Missile Shield Dropped Could this mean the US are clearing the way for action against Iran?

Russian support against Iran is entirely possible. That would be the POINT of cooperating with Russia, nuclear non proliferation. The favor they would owe us in return is not selling Iran and Syria interesting offensive weapons and technologies. Maybe get them to agree to limit it to small arms and defensive things like air radar.

But there's a long way between non proliferation and all out war with Iran. I don't think the U.S. is going to touch Iran with a 9 and half foot pole. We are a little busy in Afghanistan in Iraq!!

Possibly in some form.

I think the US has backed off her missile shield plans because Russia has told the US that it will attack and destroy the installations if they were deployed. Russia would do it because they know the US isn't prepared to open a 3rd major front - especially with Russia.

Russia definitely isn't coming out of this owing the US anything. I think the US have accepted the Russian concerns and a deal has been agreed involving both military and financial security.

Money.

The real answer is probably simpler than you think. A missile shield project would cost too much and is no longer needed, now that the cold war is over.

This is the real reason why we're cutting back on nukes, because a nuclear arms race was too expensive. At the height of the cold war, it was costing stupid amounts, more than America and USSR could afford.

It remains to be seen how this plays out. The Iranians have got to be shaking in their boots today over these developments. To date, President Obama has played a masterful hand at foreign policy. He's a poker player at heart, so I think you may soon find something up his sleeve! And I like it that President Obama has not frittered away even the most foolish Bush initiative. Every move he makes has some gain for the USA. What a healthy contrast to Bush, who squandered 50 years of hard-fought agreements to pursue his USA-over-all policies.

Without appearing to alienate American contributors.It exposes America's weakness and vulnerability in the modern world.

It can no longer afford such expensive ideas and must make monetary savings somewhere!

America has reached the stage where it has to re invent itself or diminish on the world stage!

One saving grace would be to join the European Union as an equal partner if the Treaty could be re negotiated!

no, it is highly doubtful that russia will now support sanctions against iran or agree not to supply iran with its missile defence system.

the usa just looks weak.

and china needs the oil so it is not going to do anything either.

obama is just weakening the usa every day he remains in office.

israel will decide for itself the level of imminent risk from iran and act accordingly without usa support if necessary, there is no other way for a sovereign state to act in self defence.

relying on obama would be tantamount to israel committing suicide.

never again will the jews be meek in the face of annihilation.

Good point, but the sheild sort of needed to be droped. Nuclear missles are a threat to those of us who dont have political agendas and should be totally abandoned by the US to set an example to the rest of the world.

Despite bush's efforts to restart the Cold War it appears President Obama has ended it again.

I may be wrong, but I think its just to improve our image throughout the world and to improve our relations with Russia.

I cannot answer this question. I do not know, but I hope your theory is correct.