Bad News from Russia

Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov says Russia will not cooperate with Obama's effort to increase pressure on Iran concerning its nuclear program. This after Obama had canceled an antimissile defense system, which Russia had strongly objected to.

This is clearly a slap in Obama's face, and will be seized upon by the anti-Russians in the American foreign policy establishment as proof that Russia is still an unreliable, dangerous foe, not a potential ally. What's worse, the Russians had to know that would be the result.

The inescapable conclusion is that Russia is more interested in currying a relationship with Iran than with the United States and Western Europe. Well, nobody can say Obama didn't try.

Addendum: The antimissile defense system should have been canceled anyway, so nothing ventured, nothing gained. And at least now we know the Russians are still the Russians.