Posted on 11/23/2008 6:25:22 PM PST by FocusNexus
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday he believed US president-elect Barack Obama could change Washington's position over a hotly contested plan for a US missile defense shield in Eastern Europe.
Asked if he saw a chance of a shift on the issue under Obama, Medvedev told reporters: "I think there are chances, because if the position of the current administration on this question looks extremely inflexible, the position of the president-elect looks more careful."
Striking a positive note about relations with the next US administration, Medvedev referred to the Obama team's refusal so far to establish its position on missile defense, after Poland claimed the matter was already decided and the project would go ahead.
"It shows at least our future American partners are thinking about this.
"They don't have a once-and-for-always prepared template for solving this problem.
"It means dialogue is possible.... A change of position is possible," Medvedev said.
The Russian leader was speaking at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Lima, at which he met US President George W. Bush on Saturday.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
In a related story, "German Fuhrer sees Chamberlain flexible on Czechoslovakia."
“He basically said missle defense is useless and stupid because it doesn’t work. Is that true?”
Obama to be told U.S. missile defense capable, general says
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/12/obama.missiles/?iref=mpstoryview
The outgoing head of the U.S. missile defense agency said he’ll tell President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team that missile defenses are workable and working in tests.
Lt. Gen. Trey Obering said Wednesday that missile technology is developed much further than some may believe it to be.
“Our testing has shown not only can we hit a bullet with a bullet, we can hit a spot on the bullet with a bullet. The technology has caught up,” Obering said Wednesday.
Although not mentioning the president-elect or any of his transition team by name, Obering said that many critics are “behind the curve.”
“What we have discovered is, a lot of those folks that have not been in this administration seem to be dated in terms of the program. They are kind of calibrated back in the 2000 timeframe,” Obering said.
“We’ve come a hell of a long way since 2000. So our primary objective will be to educate them on what we have accomplished.”
Flexible as in spineless. The morons in the electorate have chosen a wimp.
Those morons are women.
“Flexible” = Bend over and grab the ankles.
This is so bizarre, why does Russia not want us to deploy a missile defense? Do they want unfettered ability to threaten the world with nuclear destruction? Why does Obama think allowing threatening nations to have a viable nuclear threat is a good thing?
Even if it doesn't work (it does), it worries the Russians enough to make it something worth pursuing.
It's like Obama didn't even live through the cold war, I remember the feeling of dread knowing that the Soviets could destroy us a thousand times over in minutes.
Why does Obama think this is a good way to live?
Actually the talk in the Moscow business community is that the ruble will devalue at a alarming rate by 2009. Some big corporations have already started moving to the dollar to protect assets.
I am sure Russian troops driving through the arch 'd triomph (spelling?) and the elimination of the Euro and all other European monetary denominations will have a significant effect on the Ruble.
Everybody will roll all over Obama except the God fearing, red blooded, die hard, American Patriot. Obama will make sure he puts us in our place (see fairness doctrine).
Flexible is the problem. Reagan was the greatest negotiator our Nation had seen in some time. The reason of his greatness was he kept what bargaining chips he had and created new bargaining chips when necessary. He also stood his ground when he believed in something like SDI or Pershing missiles in Western Europe and was not flexible when it came to negotiating SDI.
Flexible is not always a virtue. Especially when you are dealing other Nations. Chruchhill said something like, Nations don't have friends, only interests. Being flexible with friends is OK, but there are very, very few that our Nation can call a friend. Russia, Iran, China, North Korea, Venezuela, and other Socialistic/Communist countries are not our friends. These nations only have interest and our best interest is not of their concern.
Obama's naivety is concerning in many ways. Will he sit down unconditionally? Will he negotiate our bargaining chips away with Russia? Will his interest be the interest of capitalism or socialism?
“flexible” = “doesn´t have the stones”
If the Russians told Obama to walk the plank, he'd do it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.