Condoleezza Rice signed her name on the dotted line and now Poland will get its missile defense shield. This is a matter of great consternation to the Russians who now say they will "go beyond diplomacy" in preventing the missiles from being deployed. It's another game of chicken between the U.S. and Russia over missile deployment. Unfortunately, Russia seems to be run by people who are even less rational than Khrushchev, the man who finally blinked during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I don't think the Russians will back down on this. I think there's a good chance they'll send planes in to take out the missiles. I don't think they're bluffing. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's all just bluster and dry dick-swinging. The stuff in Georgia certainly isn't all bluster. You can argue that the Georgians brought it on themselves - but that same argument can be used to justify a strike on Poland if and when Poland gets the missiles. And Ukraine wants missiles too and if the Russians are cheesed about Poland getting them they'll be apoplectic if the Ukranians do. And does anyone believe the missile defense is really about protecting Europe from Iran? Come on.
Question...if Barack Obama were president and had, say, Bill Richardson as his Secretary of State, would this missile deal being going down?
