By Steven R. Hurst
President Barack Obama is betting Moscow will return the favor on missile defense by helping him blunt Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
In what could shape a major geopolitical realignment, the White House is scrapping a key irritant in the soured U.S.-Russian relationship — the Bush-era plan for a missile defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.
So far, only the U.S. has showed its hand, but the timing of the announcement, just days before Obama is to meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, points to the prospect of deep bargaining to entice Moscow’s help on Iran.
Continue reading Analysis: Shelving Missile Shield Entices Moscow
