Missile Defense

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed a missile defense deal with Poland on Wednesday and predicted that future presidents would not undo the controversial program. Speaking to reporters, Rice said that though legally the pact could be voided by a future White House, it has a rationale and diplomatic momentum that make that unlikely. "I believe that the administrations of the future will recognize both the threat that we face and the substantial commitment that our allies have now taken for missile defense," she told a Polish journalist.

MOSCOW - Russia may consider a preemptive strike on a missile defense system in Europe if the U.S.-led NATO project continues as planned, a top official said Thursday. Russian Chief of General Staff Nikolai Makarov, in a sign of the tension between Russia and the United States over the missile defense plans, said during an international conference that a strike by his country might be possible. "A decision to use destructive force preemptively will be taken if the situation worsens," Makarov said.

MOSCOW - Russia may consider a preemptive strike on a missile defense system in Europe if the U.S.-led NATO project continues as planned, a top official said Thursday. Russian Chief of General Staff Nikolai Makarov, in a sign of the tension between Russia and the United States over the missile defense plans, said during an international conference that a strike by his country might be possible. "A decision to use destructive force preemptively will be taken if the situation worsens," Makarov said.

A day after President Obama's hushed remarks to a Russian leader sparked outrage from GOP circles, House Speaker John A. Boehner backed off the criticism, and suggested Mitt Romney should do the same, while the president is traveling abroad. “While the president's overseas, I think it's appropriate that -- that people not be critical of him or of our country,” Boehner said Tuesday. Obama was captured on a live microphone telling Russian President Dmitry Medvedev he would have “more flexibility” to negotiate on a missile defense system in Europe after the fall elections.

SEOUL — President Obama has said he plans to continue negotiations with Russia this year involving a U.S. missile defense system to protect Europe and is not trying to "hide the ball" in dealing with the matter. Obama said Tuesday that he wants to spend time this year working through technical issues with the Russians. In a private conversation made public by a live microphone, President Obama on Monday appeared to be putting off diplomatic talks with Russian leaders about the controversial missile defense system until after the November election, prompting quick attacks from the president's Republican rivals.

The Western military alliance agreed Friday to build an international missile defense system and offered Russia a role, a step aimed at reshaping the relationship with a former foe after years of mistrust and friction. Gathered at a summit in Lisbon, leaders of the 28 North Atlantic Treaty Organization states formally committed to a system aimed at protecting the United States and Europe from attack, and offered Russia a chance to collaborate in planning and operations. NATO leaders, who expect Russia to react positively, hope the agreement will lead to cooperation in areas where they could benefit from Moscow's help, including the war in Afghanistan, nuclear nonproliferation and the standoff with Iran.

Our best missile defense is for us to develop, nurture and maintain open and friendly relations with our adversaries. It is economically and politically the prudent way to go. Our bloated military budget would be drastically reduced. MONROE LEUNG Los Angeles

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin today praised Washington's "very right and brave decision" to drop plans for missile shield installations in Poland and the Czech Republic. Widely regarded as Russia's most powerful leader, Putin tempered his exuberance by suggesting that the revision of U.S. missile defense plans should be the first in a series of concessions to soothe ruffled relations with Moscow. "The latest decision by President Obama . . . has positive implications," Putin said in remarks carried on state media.

SEOUL — President Obama has said he plans to continue negotiations with Russia this year involving a U.S. missile defense system to protect Europe and is not trying to "hide the ball" in dealing with the matter. Obama said Tuesday that he wants to spend time this year working through technical issues with the Russians. In a private conversation made public by a live microphone, President Obama on Monday appeared to be putting off diplomatic talks with Russian leaders about the controversial missile defense system until after the November election, prompting quick attacks from the president's Republican rivals.

While campaigning in California on Monday morning, Mitt Romney pounced on President Obama's offhand comments to Russian leader Dmitri A. Medvedev - calling the conversation caught on a hot microphone “an alarming and troubling development.” During a nuclear security summit meeting in Seoul, Obama was captured on tape telling Medvedev that after the November election he would “have more flexibility. " The remarks were interpreted by some as a suggestion that Obama plans to delay discussions with Russian leaders about a missile defense system based in Europe that has been a source of tension between the two nations.

Republican presidential candidates on Monday jumped on a comment President Obama made to Russia's president, arguing that the president's remarks that he has more flexibility to deal with the nation after the fall election suggested he had troubling plans that he was keeping from the American people. "Russia is not a friendly character on the world stage. And for this president to be looking for greater flexibility, where he doesn't have to answer to the American people in his relations with Russia, is very, very troubling, very alarming," Romney said on CNN's "The Situation Room.

In a private conversation captured by a hot microphone, President Obama today appeared to be putting off diplomatic talks with Russian leaders about a controversial missile defense system until after November. Television footage shows Obama telling Russian leader Dmitri Medvedev that "after my election I will have more flexibility. " An advisor to Obama later said the two were talking about Russia's objections to the system, agreeing to talk later because of political concerns on both sides.

Turkey's foreign policy has come full circle in the last year. Far from confronting Washington on a range of issues, Ankara is embracing its membership in NATO while working closely with Washington on Middle East issues, including Iran and coordinating Syria policy. What has changed? First and foremost, Ankara has come to appreciate a constant in the value of its foreign policy: Turkey is east if you view it from the perspective of the West, and west if you view it from the perspective of the East.

The Russian leader on Thursday accused Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton of inciting protests against his country's troubled parliamentary elections, an unusual personal attack suggesting that one of the Obama administration's main foreign policy initiatives is unraveling. Warning that Russia needs to crack down on "interference" by foreign governments, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin complained that Clinton had denounced Sunday's elections as fraudulent before she had reliable information.