Posted by
Andrews on Monday, June 22, 2009 3:36:03 PM
Does everyone else recall when the politicians were telling us Bush was insane for pursuing missile defense,t hat it would just upset Russia and would do no good protecting us against "the enemies we now face", such as those in the middle east? Now, I will grant that terrorists won't be discouraged by missile defenses, but has anyone noticed that North Korea is aiming missiles at Hawaii and Iran is starting a "space program" that screams an effort at creating an ICBM? And as far "upsetting Russia" by violating a treaty we signed with the defunct USSR, does anyone think Russia would have behaved better had we not done anything in terms of missile defense? In fact, isn't it only because we can threaten to put missile defenses in Poland that we have bargaining power with Russia? Granted, they used it as an excuse to carry out power plays they would have anyway, but it also gives us a bargaining chip we would not have otherwise.
Or would, had not our current president promised, in a very Carter-like moment, to unilaterally do away with our missile defense plans, leaving us open to North Korean or Iranian missiles, and effectively telling Russia they have carte blanche concerning eastern Europe.
Glad we have finally elected a president who understands foreign policy and doesn't engage in "cowboy diplomacy" without thinking of the consequences.