With Missile Move, The Ball's in Moscow's Court

There seems to be a nearly pathological resistance to the idea that the U.S. should engage in deal-making with Russia, whereby the U.S. would "trade off" an item of lower priority (missile defense) in exchange for Russian help on an issue of higher priority (Iran). While I suspect the Obama administration would vigorously contest the charge that that is just what happened, it's hard to get around at least the appearance that this is the gambit.

And I think it's on that level that we judge the move: if it wins greater cooperation from Russia on Iran, then it will be a success. If not, then not. Although it's worth emphasizing that the entire logic of an Eastern European defense against Iranian missiles is somewhat strained. If Iran somehow got it into its head that it wanted to blow up stuff in Europe, why fire a missile? Smuggling explosives on a truck would be a lot harder to trace while delivering the same destructive force. Firing a missile all but guarantees massive retaliation.