Obama committed to missile defense

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama envisions a European ballistic-missile defense system to protect U.S. and allied interests from Iranian threats, his party said.

The Democratic National Platform outlines Obama's agenda as the United States gets ready for national elections in November.

The document states the Obama administration is committed to the defense of U.S. allies through the NATO partnership. While the United States and Russia can cooperate on issues like missile defense, the administration has made it clear it would move forward with its own system in Eastern Europe.

"For example, the president is moving forward with a 'phased adaptive approach' to European ballistic-missile defense that will protect both Europe and the United States from missile threats emanating from Iran and elsewhere," the document states.

The Kremlin has expressed concern over U.S. plans for missile defense in the region, saying the deployment would upset the strategic balance in Eastern Europe.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had said he wanted binding and verifiable guarantees that any Western defense posturing in Eastern Europe wouldn't target Russia.

"Any unilateral and unlimited buildup of the missile capability by one state or a group of states would lead to the preservation of Cold War hangovers," he said in August.