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[Le Temps, Switzerland]

 

 

Rceczpospolita, Poland

Obama's Russia 'Gambit'

 

"He wants to negotiate with Moscow over the anti-missile system, despite agreements signed with Poland and the Czech Republic. Neither is he against the resumption of contacts between NATO and Kremlin diplomats … So will Obama's gambit bring the expected results? The Russians are expert chess players and the only American able to challenge them in this field - Bobby Fischer - ended up losing his mind. How many moves in advance has the U.S. president planned?"

 

By Marek Magierowski

                                        

 

Translated By Halszka Czarnocka

 

March 6, 2009

 

Poland - Rzeczpospolita - Original Article (Polish)

Secretary of State Clinton makes a peace offering to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in Geneva, Mar. 6. The gift - a button marked 'reset' in English, was meant to convey a new beginning. Unfortunately, the Russian word on the button, 'peregruzka,' means 'overcharge.'

 

BBC NEWS VIDEO: Secretary Clinton seeks to 'reset' relations with Russia, Mar. 6, 00:02:19WindowsVideo

At every opportunity during the U.S. presidential campaign, Barack Obama took positions opposed to those of his predecessor. He had, it must be said, an easy task: responsibility for words is not as heavy as responsibility for deeds. But when the time came for decision-making, the new president disillusioned many of his supporters who expected a speedier exit from Iraq, the immediate closing of the prison at Guantanamo and milder treatment for terrorist suspects.

 

But Obama proved less of a dove than the American left would have liked him to be, although of course, he's far from being a hawk in the mold of Dick Cheney or Donald Rumsfeld.

 

The new leader of the United States had to quickly correct this wrong impression. Today he's again a man of peace, extending his hand to Russia and Syria, and soon, perhaps, to Cuba. He wants to negotiate with Moscow over the anti-missile system, despite agreements signed with Poland and the Czech Republic. Neither is he against the resumption of contacts between NATO and Kremlin diplomats. 

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

This is a classic chess gambit: Obama is sacrificing the missile shield and Washington's principled position regarding the Russo-Georgian war in favor of future gains - which are uncertain at best. No one can guarantee that the Russians will force Teheran to halt its nuclear program or help NATO in its Afghan War against the Taliban. The U.S. president is handing the Russian bear a carrot and counting on the bear's future gratitude.

 

Russia, meanwhile, may take a long time to show its gratitude - or just pretend to show it. It might provide valuable intelligence on Iran, while at the same time signing lucrative weapons contracts with the Ayatollahs. Dimitri Medvedev can start calling Obama by his first name on Monday, while sending his tanks into Tbilisi on Tuesday.

 

So will Obama's gambit bring the expected result? The Russians are expert chess players and the only American able to challenge them in this field - Bobby Fischer - ended up losing his mind. How many moves in advance has the U.S. president planned?

 

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US March 13, 11:43pm]

 

 

























































































[The Times, U.K.]