President Obama Tells Russian President Medvedev That He Needs More Time On Missile Defense

President Obama Asks Medvedev For ‘Space’ On Missile Defense — ‘After My Election I Have More Flexibility’ -- ABC news

SEOUL, South Korea — At the tail end of his 90 minute meeting with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev Monday, President Obama said that he would have “more flexibility” to deal with controversial issues such as missile defense, but incoming Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to give him “space.”

The exchange was picked up by microphones ashttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif reporters were let into the room for remarks by the two leaders.

The exchange:

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More News On President Obama Asking Russian President Medvedev For More Time On Missile Defense

Obama assures Medvedev more flexibility after election -- Reuters
Obama Tells Medvedev Election Means Missile Defense Can Wait -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Microphone Picks Up Obama’s Private Exchange With Medvedev -- The Lede/New York Times
Obama asks Russia to cut him slack until reelection -- Christian Science Monitor
Obama asks Russia for 'space' on missile defence -- AFP
Obama tells Medvedev solution on missile defense is unlikely before elections -- Washington Post
Hot mic: Obama begs Russians for ‘space’ on missile defense talks -- Washington Times
Obama to Medvedev: No Missile Deal Before Election -- Wall Street Journal
Barack Obama microphone gaffe: 'I'll have more flexibility after election' -- The Telegraph

My Comment: Oh oh ....

I can see those who support the cutting back of nuclear weapons and missile defense heaving a sigh of relief that President Obama is still committed to this cause .... and I can see the other side becoming more concerned and worried that President Obama will commit himself to further cutbacks.

Yup .... this is going to be an interesting election year.

On a side note, I read somewhere that President Medvedev understood Russian .... but this is the first time that I have heard him speak it. In regards to Putin ... he can also speak English, and I heard him once when he was giving Russia's presentation to the Olympic Committee for the winter Olympics a few years back.