The (Ex) Washington Realist

Seems to me the signal is clear: Putin and Russia are going to raise the costs for the United States to do business. No more can Washington hope to use the argument that "we expect your help on these sets of issues because it is in both our interests" but at the same time "these other matters which concern you are not our concern."

Word on the street is the next treaty to be put back under the microscope is the INF treaty; that if the U.S. is making the claim that rogue states are such a danger then Russia needs to reintroduce medium range missiles (because ICBMs don't help against Iran or North Korea).

It also seems that the U.S.-Russia relationship is now headed for the freezer until we have new presidents in both the Kremlin and the White House.