Two days ago the NFIRE satellite was launched from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. After the launch US Department of Defense people said that the NFIRE satellite would be researching heat signatures of rocket plumes. It was immediately suggested by critics of NFIRE that the project would be a stepping stone towards creating the long sought after US missile defense shield. after the launch of the NFIRE satellite system Vladimir Putin threatens to pull Russia out of the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty. Putin claims his threat is in response to US plans to develop a missile defense shield.