ANOTHER GREAT VICTORY FOR OUR DEAR LEADER - AT 9:44 A.M. ET:  From the Los Angeles Times:

Russia got what it wanted Thursday: The United States dropped plans for missile shield facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic. But if Moscow's initial reaction is any measure, Washington should not expect much in return.

Russian officials have been anticipating the U.S. decision, and regard it as proof that the United States has finally come to its senses. The Americans, one Russian official said, shouldn't demand rewards for finally fixing a mistake.

In recent weeks, Moscow has come under increasing pressure from the U.S. and Israel to take a harder line against Iran's nuclear program. But Russia doesn't feel particularly threatened by a nuclear Iran, analysts say. Instead, the Kremlin tends to treat Iran as an economic opportunity. And it embraces the Islamic Republic as a powerful nation hostile to the United States.

COMMENT:  We've been outmaneuvered, outnegotiated, and outplanned.  Hey, change we can believe in.

September 19,  2009