April 24, 2007 11:21AM 

# Since the Middle East Is Under Control, Let’s Rattle Russia’s Cage 

By [Justin Logan](https://www.cato.org/people/justin-logan) 

---

<a class="js-popover-trigger cursor-pointer popover-trigger" data-bs-placement="bottom" data-bs-trigger="click" id="popover-trigger"> 

SHARE 

</a> 

Fred Kaplan has a [sharp piece on *Slate*](http://www.slate.com/id/2164831/) on the recent push to deploy a missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland, and the inevitable Russian fits over same.

The only thing I’d add to the Kaplan piece is to observe the ongoing and remarkable refusal on the part of the administration to accept the concept of tradeoffs in its foreign policy. We would like it very much if the Russians would become more amenable to adopting a US-friendly approach on Iran in the Security Council. Fine. But to expect them to do so while we steamroll their interests in Central and Eastern Europe is more than a bit naive.

##### Related Tags 

[Defense and Foreign Policy](https://www.cato.org/defense-foreign-policy) 

[![Creative Commons License](/build/cato_2020/images/creative-commons.svg)](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) 
This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).