Obama's Secret Letter To Medvedev Offered Deal On Missiles

New York Times:

President 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.

The letter to President Dmitri A. Medvedev was hand-delivered in Moscow by top administration officials three weeks ago. It said the United States would not need to proceed with the interceptor system, which has been vehemently opposed by Russia since it was proposed by the Bush administration, if Iran halted any efforts to build nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[monicaangela]

Whether this is a realistic proposition or a way of trying to entice Russia into applying more pressure on Iran over its missile and uranium enrichment activities remains to be seen.

But Iran is unlikely to give up its missile development programme easily, if at all.

Its ballistic missile development as well as its enrichment are already under Security Council sanctions.

These might have slowed things down but certainly have not stopped them.

So, how Russia could intervene decisively is not clear. And the offer does seem to hinge not on Russian good intentions, but on results.

Iran's Shahab-3 rocket has a range of 2,000km (1,200 miles). This could reach Israel but not the US.

[HumeSkeptic]

Russia supplies most if not all of Iran's nuclear fuel.
They can develop all the missiles they want, as long as they don't have nuclear warheads, who cares?
Yes, it will be difficult to convince Iran. That is why direct diplomacy is needed.

[monicaangela]

Agreed.

[Yaaawn]

Putin essentially told Obama to take a hike

[monicaangela]

Post your link.

[HumeSkeptic]

Link?

[hardybear]

Straight in at 75 points up ~ spin that, critics.

[abby4ever]

Hey, bear.

>>>###>:)

[hardybear]

G'day, Miss Abby!

*():-}

[abius83]

Ok - this is confusing. The head line says the letter was sent to Putin. Who is the PM. The content of the article talks about Medvedev - who is the president. Its fair to assume that Putin is THE most intelligent world leader today... excepting Obama who in my eyes will prove to be a great leader. I still remember how Bush was no match for Putin. I remember this one conference by bush - where he said - "i looked the man [puting] in the eye and he was honest"... next day Russia invaded Georgia... :).... Putin is the best of ruthless politicans there is... In Russia - its really really really hard to stay in power like he has... changing posts from president to PM and still keeping himself in power... its the country where even the richest of oil tycoons get sent to Jail without question and this guy has time and again proved himself to be the wolf... its good that Obama is taking this to a different level and i hope his diplomacy succeeds. Peace.

[RuKidDiNgMeE]

There was no note . . .
Judy Miller style lie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Miller_(journalist)

[ThunderclapNewman]

Prove it.

If you are so certain, you must have proof.

Show us the proof---or admit that you Iie constantly.

[HumeSkeptic]

Good catch. I didn't notice the mention of Putin in the headline.

[monicaangela]

You are correct, it shows how the media of this country, even though it has been reported from Russia a change in its leadership does not believe that change has taken place. It appears we have become so accustomed to shadow governments, K-street, and Wall street running our country, we are cinical of all other governments.

[TLV]

I often hear on NPR that Putin really still is in charge. Let's not forget the big lie that Bush and Putin were friends. Bush just had to pretend for his neo-con buddies because he already knew that Russia was deeply involved in trading energy technology with Iran - one of the "AXIS OF EVIL" states.

Iran is wisely steering AWAY from using their finite resources - oil and gas - and using solar, wind, water, and nuclear. Those are precisely the sources WE should be fully engaged in employing.

[Midnightrain]

NPR now reporting that Russia has accepted President Obama's offer.

[k6007]

Here comes the 'popping' sound..

[steamboat]

I'm listening to NPR right now as I scan the computer. I haven't heard it.

[William Carson]

DID NOT HAPPEN!... THERE WAS NO OFFERS MADE... THERE WAS NO SECRET DEAL

[HumeSkeptic]

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?
NO ONE EVEN SAID ANYTHING ABOUT SECRET DEAL !

OVER'N OUT.

[abby4ever]

He doesn't know; see link I posted to him. We'll know more soon; there is to be a presser in Spain with Medvedev, today:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/03/03/europe/EU-Spain-Medvedev.php

[abby4ever]

Someone hasn't had time, or was just too lazy, to do any reading today:

http://www.rferl.org/content/US_Offers_To_Abandon_Missile_Defense_Plans/1503189.html

[Babele]

Thanks for that!

[FOOLS Politicians LIEtoU]

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday that it was "not productive" to link talks over a US missile defense system in Europe with Iran's suspected nuclear program as proposed by Washington.

The link for those who asked

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=090303133541.a1e6skrb&show_article=1

[borderorder]

The Drudge news engine? Really?

[FOOLS Politicians LIEtoU]

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidANA20090303T133536ZNFZ90/'Not%20productive'%20to%20link%20US%20missile%20defense,%20Iran%20in%20talks:%20Medvedev

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1462542.php/Russia_rejects_link_between_missile_defence_and_Iran__1st_Lead__

[justbeingme201]

President Obama is a LEADER!

[HarryIsNotHappy]

...of lemmings over the cliff.....
.

[MsDoc]

So, Harry....g­iven that you only had two choices in November, who would you rather have leading this parade... Sen. "I doan know nuthin' 'bout the economy" or the exceptionally intelligent man we have?

Poor McC could have gone into cardiac arrest by now... leaving us with Sister Palin at the helm. Now THAT would have certainly been amusing.

[cilcsster]

Now is the time to work with the Russians in dealing with Iran. For those of you who think otherwise, how many Russians do you actually know? None? Perhaps it's time for you to stop paying too much attention to the borders, you are loosing sight of the big picture. In Bosnia today, women are being offered 500 Euros to put on totally black outfits by the islamists. How long do you think it will be before that offer extends to North America? Wake up! The Russians are no longer the enemy!!!!!!!!!!!!

[borderorder]

I'm all for getting in bed with the Russians. Have you seen their dating sites?

[FOOLS Politicians LIEtoU]

ha...true

don't they have a major STD problem though?

[steamboat]

I can't argue v. you on that one.....Th­ere hot !

[k6007]

Republicans are CLUELESS, when clinton was warning them about AQ, they were spending millions of dollars examining mon i ca's dress. What did we get for their efforts? 9.II.

[ParacelsusTheophrastus]

I have to agree with you. They are communist and we are not but since our number one trading partner is communist I am much less worried about communism and more worried about Iran. To be honest, there are plenty of nice people in Iran too but they have elected a crazy leader and fundamentalism is out of control.

[Babele]

No, the real enemy is the power Bush gave to our government, lobbyists and the military-industrial complex. That is the real enemy that is sucking the life out of us.

Do you have an article on the women of Bosnia being paid to don black? Never heard of this.

[abby4ever]

For RuKidDiNgMeE, who's been claiming for hours that this is an unsourced story cooked up by the NYT...the NYT isn't even the one that broke the story, apparently.

Radio free Europe
Radio Liberty
Tuesday March 3 2009

"The United States is offering to abandon plans to build a missile-defense system in Eastern Europe in exchange for Russia's help in curbing Iran's nuclear program.

"The proposal, first reported by the Russian daily "Kommersant" and confirmed by administration officials, was outlined in a letter from U.S. President Barack Obama to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that was hand-delivered to the Kremlin leader three weeks ago.

"News of the offer came just days before Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was due to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva for talks.

"A senior administration official confirmed to RFE/RL on March 2 that "a letter from President Obama was sent to President Medvedev." The official would not comment on the specific contents of the letter, but said that Washington would welcome Moscow's help in curbing the Iranian nuclear program."

http://www.rferl.org/content/US_Offers_To_Abandon_Missile_Defense_Plans/1503189.html

[RuKidDiNgMeE]

Where is the note my AIPAC friend? Show or sit down.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Miller_(journalist)

[kimleehan]

I hope he called Bush first, to get Bush's permission.

[Grunty1]

If he did call Dubya, it was just to tell him "This is what a WISE and INTELLIGENT leader would have done in your position"

[JoJoKewl]

Once again let's pretend Iran has a long-range nuclear missile - they fire it at America and get 500 warheads in return. What makes you think they're that crazy??? Iran hasn't lauched a war against anybody for a long time. Like a century or more. Iran was invaded by Iraq with American approval. Hmmmm.

[RuKidDiNgMeE]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Miller_(journalist)

for you to young to remember how we got into Iraq, check out the link above

[helonias]

the missile defense wont stop a cruise misslie or a small jet armed with a bomb and can be knocked out by an emp attack.

[dumbosrus]

Memo to Camp Obama: IT'S THE ECONOMY STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In case you haven't heard, Wall St. gave you an 'F' and it's impacting Americans at a staggering rate. Given the fact that we are not going to have the money to even build this missile defense shield, turn your focus back to the economy. Your radical and irresponsible concepts simply are not working. You are so afraid of your own political party that you can't even take on Nancy Pelosi. How can any sane person believe you can battle this economic downturn the way you described in the run up to the election?

I'm very proud to say that I wasn't one of the 53% of Americans that fell for your pretty in pink speeches. Wake up America, a depression is now likely.

Feels like 1929 all over again.....­........

[k6007]

Who gives a shat what 'wall street' says? The american people give 'wall street' a loud, collective 'FU2!'

[dumbosrus]

I'll tell you who gives a shat - the millions of Americans who have their pensions, retirements, 401k's, etc. residing there.

Wake up!!

[Eurovision]

Nice try, but this is George Bush's economy. How far did the Dow fall while Bush was in office?

[dumbosrus]

A LOT!!!

But Bush isn't president anymore. And the last I looked, its the Dumbacrats driving the Congressional Bus - off the cliff!!

Wall St. gave Obama an 'F' - and it wasn't because of a guy who is no longer president.

All you Bush haters might as well throw in the towel. Using Bush as your whipping boy is no longer working. And Wall St. is responding.

Four different news outlets are freely using the word depression with more consistency - as compared to none just 30 days ago. Is this what you voted for? Is this the change you wanted to believe in??

Business as usual in D.C. There has been no change.

[Grunty1]

Only 5000+ points.... What's 33+% of the DOW's value, right?