Gates: Bush missile defense plan dumped because of changes in perceived threat from Iran

September 30th, 2009 Gates shows no signs of leaving PentagonWASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates used to keep a clock on his desk that ticked off the days he had left to serve in the Bush administration. Since staying on as Pentagon chief for President Barack Obama, Gates has tossed out that "countdown clock." Gates says he and Obama agreed to leave open the length of time he would remain at the Pentagon.

September 23rd, 2009 Medvedev lauds US move on missile defenseUNITED NATIONS — Russian president Dmitry Medvedev lauded on Wednesday the Obama administration's decision to scrap plans for an Eastern Europe-based missile shield, a major irritant in relations with Moscow. "We view this decision as a constructive step in the right direction that deserve a positive response from the international community," Medvedev said, referring to Washington's decision last week to shelve a Bush-era plan for an Eastern European missile defense shield.

September 20th, 2009 Iran's top leader: US "wrong" on nuke threatTEHRAN,Iran — Iran's supreme leader says U.S. officials are "wrong" about his country's nuclear program and the threat Iran's missiles pose.

September 20th, 2009 Obama: Missile defense decision not about RussiaWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama sharply dismisses criticism that Russian opposition influenced his decision to scrap a European missile defense system, calling it merely a bonus if the leaders of Russia end up "a little less paranoid" about the U.S. "My task here was not to negotiate with the Russians," Obama told CBS' "Face the Nation" in an interview for broadcast Sunday.

September 18th, 2009 Turkey to buy 4 missile defense systemsANKARA, Turkey — Turkey's military says it is planning to spend $1 billion (euro680 million) on four long-range missile defense systems. Brig. Gen. Metin Gurak, the Turkish military spokesman, says the procurement is not directed at any specific country.

September 18th, 2009 Clinton counters critics of Obama missile defenseWASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday vigorously defended the administration's new approach to missile defense in Europe, which critics assert will leave Europe more vulnerable. "We believe this is a decision that will leave America stronger and more capable of defending our troops, our interests and our allies," Clinton said in a speech at the Brookings Institution.

September 18th, 2009 Analysis: Obama abandons view of Iran, not EuropeWASHINGTON — The Obama administration is not abandoning missile defense in Europe, but it is junking the previous administration's view of the missile threat posed by Iran and what that means for Europe. The old idea was that Iran was focused on building long-range ballistic missiles capable of hitting Europe and the U.S., although it so far has none in its arsenal.

September 17th, 2009 AP sources: Intel report drove new missile planWASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that the new missile defense system planned for Europe has the flexibility to adapt to changes in Iranian missile capabilities even if U.S. intelligence about Tehran's slower-than-expected pace turns out to be wrong.

July 30th, 2009 US mulling European missile defense alternativesWASHINGTON — A senior Defense Department official said Thursday that the United States is considering options for European missile defense other than current plans for a system based in Poland and the Czech Republic. Assistant Secretary of Defense Alexander Vershbow told lawmakers in the House of Representatives at a hearing on relations with Russia that the Obama administration is looking at various configurations as part of its review of missile defense plans.

June 9th, 2009 Gates: Russia wary of growing Iranian threatWASHINGTON — Prospects for a U.S.-Russian partnership on a missile defense system have improved slightly as Moscow grows increasingly concerned about Iran, Pentagon chief Robert Gates said Tuesday. The defense secretary told senators that U.S.

June 2nd, 2009 Gates: More missile defense spending possibleFORT GREELY, Alaska — Defense Secretary Robert Gates isn't ruling out spending more on missile defense than what he's asked for in next year's budget if North Korea or other nations increase threats against the United States. Gates said the missile tests by North Korea over the past week appear to have attracted more support on Capitol Hill for missile interceptors.

June 1st, 2009 NKorea appears to be testing long-range missileMANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Robert Gates says North Korea appears to be working on a long-range missile but it's not clear yet what they plan to do with it. At a Manila news conference Monday with Philippines Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C.

May 14th, 2009 Gates supports missile defense despite budget cutsWASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates is defending his plans to trim more than a billion dollars from the planned system to build a broad missile shield for the U.S. and its allies.

May 1st, 2009 Obama adviser backs off Bush missile defense lineWASHINGTON — A senior adviser to U.S. President Barack Obama says that Russia has some reasonable concerns about U.S.

April 30th, 2009 Officials downplay military options vs IranWASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the military option for forcing Iran to halt its nuclear program would be just temporary and ineffective and that sanctions make more sense. Gates told Senate appropriators Thursday that a military attack on Iran would merely send that country's nuclear program further underground.