Czech Government Falls on Eve of Obama Visit

(NEWSER) - President Obama’s decision to scrap plans for a missile defense shield is a political bombshell, writes Robin Oakley for CNN. America’s allies in Poland and the Czech Republic are left holding the bag after expending significant political capital on the unpopular system. Abandoning it might make their lives easier, but it won’t make them likelier to embrace future US causes. Moscow, meanwhile, must choose whether to tout its victory or embrace the move as a sign of easing relations. More»

So what if Czech PM's gov't has collapsed

(NEWSER) - Mirek Topolanek, the Czech prime minister whose government collapsed last night, today blasted President Obama’s economic ideas, calling further stimulus “a way to hell.” Topolanek spoke before the European Parliament just hours after Obama called on the world to share the burden of economic stimulus, the BBC reports. Topolanek said refusing to do so was the top success of last week’s EU summit. More»

But Moscow may not support nuclear sanctions against Iran

(NEWSER) - In a development sure to further tick off President Obama's critics on the right, Vladimir Putin says he's quite pleased with the decision to scrap an American missile-defense system in Eastern Europe, the New York Times reports. “I very much hope that this correct and brave decision will be followed by others,” said the Russian PM. Still unclear is whether Moscow will reward the US with more than just words—say, by supporting nuclear sanctions against Iran. More»

Eastern Europe melts down, but Western leaders refuse bailout

(NEWSER) - EU leaders meeting in Brussels yesterday rejected a Hungarian-led effort to bail out the faltering economies of Eastern Europe, leading to apocalyptic warnings of an economic "Iron Curtain," with millions of unemployed workers heading west. Countries from the Baltic states to Poland and Romania have seen their once-booming economies implode, and several have turned to the IMF for aid. More»

Russian premier pushes plan for joint anti-missile defense system in lieu of bases in Poland, Czech Reppublic

(NEWSER) - Vladimir Putin yesterday pushed his proposal for cooperating with the US on a joint missile defense system, part of which would be built on Russian soil, the Washington Post reports. The offer, first broached in Germany last month, was welcomed by President Bush as he and the Russian premier wrapped up two days of talks at the Bush compound in Kennebunkport. More»