So the Obama Administration has decided to scrap the missile
defense systems planned for installation in Poland and the Czech
Republic, just as the Russians had been agitating for. The
Administration says that a sea-based missile defense will meet
our security needs better. Even if that's true -- and
it isn't at all clear that it is -- why not use the Eastern
European missile defense program as a bargaining chip? It might
be worth trading for Russian help with Iran.
But Robert Gibbs said
in his briefing today that there was no quid pro quo with
Moscow. That's exactly what makes this decision indefensible.
Further reading
here. Comments from John Bolton
here (he has unkind words for Secretary Gates).
