The assertion that missile defense doesn't work is absurd. They've been working since the first Gulf War, and they've become more effective since. Sometimes, people are quick to attack missile defense because they want to believe that the Regan-era SDI program (where it originated) was a bust; It was not.

Both the Czech Republic and Poland are on the eastern side of Europe. A long range missile, fired from Iran (or Russia) would have to fly over either the Czech Republic or Poland first. So, they are natural choices for missile defense sites.

Selling anti-ballistic missiles to the Poles or Czechs is not a bad idea. The US government offsets other costs by selling ABMs, which are about a generation old, to an ally. At the same time, Russia is forced to develop comparable technology which it doesn't have money for. In this new cold-war it costs us a lot less money to keep Russia on the defensive and we don't have to worry about mutual annihilation.

Information about our defense is probably hard to come by. However, we likely had missile defense. It is also likely that we now have laser defense. While they probably aren't in orbit yet, they have been proven to be very effective when fired from either the ground or a large aircraft.

Things that you are saying that I don't know are true:
1. Patriot missiles worked in the gulf wars? I've always heard they were ineffective.
2. Star Wars wasn't a bust? Then was it a success? Maybe the government is keeping that under wraps. I remember a few times hearing about some rigged experiment that fails as often as it succeeds.
3. Iran is going to fire a missile at Europe? Why not Australia? Seems as likely
4. Western Europe wants missile defense? I always thought it was just Eastern Europe and it was always really about protection from Russia (even though that is never said by anyone).
5. We're in a new cold war with Russia?
6. We have laser defense?

But hey, what do i care? We're not going to piss off Iran anymore than we have so give Poland some anti missile defense. Russia doesn't like it but they don't like a lot of things.

1. Patriot missiles destroyed incoming SCUD missiles during the first Gulf War. They worked. Their effectiveness (how often they worked) could be debated.
2. It depends what you mean by success. Star Wars research and funding directly help in the production of Patriot missiles. These missiles destroyed SCUD missiles in the first Gulf war thereby saving lives and property. I think this alone precludes the program from being a bust.
3. I'm not sure that either Russia or Iran is going to fire missiles at Europe. However, if either one were to attack, Poland and the Czech Republic would be natural locations to detect and counter such an attack.
4. I don't know if Western Europe wants missile defense. However, as you note, Eastern Europe does.
5. Cold-war may be hyperbolic. Perestroika market the beginning of a mass exodus from Russia. Those that remain tend to be hard-liners. In many ways, Russia has returned to an oppressive Soviet ways (cf. Wikipedia: Russia, Human Rights). According to Konstantin Preobrazhensky, a former KGB senior officer, Russia trained Al-Qaeda terrorists through the 80's and 90's. Also, behind Chinese government, the Russian government is probably one of the most aggressive in terms of its attempts to crack US government systems in cyberspace. Russia is, at the very least, a rival.
6. We certainly do have laser defense. They have been on Discovery specials for a few years now. This means that they have probably existed for well over a decade. You can find more information at Wikipedia under "High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System".

Obama seems to be worried about Iran using missiles and he gives a case for missile defense at http://realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/09/17/flashback_obama_pledges_missile_defense_against_iran_in_april.html. He also seems to think missile defense is effective.

Can I add links to comments?

I think you need to do it manually. so something like <a href="http://link.com">LINK</a>

Thanks!

Here is the link.