Medvedev's mixed messages

Posted By Blake Hounshell Wednesday, November 5, 2008 - 11:02 AM Share

It's always important to watch what foreign leaders do, not just what they say. The Associated Press notes that Russia is sending mixed messages to the new president-elect of the United States:

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issued a congratulatory telegram saying there is ''solid positive potential'' for the election to improve strained relations between Washington and Moscow, if Obama engages in constructive dialogue.
Yet he appeared to be deliberately provocative hours after the election with sharp criticism of the U.S. and his announcement that Russia will deploy missiles near NATO member Poland in response to U.S. missile defense plans.

The Financial Times characterizes the move as "throw[ing] down a gauntlet to US president-elect Barack Obama." I guess the race to become the first country to "test" the new guy is now over?

EXPLORE:RUSSIA

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1:51 PM ET

November 5, 2008

Not much of a test...

This seems to me to be no more than an exclamation point on the continuing drama surrounding BMD. Obama's ideal response is to sit tight, wait for GW to turn over the keys, and then begin doing what we should have done years ago - engage Russia as a partner in BMD.

73/88

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