WASHINGTON (CNN)  -- The Obama administration will scrap the controversial missile defense shield program in Eastern Europe, a senior administration official confirmed to CNN Thursday. The U.S. has been testing the ability of ground-based interceptor missiles to hit long-range ballistic missiles. The comment followed similar statements from officials in Poland and the Czech Republic -- where key elements of the system were to be located -- but was the first confirmation from an American official. Vice President Joe Biden earlier refused to confirm to CNN that the George W. Bush-era plan was being shelved. But he did explain the logic of doing so, saying Iran -- a key concern for the United States -- was not a threat.
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Senior U.S. administration official confirms U.S. has scrapped missile plan
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Key elements were to have been located in Poland, Czech Republic
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Decision likely to appease Russia which had fiercely opposed the plans
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Plan proposed by Bush adminstration, has been under review by Obama
George W. Bush
Bush
The @placeholder administration had cited the perceived nuclear threat from Iran as one of the key reasons it wanted to install the missile shield in eastern Europe.
Obama
Obama
The United States proposed the plans under then-President George W. Bush, but since taking over this year, the @placeholder administration has been reviewing whether to move ahead with them.