Damn, I can’t quite put my finger on it, but didn’t Russia already give something to Obama several months ago? I seem to recall Republican speculation on what Obama must have promised Putin.
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What are you talking about?
How exactly is Putin supposed to be benefitting by the US removing a fake, imaginary “defense shield” anyway? What can Putin do without the MNS in place that he couldn’t do WITH it in place?
It’s franky absurd and bizarre to look at this policy decision in isoloation.
No one has a fucking clue what the deal is with what interested party, of which there are very many. Far less the range of complex knock-on effects, which would also have been weighed these past few months.
I remember now. during Obama’s visit to Russia a couple of months ago, it was announced that Russia gave Obama permission to fly military planes in Russian airspace to resupply Afghanistan.
This could also be related: BBC: Russia eases over Iran sanctions
Do you think Obama’s cultural heritage plays a part here? Not being part of the whole CIA-east coast complex that Bush I and II were? Only Nixon could go to China… but words a Bush said could never be trusted. (And not because he’s W.)
Maybe, but what is also important, and I imagine much under-played in the USA, is the financial reality after the banking collapse.
The US military will not have experienced budgets choices like this before. It would make sense to think the JCoS were consulted and made very aware of the realities as I’m not aware of any public dissent emerging on this.
Sam, anything else to add?
Oh, sure, budget issues, but I was talking about Putin responding to Obama, as opposed to how he’d respond to someone who was raised in the east coast elite/CIA. That is, over there, not over here.