The Old Game

The Russians have made the opening move in the old game of nuclear chess using the map of Europe as the game board. President Demitry Medvedev announced that Russia would install short range missiles in the Kaliningrad enclave to offset the planned installation of American antimissile batteries in Poland. The announcement gave European leaders pause. President-elect Obama has talked by telephone with the Polish president about US-Poland relations, but an aide said that he has not committed to going ahead with US plans for an anti-missile shield. Its obvious that the Russians have offered up a negotiating pawn to the new president to quickly test his attitude towards US-Russian relations which are currently at an uncomfortable nadir. The challenge presents an opportunity for the new administration to implement its professed willingness to negotiate and cooperate with foreign governments and end eight years of confrontational foreign policies pursued by Bush. President-elect Obama will be looking for ways to decrease wasteful spending to offset the billions that will be spent in economic subsidies. Eliminating an unneeded, unproven, and destabilizing missile system in Europe is a good place to start. Besides cost considerations, securing Russian cooperation to contain Iran's nuclear ambitions is a better way to protect our European allies from possible attack.