Kaliningrad Missiles

When I was speaking with James last night, we guessed Russia would try an aggressive move early in the Obama Presidency in order to test the waters and see just how weak he will prove to be on hard power issues.

It did not take four months. Or four weeks. It took about four hours.

 

This morning Russia announced it would be deploying its Iskander missile system in Kaliningrad - the medium sized exclave between Lithuania and Poland.

 

It is a highly advanced non-ballistic, non-nuclear missile system. It is designed specifically to avoid defenses such as the Patriot missile system though non-linear movements, decoys launched when nearing the target, and a flat flight profile. The purpose supposedly is to "neutralize - if necessary - the [US] anti-missile system" according to Medvedev. 

 

In other words, Russia sees this election as an opportunity to push harder against a weakened and introspective United States. And sadly, I believe they will have success doing so. I wonder if Obama will cancel the missile shield program altogether? It will be an interesting time.