Russian paper: Obama ready to trade European missile shield for Russian help with Iran?
posted at 7:19 pm on March 2, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Via Closing Velocity. I’m skeptical, but only because of the source, not the logic.
Washington has told Moscow that Russian help in resolving Iran’s nuclear program would make its missile shield plans for Europe unnecessary, a Russian daily said on Monday, citing White House sources.
U.S. President Barack Obama made the proposal on Iran in a letter to his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, Kommersant said, referring to unidentified U.S. officials…
Moscow has not yet responded to the proposal by Obama, the paper said, adding that a decision was unlikely to be made during Lavrov and Clinton’s meeting.
A senior U.S. official confirms that a letter was sent but won’t say what was in it. No surprise that The One’s ready for rapprochement with Russia: As I recall, part of the left’s logic last summer in kinda sorta defending Russian action in Georgia was that the U.S. had forced a confrontational posture on the Kremlin by pursuing missile defense and integrating eastern European countries into NATO. If, unlike me, you take that logic seriously and believe that Vladimir Putin’s ambitions are mainly defensive, it makes sense to de-escalate even at the cost of leaving some of those eastern European countries exposed. Two questions, though: How, exactly, is Russia going to help, and what happens to the missile shield if Iran ends up with the bomb anyway? If this is a way to get them to be more rigorous in applying UN sanctions internally, that’s great, but is there any reason to believe that’ll stop Iran’s nuke program rather than just slow it down? And if the effort fails, do we then get to install the shield without Russian protest? That would, at least, create a meaningful incentive for them to help. Exit question: Maybe Geraghty’s wrong about all Obama campaign promises coming with an expiration date, huh?
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Thats it. Don’t give our damn shield tech away. The mans an idiot.
johnnyU on March 2, 2009 at 8:40 PM
Ya know, Irans nukes are less effect with a shield than if we give up the shield info and they use the nukes anyway.
I am just floored by this this evening after just returning from travel.
johnnyU on March 2, 2009 at 8:42 PM
This is the first indication that Oslime-a is applying the KY liberally to his ass in preparation to get the world to “love” the USofA.
csdeven on March 2, 2009 at 8:44 PM
WTF.., I thought the Pentagon said we don’t have anything to worry about with Iran???
Alden Pyle on March 2, 2009 at 8:47 PM
Wow,, what a negotiator!! Just give away America’s defenses and who knows what promise’s our enemies will give!!
Amazing,, maybe if he gives up some of our territories, half the west coast and our nuclear arsenal,, well, who knows, Maybe Russia will pledge to dismantle some WWII tanks sitting in a garage up in Siberia! I am sure the MSM will throw him a party as the great peace maker!! Amazing man!!! Yep,,, I feel safer!! Brilliant!!
JellyToast on March 2, 2009 at 8:50 PM
Yeah, the Russians are going to help with Iran. They are already helping, they’ve already sold an advanced anti-aircraft missile system to Iran to protect their nuclear sites. With that kind of help what more can they do to us?
johnsteele on March 2, 2009 at 8:51 PM
I laughed out loud.
Then I cried.
Now I’m huddled in my closet drinking.
12thMonkey on March 2, 2009 at 8:52 PM
We did. Down South and in Washington State. One for plutonium and the other for uranium.
On topic, anybody know where to find plans for a nuke bunker for my backyard? Oh nevermind, I live in a class 1 target city.
ammon_of_cs on March 2, 2009 at 8:52 PM
Sorry Europe, he’s just not that into you.
RadioFreeUSA on March 2, 2009 at 9:01 PM
Whats next?
Aegis Missisle destroyers for North Korea!
Btw,I get this feeling Hopey doesn’t have much
use for US Military weapon gizmo’s!
I bet there’s a list of Military cost-cutting,
try’n to save tax payers money somewhere buried
deep,in his budget!!
canopfor on March 2, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Headlines: Iran tests its first nuclear bomb today.
Russia: Dont look at us, we only helped the North Koreans.
Badbrucskie on March 2, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Chamberlain!!! Sudatenland in reverse.
0bama offers Putin all of Europe for unspecified ‘help’ with something that merely needs to be surgically excised.
LegendHasIt on March 2, 2009 at 9:43 PM
When you think of the honest bravery that some of the European leaders had to muster to defy Russian and work with us on this defense system you really have to wonder about the absolute rashness of this administration. Such an off-the-cuff and thoughtless decision.
Mr A on March 2, 2009 at 10:04 PM
I am henceforth living under the assumption that this idiot in the White House has absolutely no idea what it is he’s doing.
And that’s because B. Hussein Obama-Mugabe is already the worst President this country has ever suffered under, and his clown act of an administration is barely two months into destroying this country.
NoDonkey on March 2, 2009 at 10:06 PM
Excellent point, Mr A.
Obama said he intended to work with the Euros, rebuild America’s image, and all that.
So, right out of the starting blocks, Obama essentially tells the Euros, “Well, um, uhh, as I have always said, um, Russia is over there, and, um, they can help, and um, the missile defense thing isn’t going to work, and um, Iran, and uhhh, I believe, um, we can come together, and um, we can undo all that negativity, the Bush legacy, and uhh, umm…..”
Meanwhile, those brave leaders who stood together in Tbilisi last summer in united defiance of Putin, have already been marked as lawful targets under a Russian onslaught.
Now, seriously, why would ANY world leader stick his neck out for anything Obama said, promised, or believes?
Sure doesn’t sound like a great way to improve America’s image overseas.
coldwarrior on March 2, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Gird Your Loins
Dr Evil on March 2, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Guard Your Loins
ohiorebel on March 2, 2009 at 10:27 PM
PARTIAL LIST OF DOCUMENTS THAT BARACK OBAMA REFUSES TO RELEASE -. OBAMA’S SECRECY AND “CLOSED RECORDS” POLICY
Indonesian Passport – Not released
Application for U.S. Citizenship (as former citizen of Indonesia) – Not released
Immigration Records – Not released
Original Vault Copy Birth Certificate – Not released
Certificate of Live Birth – Counterfeit Version on Obama Web Site
Obama / Dunham Marriage License – Not released
Soetoro / Dunham Marriage License – Not released
Soetoro Adoption Records – Not Released
Fransiskus Assisi School Application – Not released
Punahou School Records – Not released
Selective Service Registration – Counterfeit version generated
Occidental College records – Not released
Columbia College Records – Not released
Columbia Thesis – Not released
Harvard College Records – Not released
Baptism Certificate – None
Medical Records – Not released
Illinois State Senate Records – Not released
Law Practice Client List – Not released
University of Chicago Scholarly Articles – None
./,;
searcher484 on March 2, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Can we all agree on aborting the unwanted Obama presidency due to a diagnosis of mental retardation?
NoDonkey on March 2, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Chamberlain lives.
mcassill on March 3, 2009 at 12:04 AM
Ohhhh… you have no idea…
I have an olllldddd friend from my… interesting… military job days, who is a Senior Enlisted guy at the Pentagon.
As he has some access to Budget docs there, he was ordered to sign a Personal Responsibility doc… ie… a non disclosure agreement, basicly an acknowledgemnt of a written order NOT to disclose any funding informtion…
Reading between the lines a bit, I can guess what that means.
Romeo13 on March 3, 2009 at 12:13 AM
Simply put, BHO. You’re not Lincoln. You are a gigantic female part. Please stop bleeding this country.
Claypigeon on March 3, 2009 at 12:24 AM
There is a lot of defense cuts in the budget. The military is getting around 3% less this year with continual draw downs to come. Obama’s reasoning behind this is that since the rest of the world will love us than their is no need for more military spending.
txaggie on March 3, 2009 at 12:33 AM
Saakashvili just peed himself. The Eastern Bloc wants American money. If Obama isn’t going to give it to them, and the EU just gave them the thumbs down, Putin has a green light for whatever he wants to do.
Candyass POTUS isn’t going to stop him. He’s too busy stroking the jihadists.
ace tomato on March 3, 2009 at 12:38 AM
Hi Searcher,
I try to not be a conspiracy theorist type person, but that list is a bit stinky. Seriously. The guy released United States memos on how to deal with terrorism, but won’t release any of his personal records?
I’m surprised he hasn’t produced the manger he was born in yet.
ace tomato on March 3, 2009 at 12:40 AM
Putin has been laughing his a$$ off since Nov.7.
He knows America just put a dove in office with no leadership abilities or desire to accomplish anything more than a welfare state in America.
Putin,Jong,Ahmadinejad,and the jihadist know that they can pretty much do as they please as long as they play nice for the camera’s with Obama.
Why would a country that has done everything it can to help Iran get a bomb help us keep them from achieving this:
Obama Scraps Missile Defense For … Unproven Russian Diplomacy With Iran
http://closingvelocity.typepad.com/closing_velocity/2009/03/obama-scraps-missile-defense-for-unproven-russian-diplomacy-with-iran.html
I know it is asking a lot from someone who stated that they would still have voted against the surge knowing then what they know now about the success of it.
But what does Russia gain helping us?
I mean is anybody awake up on the hill at all.
If this is their idea of answering that 3 am call,please just let the phone ring.Obama can only make it worse answering it with this type of judgment.
They are closing down our supply routes into Afghanistan,selling radar and anti-aircraft weaponry to our enemies,and doing everything they can to help Iran get the bomb.
As soon as the Obama administration labeled themselves the harbingers of “smart power”,you knew they were really going to screw things up.
Baxter Greene on March 3, 2009 at 1:11 AM
Perfect! *Putin licks lips*
dmann on March 3, 2009 at 1:22 AM
How are a dozen or so anti-ICBM missiles of questionable capability and reliability a threat to Russia?
How is our defending new allies in Eastern Europe a threat to Russia unless they plan to do something threatening to Eastern Europe?
How is it that anyone let alone Pres. Obama could even fathom Russia let alone Iran doing anything in our best interest? Iran needs the bomb so they can have a means to truly threaten Israel and Russia needs a new Cold War to justify their rearming.
Please, PLEASE tell me Obama isn’t foolish enough to believe otherwise.
Yakko77 on March 3, 2009 at 2:00 AM
12thMonkey
When you sober up get to the range and start practicing. America will need it’s marksmen…soon, I think.
(Note to Obamatrons: This was a totally non-revolutionary comment; not intended to be miscontrued as a call for any action, violent or nonviolent, for or against our glorious leader.)
SKYFOX on March 3, 2009 at 5:41 AM
I am waiting for the media to credti Bush with this briliant stroke of genius:
1. Threaten to put a missile shield in E Europe (i.e. actual cost: $US 0.00)
2. Remove said threat and recieve from Russia help vis-a-vis Iran at a cost to them of potentially billions in future trade, arms deals etc.
Bush called Europe’s bluff. They gave no meaningfull public support to the shield that the US would have paid for in spades thinking that the US would go ahead anyway and they’d reap the benefits. Now? No shield for you.
Besides, once Iran develops and tests thier nuke, Europe will suddently express interest in a shield…that’s when the US should provide the defense department estimate (plus 10% for being a bitch) for immediate full advance payment.
Waterboy on March 3, 2009 at 7:03 AM
Obama’s foreign relation decisions are giving me bad flashbacks of Jimmy Carter…Then again, Reagan was the result of that disastrous four years. Obama looks more and more like a one term president by the day. Maybe that’s why he’s trying to ram through all the Socialism he can into the government in as short of a timeframe as possible. HIS timeframe started running out on Inauguration Day…..Mark my words, and better yet use them as the new slogan of anti-socialism: “No more years”……….
adamsmith on March 3, 2009 at 7:30 AM
How can that bus keep moving with all of Eastern Europe thrown under it?
lizzee on March 3, 2009 at 7:36 AM
We need to be careful about sourcing here but I believe Bambi will do this. He doesn’t have a pair.
HondaV65 on March 3, 2009 at 7:37 AM
Obama – The Anti-Reagan
marklmail on March 3, 2009 at 7:52 AM
Wrecking our economy and trashing our military defense. The naivite is appalling. This land is going to be in shambles in four years.
Obama wants to be historic. Well, I think already he’s guaranteed that. History will show him to be the president who
presided overprecipitated America’s collapse.petefrt on March 3, 2009 at 7:59 AM
I sure am in a bind, don’t know which to do first. Should I start learning Russian or Arabic?
kayo on March 3, 2009 at 8:01 AM
Awesome.
myrenovations on March 3, 2009 at 8:36 AM
I’ll correct myself in not assuming he’s giving the tech away, but instead merely ‘not deploying it’. Well now. Saying your not going to deploy it and actually showing some kind of evidence your not deploying it could work. I mean would we secretly deploy it anyway just as secretly as IRAN is not making a nuke? Is BO that kind of Prez? His core beliefs again come into question.
johnnyU on March 3, 2009 at 8:36 AM
The news just keeps getting better……..
I can bear to even imagine. Everyday it is a new horror tale.
torrejranne on March 3, 2009 at 8:38 AM
what a looooosaaah. this guy just keeps getting better and better, doesn’t he?
i swear i have more disdain for this man with each passing day.
he is doing his best to mold this country into HIS idea of what it ought to be. everyone who voted for this idiot should be publicly flogged.
sandlin71 on March 3, 2009 at 8:45 AM
Nice. Ogabe plans on selling out freedom-loving Central Europeans for some hope of appealing to the mullahcracy.
F&^k you, Ogabe.
PimFortuynsGhost on March 3, 2009 at 9:05 AM
AllahPundit…this guy posts this on every blog he gets a hold of…we get it, WE GET IT…plus it is just inaccurate.
Please tell him to knock it off…so far he has done this at least 20 times.
right2bright on March 3, 2009 at 9:22 AM
PARTIAL LIST OF DOCUMENTS THAT BARACK OBAMA REFUSES TO RELEASE -. OBAMA’S SECRECY AND “CLOSED RECORDS” POLICY
Indonesian Passport – Not released
Application for U.S. Citizenship (as former citizen of Indonesia) – Not released
Immigration Records – Not released
Original Vault Copy Birth Certificate – Not released
Certificate of Live Birth – Counterfeit Version on Obama Web Site
Obama / Dunham Marriage License – Not released
Soetoro / Dunham Marriage License – Not released
Soetoro Adoption Records – Not Released
Fransiskus Assisi School Application – Not released
Punahou School Records – Not released
Selective Service Registration – Counterfeit version generated
Occidental College records – Not released
Columbia College Records – Not released
Columbia Thesis – Not released
Harvard College Records – Not released
Baptism Certificate – None
Medical Records – Not released
Illinois State Senate Records – Not released
Law Practice Client List – Not released
University of Chicago Scholarly Articles – None ;’./,;
searcher484 on March 3, 2009 at 10:00 AM
You mean the same eastern Europe that was playing hardball with the US and extorting hundred’s of millions for the “privilege” of hosting a US base/station? (see Poland, Czec republic, etc).
I am not a troll, I just think Obama is taking advantage of a gimme….one that Bush set up (and will get no credit for, natch).
Who this hurst: Russia (loss of trade with Iran, arms deals). Iran (any help from Russia is more help than all of Europe was providing…Germany still shovels billions to Iran in one of the biggest trade relationships between Europe and the Middle East.
Who this helps: The US of course. Poeple need to call a good move a good move, even if it comes from Obama’s handlers.
Geez
Waterboy on March 3, 2009 at 10:05 AM
These HA threads are becoming as silly as can be. Up until a few months ago you could find at least a few people to hook up with to carry on a conversation/debate.
Not lately.
Even the trolls don’t read before they post.
Waterboy on March 3, 2009 at 10:09 AM
They are not. BUT Russia has been screaming that they are…so, take them away and see what we’ll get for in return from Putin/Medvedev. It’s no-cost to the US and a win-win overall.
Why is everyone on this thread bashing Obama for this particular move? I am absolutely no fan of Obama, on foreign or domestic policy, but this seems like a decent move. Worst case, Russia doesn’t come through with meaningfull help (no reactor technicians or equipment, no arms deals, etc) and we move ahead with the missile shield plan.
Anyone?
Waterboy on March 3, 2009 at 10:12 AM
The Ameteur is going to get us all killed.
pseudonominus on March 3, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Because by this “particular move”, Obama is exposing his utter unsuitability for the office he holds.
pseudonominus on March 3, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Tell that to the Poles and Czecs, who put their futures in our hands.
pseudonominus on March 3, 2009 at 10:18 AM
For Ogabe, this is payback to the Czechs and Poles for getting all uppity with their Communist masters.
If Russia moves into Central Europe, there will be blood on Ogabe’s hands. I mean, even more than he already has from the babies who survived abortions that he wanted to murder.
PimFortuynsGhost on March 3, 2009 at 10:19 AM
No. There are plenty (and I mean plenty) of other examples (and more to come for sure). But not this move.
Waterboy on March 3, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Obama is who we thought he was!
rollthedice on March 3, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Maybe instead of playing brinksmanship with the “deal” (i.e. payment from US to host the bases) up until the midnight hour as they did last year, they should have offered to pay for them instead.
Look, I know they’re allies, but as a taxpayer, doesn’t it strike you as a little cynical? Are we know treating our eastern European allies like children?
Waterboy on March 3, 2009 at 10:25 AM
You really don’t understand the Russians, do you Waterboy.
pseudonominus on March 3, 2009 at 10:41 AM
wait, wait, wait…hahaaaaaaa
this is all one big joke, right? he’s not really trying to depreciate our “moral standing” in the eyes of the world, is he? according to him and the 3 Stooges, and Bono, the rest of the world had all but given up on us. we are supposed to be headed toward higher ground. a better plain. greener pastures where the elite and the tax cheats bow at the altar of His High and Mightyness.
boy, what a letdown. i’m getting my tastebuds set for some of that Gub-ment Cheese!
sandlin71 on March 3, 2009 at 12:24 PM
No, exactly this move. Undermining the the Eastern Euro Countries who fought tooth and nail to get out of under the USSR’s thumb, and have continued to fight off Russia’s ill will for ‘gaining(fought a muffled revolutionary war)’ independence and seeking to be a democracy modeled and protected under NATO, is a complete slap in the face of all the efforts of the Cold War.
Hey Czech Republic, yo it’s been good. See ya, wouldn’t wanna be ya.
ammon_of_cs on March 3, 2009 at 12:38 PM
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