Obama administration's decision to scrap missile shield plans in Europe is short-sighted & counterproductive: Prague Civic Institute director

"The U.S. badly underestimates the Iranian missile and nuclear program, hence could potentially have grave consequences for lives of hundreds of thousands human beings," Joch wrote to Trend News in an email.

The Czech media reported on Sept. 17 citing a diplomatic source that U.S. President Barack Obama iformed the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Jan Fischer on canceling plans to deploy the U.S. missile defense system in the Czech.

The expert believes regardless the reasons of the Obama administration, the decision will be generally perceived as an attempt to appease Russia, hence as a sign of Obama's weakness face to face Russia. "It could only encourage Russian adventurism in the so-called "Near Abroad"," Joch said.

Refusal from the MDS in Europe is a hostile act towards American allies in (Central)
Europe, the expert said.

"This step indicates, that Obama thinks that he does not need allies, hence he will lose allies," Joch said. "Obama, by being cold, even hostile, towards allies (United Kingdom, Poland,
Czech Republic, Israel, Honduras) and by being kind towards foreign enemies (North Korea, Iran, Venezuela), risks putting America into an isolation - into a position without any allies at all."

This decision, unfortunately, has been an act of unilateralism par excellence, the expert said.

"Obama hasn't consulted allies, he just made the decision unilaterally - which means another snub towards allies," Joch said.

/Trend News/