- Docked Ship - Kakisky
Obama is being tested by Russian President Medvedev before he has even moved into the Oval Office. The tone coming from Moscow is reminiscent of the Cold War. However, Medvedev appears to think he will have better luck with Obama as he expressed the hope that the incoming president would take steps to improve relations with Russia.
Medvedev Attacks U.S. Foreign Policy
President Dimitry Medvedev gave his first annual address to the nation and he chose to attack the United States. Barely hours after the polls closed, showing that Obama had won, according to Spiegel (11/5/08), Medvedev condemned the United States' "selfish" foreign policy and "economic blunders, that he says led to the global financial crisis.
Russia's Short Range Missile Program
Medvedev upped the ante in Moscow's dispute with Washington over the U.S. missile defense installation in Eastern Europe. He declared that Russia planned to place Iskander short-range missile systems in Kaliningrad, the Russian enclave that borders NATO members Lithuania and Poland. The plan is to electronically jam the U.S. system, parts of which are to be deployed in Poland and the Czech Republic. In addition, Moscow was scrapping plans to stand down three Cold War-era missile regiments.
Russians Reaction to NATO Involvement
The Russian President told his audience thst the brief war with Georgia over the rebel region in South Ossetia had been, "among other things, the result of the arrogant course of the US administration which hates criticism and prefers unilateral decisions." Medvedev contended that "the conflict in the Caucasus was used as a pretext for sending NATO warships to the Black Sea and then for the forceful foisting on Europe of America's anti-missile systems, which in turn will entail retaliatory measures by Russian.
The Bush administration has maintained that the radar base in the Czech Republic and the interceptor missiles in Poland are to counter a missile threat from "rouge states" such as Iran while Russian considers the missile defense system as a threat to its security.
As Medvedev spoke to the gathered 1,000 parliamentarians, his predecessor Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sat in the front row at the Kermlin's ornate, white-marbled St. George's Hall, nodded approvingly while the President railed at Washington's "selfish" foreign policy during Russia's war with Georgia this summer.
Obama's First International Challenge
The U.S. and Russia's high level negotiations have not led to a compromise solution and from Medvedev's speech, it seems that Russia has given up on the talks producing any results. Meanwhile, he expressed the hope that the incoming Obama administration would be easier to deal with.
This could be Obama's first international challenge before even taking office and his response to Medvedev's speech may be an indication as to how he will behave as President of the United States.
