By REUTERS
The Russian Government Senses Obama's Weakness
Russia has become more rigid in dealing with the United States on issues like the Bush administration’s plans for a missile shield in Europe,and it looks ready to test the administration of President-elect Barack Obama,a senior American diplomat said Wednesday.
The diplomat,John Rood,under secretary of state for arms control and international security,said that talks in Moscow this week had failed to narrow differences between Russia and the United States on the missile shield plan and suggested that Russia was pausing to take stock of the Obama team.
“They have paused with the election of a new administration in the United States,and they are looking carefully at the position of the new team,” Mr. Rood told reporters.
“My assessment is that the Russians intend to test the mettle of the new administration and the new president,” he said.