A Compromise With Russia?

The nuclear missile shield that the Bush administration so coveted - and Russia so despised - is no longer.

The timing of this development is noteworthy. Back in March, reports came out that the Obama administration had offered to allay Russian concerns over the missile shield in exchange for Russian support for stronger Iranian sanctions. With the United States accepting Iran's offer to talks earlier this week, Russia (and China) can no longer claim the 'need for diplomacy' as an excuse to veto any additional sanctions against Iran. Senator Clinton has already warned of "crippling" sanctions should Iran continue to be recalcitrant with regards to its nuclear program. Barring the unforeseeable, however, the Islamic Republic is not prepared to be fully transparent any time soon. Sanctions, then, appear to be an inevitable and approaching next step. It would not be surprising to soon see Russia suddenly (and curiously) on-board.