Final Word from Friday, June 8, 2007
Vladimir Putin's "surprise" offer yesterday to place the missile-defense radar station in Azerbaijan isn't so surprising. Russia has long talked of locating the MD shield in nearby Turkey. Azerbaijan would merely put it firmly in Moscow's sphere of influence. Putin's offer raised hope that a compromise will be possible on this divisive issue, but it seems unlikely that the U.S. will agree to put the radar in Azerbaijan, for technical and geopolitical reasons. This doesn't mean the U.S. can't take its time in examining Putin's offer. It's conceivable that Washington will try to use this as a PR tool to win support from the skeptical Czech public. Psychologically, people are more eager to get something they can't have. More likely, though, is that it's Putin who's playing with people's minds. After the U.S. rejects his Azeri offer, he'll merely step up his rhetoric against missile defense in Central Europe.[Czech Republic public relations anti-missile United States of America]