Credit Due: Obama Will Not Trade Away Missile Defense At Moscow Summit

Now, coming from the lips of the  "senior White House director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs" is certainly quite different than coming directly from the President himself, but should this unequivocal marker --- laid down by Obama advisor Michael McFaul ---- actually become Obama's position next week in Moscow, then kudos to the President:

The Obama White House on Wednesday adopted a hard line against negotiating away missile-defense sites in Eastern Europe and limiting NATO expansion in the former Soviet Union, just days ahead of a summit meeting in Moscow.

"We're definitely not going to use the word 'reassure' in the way that we talk about these things," said Michael McFaul, special assistant to the president and senior White House director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs. "We're not going to reassure or give or trade...anything with the Russians regarding NATO expansion or missile defense."

Wow.

Missile defense is obviously the topic du jour here at Closing Velocity. But, really ... I have never heard such stridently unambiguous talk from anyone in this Administration on any other topic. Bravo, McFaul.

PS: I must confess that my jaundiced view of Obama's words vs. actions is what prompted me to post this for the historical record. Just consider it a handy reference for when Obama ultimately scraps European missile defense, despite today's tough talk.

UPDATE: Welcome, National Review. Have an outstanding Independence Day everyone (posting here will be spotty/nonexistent this weekend...and no Nork launch will ruin my vacation this time).

Comments

[sherlock]

"Just consider it a handy reference for when Obama ultimately scraps European missile defense, despite today's tough talk."

Exactamundo!! My first thought too! The man doesn't have a chance against Putin - he'll be lucky to come back with the clothes he wore there.

[2Hotel9]

Trade it away? No. Give it away? Yes.