ONE CAMPAIGN “PROMISE” HE KEPT
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/03/obama-tells-russian-hell-have-flexibility-after-election-/1#.Uza0041OWUk
Obama tells Medvedev he’ll have ‘flexibility’ after election
SEOUL — President Obama told outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he would have “more flexibility” after the November election to take on the sticky issue of building a missile defense system in Europe.
The exchange, which was first reported by Jake Tapper of ABC News, was picked up by microphones as reporters were let into the room where the two leaders had been holding a bilateral session ahead of the Nuclear Security Summit. The Russians are adamantly opposed to the missile defense system, which the administration has repeatedly said is not aimed at Russia.
Obama tells Medvedev: “This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.”
Medvedev replied: “I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir.” The Vladimir, Medvedev refers to, is presumably incoming Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Republicans, including House Speaker John Boehner, needled Obama about the incident.
“When the president returns from S. Korea, we look forward to hearing what he meant by having “more flexibility” on missile defense,” Boehner wrote on Twitter.
Deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said the exchange reflects the reality of politics in both the U.S. and Russia and that a resolution on the issue won’t happen immediately.
“Since 2012 is an election year in both countries, with an election and leadership transition in Russia and an election in the United States, it is clearly not a year in which we are going to achieve a breakthrough,” Rhodes said. “Therefore, President Obama and President Medvedev agreed that it was best to instruct our technical experts to do the work of better understanding our respective positions, providing space for continued discussions on missile defense cooperation going forward.”
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