Here is a very VERY rare 'mea culpa'... Enjoy it, cuz it don't happen often... :D

Reading an interview with Obama's NSA, it appears that there are legitimate strategic and tactical reasons for forgoing the European Missile Shield..

Having said that, I still have four beefs..

1. This should have been made clear when the announcement was made.

2. It still smacks of appeasement to Russia for absolutely NO gain.

3. Our allies are rightfully pissed. We should not have broken faith with them. The US will pay for that down the road.

4. Obama still talked out both sides of his ass with his 5 Apr speech and what he is saying now...

But regardless, it appears to be a sound military decision to drop the European Missile Shield.

Michale.....

What exactly do you call into question??

How is it NOT weakness when the US capitulates to Russia in the hope, HOPE of getting some help from Russia on Iran.

How is it NOT weakness when Obama sides with the likes of Chavez and Castro over Honduras.

You are correct in one point, though. All the traditional enemies of the US are seeing weakness in the US. What if they are right??

As for competence in the administration? I would have to question YOUR sources..

From Cash/Clunkers to ACORN to the DunselCare debacle.. The only "competence" visible is in the administration's ability to be incompetent over and over and over again.

As I said.. Obama et al haven't shown any real leadership since mid to late April. Hell, many on the Left agree with that point.. :D

Michale.....

I don't know where you're finding your information these days but, you may want to consider changing sources. Seriously!

The traditional enemies of the US may be feeling euphoric but that's just because they think they see weakness when in reality it is strength they are dealing with now.

I'm not concerned at all - what you are seeing is a team in the White House that is the personification of competence...to the nth degree.

All the traditional enemies of the US have the same euphoric attitude about Obama that is prevalent from the Left.

And all the traditional ALLIES of the US have a WTF?? attitude about Obama and his administration.

Doesn't this concern anyone??

Michale....

This just goes to show that all good things come to those who wait...

And, what a good feeling it is to see Obama-Biden doing just what I fully expected them to do...on a number of foreign and defense policy fronts.

It's what I have been so looking forward to since the last White House crew left town...actually, way before that. It's just too bad that so much time and effort has had to be spent on fixing the financial system and saving the economy...though, I must say, that has been fun to watch, too...and I mean that in the very best way!

:-)

Hmmmmmmm I believe I just said that.... :D

Michale.....

Then: The words of a warrior

Now: The smell of fear

What a difference a few months make...

Obama is on one of the biggest losing streaks I have ever seen. The last thing he did right was to give the GO order to the Navy SEALS against the Somali pirates..

Michale.....

This is a much better one.. :D

http://baroqueinhackney.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/obama_jedi_knight.jpg

As to the meat of your article, many in Eastern Europe AND in the US aren't as pleased with the broken promise as you would think.

For people in the US, this is nothing but appeasement to the Russians for very little, if anything, in return. Russia will never substantially pressure Iran.

For leaders in Eastern Europe this is nothing but a broken promise. The leadership there simply views this as the US throwing the free countries of Eastern Europe to the (Russian) wolves.

Since they know now that the US is afraid of Russia, you will start to see a shift in allegiances as more Eastern European countries start to make nice with the Kremlin because they know they US won't be there for them.

You heard it here first..

Michale.....

That said, Obama's not actually giving up on missile defense programs; he's just canceling this particular plan to build bases in Europe. There will still be a missile defense program to eat up taxpayer billions.

(Full disclosure: I live in a region that would be hard-hit if missile defense programs were canceled entirely.)