http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5090077.ece

President Dmitri Medvedev orders missiles deployed in Europe as world hails Obama

Quote :

"President Dmitri Medvedev took advantage of the euphoria in America today to order the deployment of missiles inside Europe as a response to US plans for a missile defence shield. Speaking within hours of Barack Obama's election as the new US President, Mr Medvedev announced that Russia would base Iskander missiles in its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad next to the border with Poland. He did not say whether the short-range missiles would carry nuclear warheads. Mr Medvedev also cancelled earlier plans to withdraw three intercontinental ballistic missile regiments from western Russia. "An Iskander missile system will be deployed in the Kaliningrad region to neutralise if necessary the anti-ballistic missile system in Europe," Mr Medvedev said in his first state-of-the-nation address. He added that Russia was also ready to deploy its navy and to install electronic jamming devices to interfere with the US shield, which involves the deployment of a radar station in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland. "

This is clearly a move to test Obama.

However, he obviously forgot the ball is in Bush's court for another couple of months.

[Edited on November 5, 2008 at 1:49 PM. Reason : ]

11/5/2008 1:48:35 PM

ruh roh

11/5/2008 2:08:26 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7710362.stm

mentions nothing of obama directly

11/5/2008 2:28:32 PM

Russia may also ammend their constitution to allow Putin to once again become president

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081106/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_president_s_term

What a shining beacon of democracy they have become.

11/7/2008 1:03:57 PM

^well if it is the will of the people then what is the problem with it? we had a three term president

(i'm mostly just trolling, but i still would like your answer)

11/7/2008 1:06:51 PM

in the 60's they got us to get our missiles out of turkey...prolly doing this to get our missiles out of poland now

11/7/2008 1:09:20 PM

This is a tough spot for Obama.

Does he continue with the expansion of NATO that Bush and Eastern Europe have been pushing for over the last 8 years? Or does he back down and look like a pushover, thereby empowering Russia?

Bush set up this stand-off, I'll be curious to see how Obama handles it.

11/7/2008 1:12:47 PM

i personally do not support the continuing growth of NATO around russia's borders. if we are to be truly at ease with them it would help if we weren't not doing things they could see as potentially suspicious such as placing missiles on their borders and increasing the countries in which we have strategic influence.

if he steps down i don't think everyone would take it as an act of weakness but there are some communist thirsty republicans and democrats out there who would take that immediate point of view.

11/7/2008 1:17:37 PM

Quote :

"in the 60's they got us to get our missiles out of turkey...prolly doing this to get our missiles out of poland now"

We don't have missiles in Poland... We had offensive weapons in Turkey, we don't in Poland. Apples and Oranges.

11/7/2008 1:18:41 PM

Trade Ukraine and Georgia for Iran not having nuclear weapons imo.

11/7/2008 1:21:13 PM

I'm not too worried about how he's perceived over here, but rather the affect of letting Russia get their way via threats and the show of military force. If he backs off it'll further empower the aggressive nation that Russia has become. They already invaded an ally of ours and dug in despite signing a cease-fire that required them to leave. They also threatened to nuke Poland if they went through with the missile deal. These are the actions of an aggressive, paranoid state that is used to getting its way regionally by bullying its neighbors and believes that it should still be considered a superpower.

At some point we will need to stand up to Russia and draw a line in the sand. But of course a President must pick his battles, and maybe this is one where he can blame the conflict on Bush and try to quietly defuse the situation.

[Edited on November 7, 2008 at 1:26 PM. Reason : 2]

11/7/2008 1:25:16 PM

Quote :

"^well if it is the will of the people then what is the problem with it? we had a three term president "

I didn't think having a three term president was good either. Luckily they got rid of that system and made a term limit.

In Russia's case, they already have a term limit, and Putin is pulling his strings to have that limit changed, so he can be in power again. Do you really think that by the end of his next term, the limit's won't be gone completely so that Russia can elect their glorious czar for life Putin?


Leaders can be popular and still be dictators.

11/7/2008 1:31:21 PM

Putin scaled back a lot of the Democratic reforms enacted under Yeltsin. He dramatically limited the press, jailed critics and opposition leaders, and rigged the election process to his advantage. He's a dangerous guy, and will continue to grab control domestically and abroad until someone stands up to him.

I hope Obama has what it takes.

11/7/2008 1:41:18 PM

If Obama's smart, which he is, he won't try to do this alone. I'm sure there are plenty of other countries that aren't happy about this either.

11/7/2008 1:56:02 PM

What, other NATO countries? They're all pussies. Just look what happened when Russia invaded Georgia. There was a whole lotta hand-wringing but no action from Europe.

11/7/2008 1:59:12 PM

Russia could make a claim that the territory they took over was in dispute.

Georgia is also one of the bordering countries of Russia.

That was a relatively minor action taken where there was some provocation from Georgia.

This is different. Placing offensive missiles on the edge of Europe should bring concern to multiple countries, most of which are probably already part of NATO. Now is the time when the whole political purpose for NATO existing should be put to good use.

If Obama were President today, I think a good move would be to hold covert talks with major countries of NATO to try to get them to step up leadership on condemning Russia for its actions and then come out with a strong backing of them. This isn't our backyard and we shouldn't be the ones taking leadership to defend it, but we should let it be known that we support NATO in its condemnation of a threatening move by Russia.

The only thing holding him back from doing this is possibly undermining Bush. Hopefully Bush will at least consult with him on what the best course of action would be for the sake of having an easier transition between administrations although he certainly has no obligation to do so.

[Edited on November 7, 2008 at 2:14 PM. Reason : ]

11/7/2008 2:13:10 PM

Quote :

"Hopefully Bush will at least consult with him on what the best course of action would be for the sake of having an easier transition between administrations although he certainly has no obligation to do so."

More likely Bush will do what Bush wants to do, and leave Obama to clean up his mess. I wouldn't be surprised if Bush leaves a big, steaming shit in the Oval Office for Obama to clean up as his last order of business. It would sum up his presidency quite well.

11/7/2008 2:22:38 PM

^

11/7/2008 2:56:34 PM

Quote :

"More likely Bush will do what Bush wants to do, and leave Obama to clean up his mess. I wouldn't be surprised if Bush leaves a big, steaming shit in the Oval Office for Obama to clean up as his last order of business. It would sum up his presidency quite well. "

do you truly believe that Bush would do this and not do what is best for the country? really?? many have not liked what Bush has done but I don't think it can be argued that George W. Bush does not love this country and want to do what is best for it.

11/7/2008 3:06:31 PM

thats not what was said. someone can do what they want to do (because they take its whats best and feel its the right decision) and people still advise another course of action. i think that person was saying that bush will come to terms with what he feels is the right course of action regardless of popularity of the move.

11/7/2008 3:32:19 PM