Vladimir Putin Scores Major Victory as President Obama Decides to Scrap Missile Shield for Czech, Poland

Vladimir Putin scores a major victory at the expense of President Barack Obama, who has decided to scrap plans for a U.S. missile defense shield in the Czech Republic and Poland that had deeply angered Russia. Personally, I think it was a good move on the part of President Obama, but I am sure the right wing will find that this diminished the president in the eyes of the world. I think this move will prove to the Russians that America wants to work closely with them and it will, essentially, increase the chances that Russia will cooperate more closely with the US in the dispute over Iran's nuclear program. I guess only time will tell if this was a shrewd move on Obama's part.

You will recall that the plan was proposed by the Bush administration and aimed to defend the United States and its European allies against a possible missile attack from Iran or elsewhere in the Middle East. A total of 10 interceptor rockets were to have been stationed in Poland and a radar system based in the Czech Republic. Russia was irate over the idea of having U.S. interceptor rockets in countries so close to its territory, and the Obama administration has sought to improve strained ties with the Kremlin. President George W. Bush just really didn't care who he trampled to get his way. Under his administration, diplomacy was taboo.

On the flip side, the decision to scrap the plan could have future consequences for U.S. relations with eastern Europe. I guess this is a gamble the Obama administration is willing to take. Brace yourselves folks, the right wing will see this as Obama capitulating to Russia and they will run with this.