Is The Missile Defense System In Europe Up For Negotiation?

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev, left, and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, right, speak as they make their way to a joint news conference outside the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, on Tuesday, March 3, 2009. Medvedev is on a two-day visit to Spain. (AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Presidential Press Service)

Obama Seeks Russian Help On Iran But Denies Deal
-- Yahoo News/AP

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday he wanted to work with Russia to resolve a nuclear stand-off with Iran but denied reports he had offered to slow deployment of a missile defense shield in exchange for Moscow's help.

The New York Times reported that Obama had sent a letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev suggesting he would back off deploying a system in eastern Europe to intercept and destroy missiles, a move Russia sees as a military threat, if Moscow helped stop Iran from developing long-range weapons.

Read more ....

Update: Russia seems open to discussing US plan on Iran -- Yahoo News/AP

Update #2: Analysis: Obama's big stride on Moscow 'reboot' -- Yahoo News/AP

My Comment: Someone is crossing their signals here. I doubt that the U.S. wanted their "secret" letter to be disclosed to the Russian news media. The confusion from the White House on how to respond to Russian press reports (last night) about this secret letter is also telling. When the President has to go out publicly to state a position that he wants to keep "confidential" .... hmmmm .... this is not good.

But what is also very revealing about this Russian policy initiative is the belief in the White House that Moscow does have sway with the Mullahs in Iran. I have no idea on where this idea first came about .... but the idea that the Mullahs would listen to outsiders telling them what to is ridiculous and foolhardy at best. Lets face it, the religious zealots in Iran have never listened to any outsiders before .... and there is no reason for them to listen to any outsiders now.

As far as Iran is concerned .... they now have their reactor and the trained personnel to get it running. How Russia can possibly change this .... your guess is as good as mine.

As for Europe's missile defense system. Treaties were signed and promises made. If President Obama abrogates these agreements, how can anyone then trust U.S. promises and commitments in the future. The answer is obvious .... you cannot.