Boehner: Killing missile shield was 'ill-advised'

Republicans on Thursday were quick to criticize the White House's decision to abandon its Eastern European missile shield, calling the move "ill-advised" and ignorant.

“Scrapping the U.S. missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic does little more than empower Russia and Iran at the expense of our allies in Europe," House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said in a statement. "It shows a willful determination to continue ignoring the threat posed by some of the most dangerous regimes in the world, while taking one of the most important defenses against Iran off the table."

The missile shield has been the subject of considerable scrutiny and debate since the Bush administration first proposed it as a way to deter Iran's nuclear ambitions. The plan, which would have stationed missile interceptors in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic, infuriated Russia, which viewed the strategy as little more than political posturing.

Presumably, Russia supports the White House's latest announcement to kill the program. But President Barack Obama made clear in a speech on Thursday that his decision to reconsider the missile defense system had little to do with Moscow's threats and demands.

"We've also repeatedly made clear to Russia that its concerns about our previous missile defense programs were entirely unfounded," Obama said. "Our clear and consistent focus has been the threat posed by Iran's ballistic missile program and that continues to be our focus and the basis of the program that we're announcing today."

"The best way to responsibly advance our security and the security of our allies is to deploy a missile defense system that best responds to the threats that we face, and that utilizes technology that is both proven and cost effective," the president added.

Obama's assertions, however, were still not enough to satisfy Republicans, who said the president's decision was merely evidence of the Democrats' misguided approach to national security.

"Since taking control of Congress, House Democrats have cut our missile defense budget by $1.2 billion, undermining our commitment to our allies and weakening our national security," Boehner explained. "I urge the President to reconsider this ill-advised decision, stand with our allies, and do what’s right for the safety and security of the American people.”