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Russia Silent on Iran Concessions

Critics charge that Obama may have scrapped missile shield for nothing

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 19, 2009 5:39 AM CDT

(Newser) – While Russia's leaders praised President Obama's decision to drop plans for a missile shield in Eastern Europe yesterday, they were conspicuously silent on whether they would, in return, join the West in pressuring Iran to halt its nuclear program, the New York Times reports. If Russia doesn't start taking a harder line against Iran, Obama will be seen as have caved in to Russian demands while receiving little in return.

The Obama administration, which needs Russian support in the UN to increase sanctions on Iran, insists that the shift in anti-missile strategy was a response to changing Iranian capabilities, not an effort to appease Russia. But the backlash from Congressional hawks was immediate, and the only sign of movement from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was the comment, "There always is a score in politics. And if our partners hear some of our concerns, we will, of course, be more attentive to theirs.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, left, and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin smile as they attend the annual Victory Day parade at Moscow's Red Square. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev comments on Obama's announcement that a long-planned missile defense shield hated by Russia will be scrapped. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Presidential Press Service)

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I hope our administration really thought this through and this was not about appeasing Russia, because I don’t think that justifies the decision. - Riki Ellison, chairman of
the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance

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Russia Silent on Iran Concessions