missile defense

‘Left, Right & Center’: Baucus, Beck, Missiles and Money

Sep 19, 2009
Russia might be pleased with President Obama's decision to nix Bush's missile shield plans, but how about Eastern Europe? Meanwhile, Sen. Max Baucus' health care reform plan foundered, and Obama made a play to get through to the powers on Wall Street. All this -- plus the Glenn Becking of American political discourse -- is part of this week's discussion on "Left, Right & Center."
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Polish Politics at the Piano

Apr 28, 2009
Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman's debut at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles took a political turn on Sunday night when he took a moment before his final number to announce that he wouldn't play in the U.S. again as long as America pursues an imperialist agenda on the world stage.

Backlash Over Defense Budget Cuts Begins

Apr 8, 2009
Although some in Congress applauded Defense Secretary Robert Gates' announcement that the Obama administration would be whittling down the defense budget for 2010, suffice it to say that not everyone is thrilled by this development -- especially those whose districts will be directly impacted by the cuts.

Biden Cautious, Conciliatory in Message to Russia

Feb 8, 2009
Will the Obama administration take a different tack than the Bush team did when it comes to relations with the Kremlin? It's hard to say at this stage, but Vice President Joe Biden has suggested that it's "time to press the reset button and to revisit the many areas where we can and should be working together with Russia." He made the comment Saturday in a speech at a security conference in Germany.

Rice: Russia on the Wrong Track

Sep 18, 2008
Although she acknowledged that Georgia fired the first shots in August's bloody conflict with Russia, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday laid most of the blame for that showdown on Russia. During a strident speech, she also gave several other examples of how she believed Russia's leaders were taking their nation down a dangerous road.

Rice Pops Up in Baghdad

Aug 21, 2008
Where in the world is Condoleezza Rice? Well, as the ink was drying on the deal she signed to secure Poland's cooperation in the United States' controversial missile shield project, Secretary of State Rice turned up in Baghdad on Thursday for an unscheduled visit with Iraqi leaders. Surprise!

Russian General Takes Bush’s Bait

Aug 15, 2008
With the worst timing imaginable, the U.S. and Poland announced a missile shield deal on Thursday, which prompted a Russian general to strut like a peacock and threaten to punish the land of pirogi. The proposed missile shield has been a go-to irritant for President Bush to use on old friend Vladimir Putin, and for an obvious reason: It works.

Russia and Cuba, Together Again

Aug 5, 2008
Forty-six years after the Cuban Missile Crisis, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he wants "to rebuild our positions in Cuba" by strengthening economic cooperation with the island nation. The push could be a retort to America's resolve to build a missile shield on Russia's doorstep.