Russia Eager to See Obama’s Promised ‘Flexibility’ on Missile Defense
Obama Told Russians No Deal Was Possible Until After Vote
Back in March, President Barack Obama caused a minor stir when he was caught in a private conversation with Russia’s then-President Dmitry Medvedev on a live microphone, pleading for the Russians to stop talking about the missile defense shield dispute until after the election.
“This is my last election,” Obama was caught saying. “After my election, I have more flexibility.” Medvedev, also unaware he was being recorded, told Obama he would take the message to current President Vladimir Putin.
With Obama having won reelection and the conversation nothing close to secret, Russian officials are now openly discussing their “expectations” of Obama following through on this flexibility, with Deputy PM Dmitry Rogozin calling for NATO to listen to Russian concerns on the shield.
NATO insists the shield is targeted at Iran, or at times targeted at no one in particular. With the bulk of the shield outside Iran’s missile range and deployed along the Russian frontier, however, Russians have repeatedly expressed concern that the deployment is aimed at changing the balance of power in eastern Europe.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
- Judge: Bradley Manning Trial Will Include 'Classified' Portions - May 21st, 2013
- Afghan Officials: Body of US Torture Video Victim Found Near Base - May 21st, 2013
- State Dept Official Says Iranian Troops of Fighting in Syria - May 21st, 2013
- Austria: If EU Arms Syrian Rebels, We'll Withdraw From UN Mission - May 21st, 2013
- UN Mediator: Syrian Govt, Rebels Preparing for Peace Talks - May 21st, 2013





johnc
November 8th, 2012 at 9:07 am
I don't know. Lately, I've been thinking about a quote attributed to FDR that in politics nothing happens by accident: "if it happens you know it has been planned that way." The incident reinforced the notion that Obambma is the good cop to the crazed Romney who despite Adelson's millions was never really meant to win anyways.
david
November 9th, 2012 at 7:03 am
SHAME ON RUSSIA, RUSSIA IS A BEHIND LICKER OF ISRAEL AND US. What Russia does, it to sell other countries like libya, Syria, Iran for more concessions from a war monger and baby killer at the WH.
Don't trust Russia, a criminal state and zionist anti Mulsims. Shame on Russia
Claus Eric Hamle
November 9th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
The US aims to achieve a disarming first strike capability according to missile engineer Bob Aldridge -www.plrc.org. GPS (NAVSTAR) was made to get an accuracy of less than 30 meters, necessary to destroy missile silos. The US Navy can track and destroy all enemy submarines simultaneously according to Bob Aldridge. Professor J. Edward Anderson, "deployment of anti-missile missiles in Eastern Europe is part of a first-strike strategy." The missiles in Eastern Europe will be operational by 2018. This leads to Launch On Warning by 2017.