Return to Russia and the Obama missile shield announcement

Several days before I left, I heard the announcement that the Obama Administration is abandoning the plans that were developed previously for a missile shield over Poland and the Czech Republic. This shield was very threatening to the Russians because they felt it was directed towards them and their offensive capability. If their offensive capacity is reduced, then they feel much more vulnerable to attack. In recent years as relations with the U.S. have deteriorated, this has been an especially sticky issue.


I stayed in a small hotel near the beach in central Gagra. While I was there, the Sochi Economic Forum was being held just a few miles north in Sochi, Russia. This is a very important event and draws business and governmental leaders from Russia and abroad. Both Prime Minister Putin and President Medvedev attended. While I passed the outdoor cafe at my hotel, I could see Putin being asked about the announcement and his response. For a guy who does not exactly wear his heart on his sleeve, his pleasure was obvious. I don't think the U.S. should base its foreign policy decisions on pleasing Mr. Putin alone. However, the idea was a bad one to begin with. Now it appears that the Russian government will be more helpful in dealing with the Iranian nuclear issue. And the big question in the first place was not protecting Warsaw from Tehran, but preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons to attack anyone. I always felt the Bush Administration's policy was completely wrong-headed on the issue. Much better to work with Russia to resolve issues like this than to antagonize them on issues that are very sensitive to their national security. After all, Russia has been invaded several times and they have long memories about this. Virtually every city, town and village has a memorial to the victims and heroes of the Great Patriotic War ( World War Two).

When I crossed the border about 2 days later, it was raining and I could not find the migration card to fill out to present with my passport at the kiosk next to passport control. I somehow worked my way to the front of the scrum of people hauling fruit across and made my needs known. The agent at the border gave me the paperwork and told me to come back to the front when it was complete. I quickly filled it out and returned. The officer quickly looked at my documents, stamped them and with a smile returned them. This was the easiest and friendliest crossing into Russia I have ever experienced. It is a small sample and not necessarily representative, but it sure caught my attention. As opposed to ordinary Russians, I feel the chills and thaws between the U.S. and Russian governments very quickly when I am dealing with border guards and agents. I suppose this is understandable. But if this is any indication of improvement in American-Russian relations, I am glad.