Missile Defense Plan

April 7, 2008

The two “soul brothers” had their last get together- that would be George Bush and Vladimir Putin. In their last buddy to buddy meeting with pictures of them standing looking at the setting sun, they failed to overcome sharp differences over a U.S. missile defense system, closing their seven-year relationship Sunday still far apart on an issue that has separated them from the beginning.

Both men are departing the center stage of politics in some regards: Bush far more than Putin, though Bush has nine more months to enjoy his reign as president of the most powerful nation on earth. Who will get to deal with Putin in the future- McCain, Hillary, or Obama. We already know that Putin despises Hillary. But there’s no need to create more enemies now.

Putin steps down as president May 7th and Medvedev, the president-elect — would be in charge of Russia’s foreign policy after May 7, uness Putin, who is expected to be named prime minister keeps that role.

Putin said at a news conference with Bush at his vacation house at this Black Sea resort. “We got a lot of way to go.” Despite the impasse, the two leaders agreed that Moscow and Washington would work together closely in the future on missile defense and other difficult issues. Russia remains adamantly opposed to the expansion of the alliance into its backyard, an enlargement that Bush has actively championed over Putin’s vocal objections.

Putin called the U.S. missile plan — which envisions basing tracking radar sites in the Czech Republic and interceptors in Poland — the hardest of US-Russian differences to reconcile. “This is not about language. This is not about diplomatic phrasing or wording. This is about the substance of the issue,” he said.

Bush reiterated his insistence that the plan — designed to intercept and destroy approaching ballistic missiles at high altitudes — should not be viewed as a threat to Russia. In a clear reference to Iran, he said the system would help protect Europe from “regimes that could try to hold us hostage.”

Ah, but politics needs to wait for another day as these two “sould brothers” started the day much like civil brothers as on Sunday, Putin greeted Bush at the door of the guesthouse and escorted him downstairs to a wood-paneled room with tall windows facing the sea. They sat alongside each other in chairs before a fireplace with unlit logs. A crush of cameramen, photographers and reporters crowded the room.

Ahhhh!

Written by Ernie · Filed Under Daily Commentary