Obama Denies Russian Deal
Earlier this week we mentioned President Barack Obama’s offer to Russia for the U.S. to cancel plans to build missile defense shields in Poland and the Czech Republic in exchange for Russia helping the U.S. deal with Iran’s possible nuclear weapons. Despite a New York Times report and lots of news coverage about a “secret letter” Obama sent to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to that effect, the president is denying the reports. (Source)
According to Reuters, Obama told Britain’s prime minister, “What I said in the letter is what I have said publicly, which is that the missile defense that we have talked about deploying is directed toward, not Russia, but Iran.”
That’s not quite the end of it. Obama added something to the effect that Russia’s cooperation would reduce the need for missile defense shields in Central Europe. Any reasonable person would assume from that statement exactly what the New York Times reported: the president offered to take the missile defense shield deals off the table.
A copy of the letter would clear things up, of course.
Tags: Barack Obama, Czech Republic, Dmitry Medvedev, Iran, Poland, Russia