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Obama: Amateur Negotiator

Submitted by aberman on Tue, 03/03/2009 - 07:32

Obama just offfered to forego European missile defense in return for Russia's help on Iran.  Russia, naturally, leaked the offer.  Europe is now horrified at being treated like a sacrificial pawn.  The rest of the world sees that the US is working from a position of weakness on Iran.  Obama is shown up as a kindergardten-level negotiator:  I'll give you my juice if you give me that cookie.

Nice Work, Prez.

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Let them whine.

Submitted by artigiano on Tue, 03/03/2009 - 08:46.

OK, the Europeans might be upset that we are considering not putting loads of our cash into protecting their asses from Russian missles. When they get upset enough to pony up their own cash to do the same, then we have something to talk about.

Till then, we can bet OUR chips, on OUR cards, any way WE want.

Agreed!

Submitted by acinphx on Tue, 03/03/2009 - 12:25.

I'm sick of our treasury being drained dry to be the world's policeman and to pay for what should rightly be other countries' responsibilities.  If the Europeans want missile defense, they're welcome to it -- as long as they pay for it.  At this point in time our resources are stretched as thin as theirs.

Newsflash:  We are indeedy working from a position of weakness with respect to the Middle East because of our dependence on foreign oil and our presence in Iraq.  Most of us probably don't like that position but it's reality, so by necessity those are relevant considerations in our strategic decisions.

If our strategic interests at this point in time are better served by keeping a lid on Iran and ensuring stability in the Middle East given our dependence on foreign oil, so be it.  All the more reason for both parties to support every effort to end our dependence on foreign oil.  In my opinion that's a far greater national security threat for us than Russian missiles pointed at Europe, when Europe has the resources to pay for its own defense.

Missle defense

Submitted by NextRightNando on Tue, 03/03/2009 - 08:49.

the proposed proposed missle defense is neither technically or economically feasible - and as for the "leak", both H. Clinton and Gates said publicly, before cameras, that it was being reconsidered last month. And have you got any proof to support your assertion that "Europe" is now horrified?

Y'all missing the point.

Submitted by aberman on Tue, 03/03/2009 - 15:18.

If we want to drop missile defense, then we do it in consultation with our allies, not as part of a schoolyard negotiation with Russia.  It's the amateurishness of 'grand sweeping bargain' tactics that's the problem-- who's to say that Obama won't next throw in Ukraine, Georgia, Poland, and Hungary?

Let him

Submitted by LnGrrrR on Tue, 03/03/2009 - 20:06.

If we've signed a treaty to protect those countries, then we should live up to it. If we did not sign a treaty, let Europe sweat for awhile. They have militaries too, last time I checked.

Also, you should probably provide a link.