Obama ‘One Card Ahead’ of Moscow and Tehran. Clever!: Les Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace, France
Sep 22nd, 2009 | 7 responses
So who comes out ahead of President Obama’s decision to freeze or scrap Europe-based, Bush-era anti-missile sites?
According to this op-ed by Dominique Jung of France’s Les Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace, Barack Obama is looking like a pretty good card player right at the moment.
For Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace, Dominique Jung writes of why East and West Europe differ in their reactions to the move:
“France and Germany, mindful of ensuring that the United States doesn’t see Europe as a protectorate, have also saluted Obama’s decision. In this, they differ from the former ‘East European satellite’ countries that joined the European Union in 2004, which are very disappointed by what they see as allegiance to Moscow. They suffered so much from Soviet domination, anything that defies the Kremlin makes them happy – which is why Warsaw and Prague welcomed Bush’s project.”
As to the benefits to the United States, Jung writes in part:
“In the end, the White House gamble is quite a reasonable one. If later, Russia doesn’t respond to his outstretched hand, Obama will have lost nothing. But what Obama will have is an objective reason to toughen his policy if Russia decides to go it alone in Caucasus or is uncooperative in Afghanistan. … If in addition it helps eliminate an extremely expensive project with uncertain effectiveness, so much the better. Only fans of military escalation will cry heresy. For now, Obama is one card ahead of Moscow and Tehran. Clever!”
By Dominique Jung
Translated By Sandrine Ageorges
September 19, 2009
France – Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace – Home Page (French)
Barack Obama’s abandonment of the anti-missile system George Bush wanted to deploy in Poland and the Czech Republic is an important decision.
Apart from for the competition with China and the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, the decision focuses directly on the main diplomatic issues that Obama must confront: relations with the European allies; relations with Russia; attitudes toward Iran; the evaluation of the threats that weigh on the United States; and the size of the U.S. defense budget.
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7 Responses to “Obama ‘One Card Ahead’ of Moscow and Tehran. Clever!: Les Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace, France”
Why am I not surprised that the French LOVE Obama's plan.
They are so adept at international affairs.
I suppose next that Dominique Jung will praise Obama's slashing of the defernse budget.
Jeff D, you're right about French foreign policy (towards the USA,) all the way back to the 1770's. Without French financial and military assistance, the U.S. of A would still be a British colony.
That is what you meant, right?
If not, maybe you should read a little U.S. History. Hint: Ben Franklin.
And for current events, here's some really intelligent analysis of the Polish missile decision:
http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20090921_bmd_dec…
[...] been a generous people, but some of these expenses are beyond ridiculous and border outrageous. Obama ‘One Card Ahead’ of Moscow and Tehran. Clever!: Les Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace, France – themoderatevoice.com 09/23/2009 So who comes out ahead of President Obama’s decision to freeze [...]
The funny thing about this, is that the “Bush” missiles don't really protect Europe, since they are designed to defend against Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, (ICBM), and, cannot “shoot down” Continental ballistic missiles of regional range, such as the type the Iranians have. They were being placed in anticipation of Iran developing an ICBM. Also, their accuracy is in serious doubt.
So Bush wasn’t defending anybody but the United States with these missiles in the first place. Whereas the “Obama” missiles are actually designed to protect Europe with missiles designed to shoot down what the Iranians actually have; regional Continental Ballistic Missiles.
What's on the card, the Joker?
“I suppose next that Dominique Jung will praise Obama's slashing of the defernse budget.”
Probably, if Barney Frank has his way and gets a 25 per cent (or more) reduction.
Think of the size of the “peace dividend” that can be spent buying votes in other ways, starting with one-shot expenditures on health care!
I know my history, Joe.
The French helped us out to get at the British, not because they believed in our cause.
Franklin knew that.
The French have always been opportunistic in that sense, almost as bad as the Dutch.
But we'll see if the Polish missle situation pays off. I truly hope it does in terms of Iran. It's a very big gamble, but I will praise the President if it pays off. I agree that the odds of a “Soviet” invasion of Poland are very low, and the odds of a nuclear warhead flying out of Tehran is high. We'll see, right?
Obama could use a little success with nothing but failure thus far.