Research Briefing

After Selling Out Allies By Scrapping Missile Defense System, Obama Dispatches Biden To Apologize To Eastern European Allies

AFTER APOLOGIZING FOR AMERICA’S SUPPOSED PAST MISDEEDS …

Obama Apologized To Latin America For U.S. Being “Disengaged.” “While the United States has done much to promote peace and prosperity in the hemisphere, we have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms.” (President Barack Obama, “Remarks By The President At The Summit Of The Americas Opening Ceremony,” The White House, 4/17/09) 

Obama Apologized To Europe For American “Arrogance.” “Instead of celebrating your dynamic union and seeking to partner with you to meet common challenges, there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive …” (President Barack Obama, “Remarks By President Obama At Strasbourg Town Hall,” The White House, 4/3/09)

Obama Blamed America For Global Economic Crisis. “It is true, as my Italian friend has said, that the (economic) crisis began in the U.S. I take responsibility, even if I wasn’t even president at the time.” (Marc Hujer, “Obama’s G-20 Confession,” Der Spiegel, 4/6/09)

Obama Apologized To Muslim Nations For Actions “Contrary To Our Traditions And Our Ideals” After September 11^th. “Nine-eleven was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our traditions and our ideals. We are taking concrete actions to change course.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks By The President On A New Beginning, Cairo, Egypt, 6/4/09)

OBAMA DEPLOYS BIDEN TO EASTERN EUROPE TO APOLOGIZE FOR SELLING THEM OUT TO RUSSIA

Today, Biden Heads To Czech Republic, Poland After Obama Sold Out “Former Eastern Bloc Countries To Moscow.” “US Vice President Joe Biden will visit the Czech Republic and Poland later this month following a political furor over the US decision to shelve plans for a missile defense system, hosted by the two countries ... Commentaries by some political and press critics condemned Washington for having sold out the former eastern bloc countries to Moscow.” (“Biden To Visit Czech Republic, Poland, Romania,” AFP, 10/6/09)

• Allies Brushed Aside To Appease Russia. “The U.S. decision to back out of the missile shield agreement forged by the Bush administration -- and opposed by Russia -- has evoked memories among Poles of Cold War helplessness, of being brushed aside as casualties of great power politics … In Poland and in other nations that were part of the old Soviet bloc, the U.S. announcement played into a historical sense of uncertainty. Warsaw’s political elite spoke of a visceral fear that the Obama administration is willing to sacrifice central Europe in its eagerness to repair badly damaged relations with Russia.”  (Megan K. Stack, “U.S. Move On Missile Shield Rankles Poland,” The Chicago Tribune, 10/6/09)

Apology Trip “Designed To Reassure Worried Allies” After Shelving Of Missile Defense System. “Vice President Biden will travel to Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic this month on a mission that appears in part designed to reassure worried allies of U.S. resolve ... But the policy reversal alarmed some in Eastern Europe -- and in the capitals of other U.S. allies, as well -- who took it as a sign that Obama would give in too easily too Russian demands.” (Scott Wilson and Michael A. Fletcher, “Biden To Reassure Allies On Trip To Eastern Europe,” The Washington Post’s “44“ Blog, 10/6/09)

• System Designed To Defend America, Allies Against “Missile Launches From ‘Rogue’ States.” “The shield, involving interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar complex in the Czech Republic, was promoted by Obama’s predecessor George W. Bush to defend against any missile launches from ‘rogue’ states such as Iran and North Korea.” (Jana Mlcochova and Gabriela Baczynska, “U.S. Backs Away From Missile Shield In Europe,” Reuters, 9/17/09)

CONCESSION DID NOTHING TO COUNTER GROWING IRANIAN NUCLEAR THREAT

Obama Hoped Concession Would Cause Russia To Take “Tougher Stance On Iran’s Nuclear Program.” “Medvedev’s stern statement came shortly after the Obama administration announced its decision to scrap planned missile shield installations in Poland and the Czech Republic… The decision on the missile shield was widely regarded as a concession to Moscow. Many analysts assumed it was the first part of a quid pro quo under which Russia would strike a tougher stance on Iran’s nuclear program.” (Megan K. Stack, “Russia Balks On Tougher Iran Sanctions,” The Chicago Tribune, 10/13/09)

But Russians Still Uninterested In Iranian Sanctions. “Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that it was ‘too early’ to discuss new sanctions against Iran, as world powers try to defuse the standoff over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme.” (Anna Smolchenko, “‘Too Early’ To Focus On Iran Sanctions: Russia’s Putin,” AFP, 10/14/09)

• And Russian Foreign Minister Calls Iranian Sanctions “Counterproductive.” “‘Threats, sanctions and threats of pressure in the current situation, we are convinced, would be counterproductive,’ Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was in the Russian capital last week.” (Steven R. Hurst, “Analysis: Washington’s Overplayed Hand On Russia,” The Associated Press, 10/19/09)

All The While, IAEA Report Shows Iran Continuing Efforts To Produce Nuclear Warheads. “Intelligence analysts in some other countries, such as Germany… insist Iran is still busy with weaponization work. Apparently that is also the view of some officials at the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  An IAEA report leaked to the press in early October alleges that Iran’s Project 110 is continuing its clandestine effort to produce a nuclear warhead small enough to sit atop a missile. ‘Project 111’ is corresponding work aimed at reshaping space inside the nose cone of a Shahab 3 missile so that the warhead will fit.”  (Peter Grier, “Iran’s Nuclear Disclosures: Why They Matter,” The Christian Science Monitor, 10/18/09)