Comments for Obama Offered Deal to Russia in Secret Letter »
Posted By suzanek 9 months, 3 weeks ago in Political NewsPresident Obama sent a secret letter to Russia’s president last month suggesting that he would back off deploying a new missile defense system in Eastern Europe if Moscow would help stop Iran from developing long-range weapons, American officials said Monday.
Read Full Story at nytimes.com »
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myfairlady9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Dionys9 months, 3 weeks ago
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nostalgia9 months, 3 weeks ago
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And do you think he will be successful - guess again
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The Russians have him right where they want him and think he is a weak leader It will be interesting to see Obama's response to what the Russians are now saying
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev on Tuesday showed willingness to discuss the US-planned missile defense system opposed by Moscow, but without 'haggling' linking it to Iran.
Medvedev was commenting during a visit to Spain on an alleged offer by US President Barack Obama to halt the defense system if Iran could be convinced to give up nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in Madrid, Medvedev welcomed the 'positive signals' coming from the Obama administration with which he hoped to reach 'agreements.'
'Haggling,' however, was not 'productive,' Medvedev said.-

CRYMTYPHON9 months, 3 weeks ago
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"The Russians have him right where they want him and think he is a weak leader".
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Where did that come from?
Do please give us a link!
Our sources told us that the Europeans love Obama and
see him as a ruthless tyrant who stomped all over his opposition,
although I have patiently explained that walking over that kind of opponent is like dancing on bubble-wrap;
- fun, even addicting; but not really ruthless.-

nostalgia9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Our sources told us that the Europeans love Obama and
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see him as a ruthless tyrant who stomped all over his opposition
Really?
European diplomats say the prospect that the Obama administration might suspend work on the programme risks leaving the Polish and Czech leaderships twisting in the wind.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/01a09ed0-0816-11de-8a33-...-
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gamahuche9 months, 3 weeks ago
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The biggest mistake in discussing this is to lump the Poles and the Czechs together.
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The Poles have basically been in favour of this project while the majority of the Czech population is very strongly against it amnd the leaders who ARE, more-or-less in favour of this deal, would not be unhappy to see it go away!
Let us be 100% clear about this:
The missile shield does absolutely NOTHING to protect the population of either Poland or the Czech Republic!
Its not designed to do so, nor is it intended to do so.-

CRYMTYPHON9 months, 3 weeks ago
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You think you know everything about it because you are there?
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What sort of limp intelectuals actualy have to learn a language to understand a society, or read their papers to know their views?
This is Propeller, Mr. Gamahuche; and if Nostalgia is now an expert in Russian
foreign policy, - to Nostalgia goes the badge of office; the job title, the coffee mug and the swagger stick.
Recently I declared myself a brain surgeon in another thread and hope to perform my first operation later today.
Not sure on who yet.-

gamahuche9 months, 3 weeks ago
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NO!!!!!
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The swagger stick is mine - and so are the drum-majorettes that come with it.
Or am I mangling my metaphors here?? [as well as committing onomatopoiea.
Nostalgia would have done well here in the "good old days"!
Either in prison or in a mental hospital or in the uranium mines..
There were ways of making people like him stop talking.
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Georgia509 months, 3 weeks ago
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Dionys...
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The missile shield gets closer and closer to reality as each year passes. As more is learned about the power needed to down a missile by a proximity weapon, and as guidance systems are refined to process data faster and faster, the window of error shrinks with nearly every test.
Do you deny this?
Hey libs...lets not deny Jimmy Carter his one chance to make a substantive contribution to America's defense. Now matter how angy the idea of actually defending America makes you, you gotta admit ol' Jimma was ahead of his time with his anti-missile proposal.
(Pardon me while I revel in the knowledge that all along you libs...in your brazen stupidity...thought this was orginally Ronnie's idea!)-

CRYMTYPHON9 months, 3 weeks ago
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I am trying to picture you reveling, Georgia;
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I picture you doing a kind of boogie on the keyboard.
Yuck.
Liberals are in favor of defending America.
Many of us are even in favor of defending Poland and the Czech Republic,
although we don't confuse the two with the US.
The missile shield is a pointless, idiotic waste of money.
No one needs a missile to blow up a city.
Any country with a bomb can put it in a car and drive it anywhere they want.
A shipping container or a briefcase or a boat works nicely too.
Missiles are for military parades.
Obama is offering to trade what is worthless to us.
If the Russians take the offer, - no loss. -

Dionys9 months, 3 weeks ago
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" The missile shield gets closer and closer to reality as each year passes. As more is learned about the power needed to down a missile by a proximity weapon, and as guidance systems are refined to process data faster and faster, the window of error shrinks with nearly every test."
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"Do you deny this?"
I don't deny that missile systems that used to hit maybe 1 missile in 50 are possibly now capable of hitting 1 missile in 10 (at best) in controlled test situations. Even given a 90% accuracy, which is likely decades off at best an expensive missile shield won't do anything for America and will ramp up the ignition point between the US and Russia. -

gamahuche9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Whether "Ronnie" had many ideas beyond playing with his personal raygun is questionable.
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There was a little boondoggle known as Starwars that appeared on his watch - perhaps while he was having his VERY long afternoon nap, trying to see off Rip van Winkle [how many years did that last] .
But then you're probably far too young and inexperienced to remember such details.
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Dionys9 months, 3 weeks ago
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"What is so ridiculous about a missile defense?"
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The fact that it doesn't work is one thing that's ridiculous about it.
The fact that it's overpriced and growing in cost by the hour (and can MAYBE destroy 1 in ten missiles in test conditions).
The fact that the majority of things we have to 'defend' America and America's allies against AREN'T EVER GOING TO BE MISSILES!
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BigBadJohn6669 months, 3 weeks ago
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Only a fool would not want the missile defense system. It should have been fully perfected by now. It would have been if fools like Carter and Clinton wouldn't have held it back. Now it looks like another fool, the illegal alien Hussein Obama is going to hold it back.
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alakazam9 months, 3 weeks ago
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We are way way past that level of tech...M'kay?
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directed-energy_weapo...
An anti-missile missile shield is a Spruce Goose.-

alakazam9 months, 3 weeks ago
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http://www.sprucegoose.org/aircraft_artifacts/exhi...
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alakazam9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Yeah...just little...and then they mothballed it.
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There is this little and rarely considered principle of possibility versus practicality.
What's not only smart...but what's effective.
The Spruce Goose is right up there with the Hindenburg.
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PsychoHosebeastComment removed: Spammer, Abusive1 Reply
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nostalgia9 months, 3 weeks ago
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FTA:
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Mr. Obama’s letter, sent in response to one he received from Mr. Medvedev shortly after Mr. Obama’s inauguration, is part of an effort to “press the reset button” on Russian-American relations, as Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. put it last month. Among other things, the letter discussed talks to extend a strategic arms treaty expiring this year and cooperation in opening supply routes to Afghanistan.
Biden was been in the Senate for 30 years
Has he forgotten everything he knew about Russia?
Now he suddenly thinks we can push a "reset button"?
1999, Biden cosponsored a draft resolution condemning Russia's 1999 Invasion of Chechnya, the use of indiscriminate force by the Russian army against civilians and violations of the Geneva Convention
2005, Biden cosponsored a Senate resolution criticizing Russia for failing to uphold its commitments at the 1999 Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Summit, which included agreements on a completed Russian military withdrawal from Moldova
Biden introduced legislation in July 2008 urging members of the Group of Eight to "work toward a more constructive relationship with Russia," and encouraging Russia to behave according to the G-8’s "objectives of protecting global security, economic stability, and democracy." The resolution also called on Russian and U.S. leaders to increase cooperation and funding for the Nunn-Lugar program and other nonproliferation initiatives
(Russia has been very helpful with this haven't they? They continue to work with Iran to help them produce nuclear weapons)
Biden has voiced concerns about Russia alleged backsliding on democratic reforms. In August 2008, Biden criticized Russia’s military action in Georgia. "By acting disproportionately with a full scale attack on Georgia and seeking the ouster of Georgia’s democratically elected President Mikheil Saakashvili, Moscow is jeopardizing its standing in Europe and the broader international community – and risking very real practical and political consequences
"risking very real practical and political consequences"
A letter from Obama caving in on a new missile defense system??
Some consequence!
Do you ever wonder if our politicians EVER learn ANYTHING from history?-

gamahuche9 months, 3 weeks ago
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"is part of an effort to “press the reset button” on Russian-American relation."
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OF COURSE a reset-button can be pressed and it needs to be pressed as often as possible to put the US back into some kind of logical, sensible and forward looking direction after 8 years of mayhem and hell and catastrophe.
Do you imagine that there is even ONE leader anywhere in the world who would genuinely like to have Bush back - or some kind of Bush clone??
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slate9 months, 3 weeks ago
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cushi9 months, 3 weeks ago
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slate9 months, 3 weeks ago
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They should have done something about during the Bush administration and before when they kept doing it. Now that they got away with it then they think they have the right to do these sorts of things.
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I still remember the cameras on the beach back when our forces were coming on shore back in the Gulf.-

alakazam9 months, 3 weeks ago
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This is an example of a particularly egregious case but it does show that SOME things just shouldn't be printed.
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http://www.ww2pacific.com/congmay.html
There are a few things that need to be KEPT a secret.-
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alakazam9 months, 3 weeks ago
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The people who possess sensitive information are the ones obligated to keep their mouths shut.
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It's not the papers printing secrets that causes the problem..it's the people running off at the mouth to begin with.
I DO believe in Freedom of the Press...but I think the guy who signed off on passing along the depth charge information should have had the integrity or enough just plain common sense to kill the story.
Why did the public "need to know"?
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tanglang9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Hey Alakazam,
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I figured you would like these. They go hand in hand with what you're talking about.
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/view/196828/
I completely agree that news organizations that spill our secrets should be prosecuted. One recent incident comes to mind. CNN's Michael Ware reported on chlorine filled IED's from the place they were being made. He refused to tell our troops the location of the factory and in my opinion should be prosecuted for the deaths of every soldier killed by those bombs.-

alakazam9 months, 3 weeks ago
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I do like those...it's a very, very true statement.
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Indiscretion can cost you dearly...and that's no Secret .
I think it's the people who actually hold sensitive info and then breach security that should bear the brunt of the responsibility and penalty.
The Press should sometimes be a little more circumspect in what they print but they can print anything they want.
This matter with the newsman you describe...He would then be directly an accessory to several crimes and SHOULD be prosecuted...
Freedom of the Press is not a shield against prosecution of ALL criminal acts.
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Endoscopy9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Dionys9 months, 3 weeks ago
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The story they broke was a story about the executive branch of government breaking the fundamental laws of the country and constitution. Those are the kinds of storys we need.
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As for hurting our efforts -- do you really think the majority of terrorists are so stupid that they don't know their phones and communications lines are tapped? Even stupid mafia know better and use TracPhones and PGP.
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Beau78909 months, 3 weeks ago
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I can't imagine that word would have gotten out if the White House hadn't intended it to leak. It's one of the ways leaders control information. A leak of this offer may look bad to some, but most will see it as proof of efforts to control Iran, which could possibly be a bigger threat than Russia.
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And slate--the NY Times does have the right to leak nformation--if it's a state secret, the government can take them to court. Meanwhile, we have the first amendment protecting freedom of speech.-
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cushi9 months, 3 weeks ago
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I believe it was, too, but my point is a general one - that the media needs to be careful and has a responsibility to be when they're dealing with divulging secret information because the potential is there that our security may be seriously compromised one of these days. If the NYT becomes too complacent and too careless with how it handles privileged information, there should be some kind of recourse and consequence.
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alakazam9 months, 3 weeks ago
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"I believe it was, too, but my point is a general one - that the media needs to be careful and has a responsibility to be when they're dealing with divulging secret information because the potential is there that our security may be seriously compromised one of these days."
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A point based on historical fact and common sense.
I agree completely.
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PsychoHosebeastComment removed: Spammer, Abusive1 Reply
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nostalgia9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Like this incident?
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US drones based in Pakistan, Senator Dianne Feinstein reveals in apparent gaffe
Gaffe indeed!
The chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee actually confirming a report which appeared in a newspaper
That is deplorable -
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PsychoHosebeastComment removed: Spammer, Abusive1 Reply
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Albmore9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Ok, we close Gitmo, pull everyone out of Iraq, make no updated systems for our defense, no haults on immigration, no new border control efforts and put OUR trust in the Iran crisis in Russias hands? Sounds like waving the white flag to me.
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Beau78909 months, 3 weeks ago
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You don't think Russia can help? I don't think Obama wants to keep our interceptor missiles there anyway--this isn't the 1950s, and the Czechs don't want them. (Poland's another story, but Russia's not going to bomb them.) The missiles are best used as a bargaining chip.
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Beau78909 months, 3 weeks ago
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Russia's interests don't always coincide with ours, but as a nuclear power itself with an increasing problem controlling fundamentalist Muslims (see the link below, or other stories about Chechnya), it has strong reasons to keep Iran from developing deliverable nukes.
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http://www.kansascity.com/451/story/1060064.html
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Beau78909 months, 3 weeks ago
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Look weak to whom? You?
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What you call spin, others call explanation. And I'm not listening. This will be a long-term negotiation, and what happens today will have little effect.
I have other things to do--I'll be going out soon to vote for a non-Machine Democrat to replace Rahm Emanuel in Congress. ;-)-
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Beau78909 months, 3 weeks ago
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Glad you liked that. Thanks for asking! :-D
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You know we do. That's why there are so many candidates. The Machine's not dead, but it's not what it used to be on the national level. And there are some, like our current president and our late Sen. Paul Simon (I know Simon's not from Chicago, but he had to win big in Chicago to get anywhere state- and nationwide) who can get there without compromise. That'd never have happened 30 years ago.
(Then, of course, there are others. (Roland Burris, I'm speaking to you.)-

nostalgia9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Beau
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I always had a great deal of respect for Sen. Paul Simon - a very honorable man
Didn't agree with many of his positions but he was like Senator Moynihan - another politician I had a great deal of respect for
I never felt that they were pandering to voters
They had convictions and stood on principle. You just don't find that today
You are going to vote for Roland Burris if he runs next year? ;>)-

Beau78909 months, 3 weeks ago
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Honestly? Depends who he runs against. I'd like to vote for almost anyone else, but if it's Alan Keyes or Jim Oberweis and a close race, I actually might vote for Burris. Burris is a clown, but not a destructive clown.
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I'm willing to bet if Burris runs next year, the Democrats will run someone against him, and he'll lose in the primaries to someone I'll like better.
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TheRealizer9 months, 3 weeks ago
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It appears that the Cold War mentality is still ALIVE and WELL in the U.S.A.. This is a plan which was orchestrated at Yalta and Potsdam to insure the sucess of the Military-Industrial complex. The plan was wildly sucessful, the complex has bankrupt the nation, just as it did Russia.
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We spend more on the military than the rest of the world combined..Time to rethink the entire plan!!! -
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PsychoHosebeastComment removed: Spammer, Abusive2 Replies
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Dionys9 months, 3 weeks ago
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" No, Dion, Endo meant the comment. Just can't stop spinning can you?"
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Telling the truth about who started what in the Georgian-Russian conflict isn't "spinning." It's telling the truth.
"on is a commie lover"
Yes. Apparently I'm a commie lover AND a Muslim lover. Odd how those couldn't possibly BOTH be true, huh. McCarthyism is alive and well, I see. And just as ridiculous as it always was.
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Albmore9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Exactly, We need not look back 6 months to see how fast Russia can be aggressive as they were in Georgia.See how they have threaten Poland and turn gas supplies off to former republics and south europe in the middle of winter. Russia is a pit bull that if put in its place will come out biting everything in its way until its beaten enough to go back in its house.
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Beau78909 months, 3 weeks ago
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Georgia is not Poland. Georgia has always been recognized--even by the U.S.--as under the Russian sphere of influence. And the Georgians provoked Russia into invading South Ossetia, which was generally considered Russian territory to begin with.
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PsychoHosebeastComment removed: Spammer, Abusive4 Replies
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nostalgiaComment removed: Spam
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CORVIDIVS9 months, 3 weeks ago
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.. what's wrong with an olive branch. dear old mum russia is trying the hoops during very difficult times just to appease what would be a 'slavoring' appetite for the correct 'deployment' of what other hypocrites declaim as democracy everywhere in the world when they can't control their own democratic greed.Mafia's are haywire in the 'new' russia that has been around a lot longer than pure and gorgeous apple pie.Vaunted uncle sam hasn't gotten it right overnight too...
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Klarissa9 months, 3 weeks ago
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nostalgia9 months, 3 weeks ago
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As I posted above. the Russians have already made Obama look like a weak fool
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Russian President Dmitri Medvedev on Tuesday showed willingness to discuss the US-planned missile defense system opposed by Moscow, but without 'haggling' linking it to Iran.
Medvedev was commenting during a visit to Spain on an alleged offer by US President Barack Obama to halt the defense system if Iran could be convinced to give up nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in Madrid, Medvedev welcomed the 'positive signals' coming from the Obama administration with which he hoped to reach 'agreements.'
'Haggling,' however, was not 'productive,' Medvedev said.
Sounds like "NO DEAL" to me
Now if Obama caves to the Russians and gets no help with Iran, the Russians will really take advantage of him and taunt him at every opportunity
Whoever decided it was a good idea for Obama to write this letter, certainly didn't do him any favors-

CRYMTYPHON9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Obama looks to you like a weak fool, Nostalgia.
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We get that. He stutters, shuffles, and only made it thru Harvard by the advantages of being a minority kid; he has no grasp of power politics and only beat clinton and McCain because of [ insert insane reason here ].
Europe, not to mention America, does not share your view.
Bush looked weak to the world; he looked like a fool.
Whether the Russians take his offer or not, - Obama looks stronger, wiser
and more respectable, because he made a clever diplomatic effort.-

nostalgia9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Biden said this would happen didn't he?
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"it will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama."
Looks like the Russians are testing
And how did Obama respond when Iran launched its first homemade Earth satellite?
What about the comments the speaker of Iran's parliament made in Munich?
Are you just too focused on what has been happening here to pay attention to the rest of the world
Obama is being challenged over and over and he's not looking very strong, wise or clever-

CRYMTYPHON9 months, 3 weeks ago
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How the heck does anything you listed, make Obama look bad or weak?
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Obama reacted to Iran's homemade satellite with a yawn. Private companies have satelites now.
I have 3.
Obama's primary focus, -is on his own nation.
Restoring its power; prestige; and confidence.
He is primarily being challenged - in his own nation.
And he is winning.
Which is why you wish to paint him a failure abroad. -
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nostalgia9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Beau
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This should have been started with lower level diplomats and when an agreement is reached then Obama could have written a letter
Look at the position Obama is in
I think we all realize he was lukewarm at best to the missile defense in Europe
What happens now if the Russians can't or won't help with Iran and Obama still cancels the missile defense
It is going to look like he caved into Russian pressure and got nothing in return
How do you think our allies will see this?
Won't they question whether Obama will stand up to pressure anywhere?
That is why it is never a good idea for Presidents to initiate negotiations on their level until lower level diplomats or envoys have reached an agreement first
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Wolfie20079 months, 3 weeks ago
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Yes, the Russians were such a great help when the US along with the UN were trying to use sanctions to keep Saddam from restarting his nuclear plans. Here is a fact everyone should always remember about Russia, they help no one but themselves. By doing this Obama has weakened US foreign policy and himself. What an idiot, he's a fool.
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hefaa1Comment removed: Hard Banned
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CRYMTYPHON9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Ok folks.
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Put down your pencils; test is over.
Your answer for the essay will be graded on 2 parts:
Did you acknowledge that a 'missile shield' is expensive military toy hardware , of no actual military value?'
Your paper should have explained what Obama gets in return for making a clever diplomatic gesture, if the Russians accept, - and if they do not .
Please pass your papers forwards. -

lloydm659 months, 3 weeks ago
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hefaa1:Russia is a lot smarter than you,they might make a deal,but they won't keep their end of the bargain.They have no plan to keep nukes out of Iran.I don't understand why Iran can,t have one or two weapons of mass destruction.What we should be doing is advising the Iranian people how to try and save as many lives as possible if their leadership ever launches an attack.What a shame it would be if only the scum who devised an attack would survive.
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BB649 months, 3 weeks ago
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So Obama is going to out deal Czar Putin... Yea right and then he's going to come out and admit he's really a closet conservative. We're in deep pooh. With Biden and Hillary at his side, does anyone else see the disaster that is Obama. Well there are two things that will happen. First, Barry will be such a cluster we will never again see a Dem in the White House. The second, for the first time in American history we have a president worse than Jimmy Carter.
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icono19 months, 3 weeks ago
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Comrade 0Bama, a rookie Chicago politician, asking for ex KGB Officer and operative Comrade Putin's help dealing with those mean and defiant Iranian Mullas.
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This is like the little brother asking the bigger brother to help with a 'small time' bully.
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
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