Russia pushes Obama, refusing to help with Iran

Updating the recent post about President Obama being willing to give in to Russian demands to keep DEFENSIVE missiles out of Poland in return for Russian help to keep Iran from going nuclear. Now that Vladimir Putin has won the main concession, he is rubbing our noses in our capitulation, refusing to help us out with Iran. From Russian President Won’t “Haggle” Over US Missile Defense Plans:

Russian President Medvedev has said he’s willing to discuss the proposed US missile shield with Washington. But he added that any deal linking those talks with negotiations regarding Iran would not be productive.

Russian President Dimitry Medvedev’s comments came in response to a New York Times report that US President Barack Obama had written a secret letter to his Russian counterpart offering to halt the planned missile shield, which would be located mainly in Poland and the Czech Republic, in return for Moscow’s help in stopping Iran from developing long-range nuclear weapons.

The Russian president welcomed the “positive signals” coming from the Obama administration with which he said he hoped to reach “agreements.” “Haggling,” however, was “not productive,” added Medvedev on Tuesday, March 3.

The Russian president also said Obama’s letter had not presented the issue in such a way.

Vice President Joe Biden was absolutely right. The Russians are testing President Obama. Where he gives, they push harder.