle East. Building had not started in either country.

The Czech installation was planned for the Brdy military installation 55 miles southwest of Prague. The Polish site was to be at a former military air base near the town of Redzikowo, about 115 miles from Russia's westernmost edge.

Obama has been reaching out to Russia, which had expressed outrage at the notion of missiles near its border in countries that were under Soviet control just 20 years ago.

Yesterday, Obama announced he was shifting the plan from Eastern Europe to other locations. He and other administration officials said they have concluded that Iran's medium- and short-range missiles pose a greater threat and require more flexible technology.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she viewed the shift as "a hopeful signal for overcoming difficulties with Russia when it comes to a uniform strategy to combat the threat of Iran together."

Officially, Czech leaders said they understood the rationale for abandoning the shield, and they expressed confidence that the country would remain secure.

But some expressed dismay at the reversal.

Former prime minister Mirek Topolanek, whose government signed treaties with the Bush administration to build the radar system -- and took a lot of heat from Czechs who feared it would make their country a terrorist target -- went on Czech radio to vent his frustrations.

"The Americans are not interested in this territory as they were before," he said. "It's bad news for the Czech Republic."

Scrapping missile defense comes as a huge setback to many Polish and Czech leaders, who viewed it as a way to strengthen military ties with the U.S. in a form of defense against a resurgent Russia.

Fears of Moscow run especially deep in Poland, highlighted by a key anniversary yesterday. Exactly 70 years ago -- on Sept. 17, 1939 -- Poland was invaded by the Soviet Union at the start of World War II. Obama's decision also drew flak in Washington. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell called it "shortsighted and harmful to our long-term security interests."

Although Obama said the United States will continue to work cooperatively with "our close friends and allies," the future implications of the move appeared mixed.

Poland's prime minister held out hope his country might play a role in the revamped U.S. defense.

"There is a chance for strengthening Europe's security with special attention given to Poland," Donald Tusk told reporters, adding: "I would not describe what is going on today as a defeat for Poland."

Opponents of the shield, such as Jan Tamas -- an activist who had organized numerous protests -- hailed Obama's decision.