Obama to scrap missile defense shield program in Eastern Europe

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US President, Barack Obama, is scrapping the controversial long-range missile defense shield program in Eastern Europe. Part of the reason is that the US concludes Iran is less focused on developing long-range missiles.

The US says it will gradually adopt a new missile defense architecture that will provide "stronger and swifter defenses" for the US and its allies.

Obama says a redesigned defensive system would be cheaper, quicker and more effective, and would provide more protection to his country as well as its NATO allies.

Barack Obama said, "It is more comprehensive than the previous programme, it deploys capabilities that are proven cost effective, and it sustains and builds upon our commitment to protect the US homeland against long-range ballistic missile threats, and it ensures and enhances the protection of all our NATO allies."

US Defensive Secretary, Robert Gates, says the US wants short and medium range anti-missile systems in Europe instead of the long-range system previously envisioned.

If Poland agrees, the US would deploy interceptors there by 2015.

Robert Gates said, "We have the opportunity to deploy new sensors and interceptors in northern and southern Europe that near-term can provide missile defense coverage against more immediate threats from Iran and others."

The original missile defense system, planned under the Bush administration, was to have been deployed in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Gates says that both allies now have the opportunity to play a part in the new plans.