AS IF ON CUE...:

Play ball with Russia: The Kremlin softened its position on Iran; now it rightfully expects the U.S. to listen up on Kosovo (Dimitri K. Simes, March 22, 2007, LA Times)

HERE'S SOME good news: Russia is moving toward cooperating with the United States when it comes to Iran. This week at a Senate hearing, a State Department representative indicated that Russia could be expected to press Iran on the matter of nuclear proliferation. It's also becoming clear that the Kremlin would support further sanctions against Iran and would withhold nuclear fuel from the regime of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But that good news could change.

The Kremlin's movement toward the U.S. position on Iran comes in part from a reluctance to see a nuclear-armed Iran, concern over Ahmadinejad's unpredictability, eagerness to avoid a nuclear arms race in the Middle East and frustration over contractual disputes with Tehran. But it is also a gesture toward the Bush administration and European powers that Moscow wants to be viewed as a responsible player in the world arena.

Now Russia is waiting for the U.S. response on issues important to the Kremlin.

...comes one of the Realists in Chief to argue that, although even he acknowledges that Russia is merely acting in its own self-interest, that we should make concessions. If only these guys were realistic they'd recognize that these are moments for us to make further demands.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 22, 2007 7:51 AM