Russia opposes NATO’s missile defense system
In dual press conferences held on Monday evening after the closing of NATO’s historic summit in US President Barack Obama’s hometown of Chicago, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and President Obama discussed NATO missile defense program and developments in Afghanistan and Yemen.
One of the most contentious issues which Obama and Rasmussen touched on was the NATO missile defense system. With a goal to defend NATO members from a possible missile attack from Iran the defense system has faced stiff opposition from Russia, who fears the system could be a covert plan to nullify Russia’s extensive missile network.
In response to these suspicions President Obama said, “Since this system is neither aimed at nor undermines Russia’s strategic deterrent I continue to believe that missile defense can be an area of cooperation with Russia.”
Both leaders discussed the Afghanistan situation in detail. Obama said, “We’re now unified behind a plan to responsibly wind down the war in Afghanistan… I don’t think there is ever going to be an optimal point where we say, ‘This is all done. This is perfect. This is just the way we wanted it. And now we can wrap up all of our equipment and go home.’ There’s a process. And it’s sometimes a messy process. Just as it was in Iraq.”
Rasmussen for his part felt that Pakistan had an important role to play in the stabilization of Afghanistan. Rasmussen also hoped that Iran would work to stabilize Afghanistan and the larger Middle East.
President Obama explained he was concerned about Al-Qaeda activity and extremist activity in Yemen. While underscoring that work remained in stabilizing Yemen Obama said a positive step forward had occurred with Yemen’s recent peaceful political transition. <Cihan/Sean David Hobbs>
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Trump, Kim, and the Three P’s of Summit Diplomacy: 
I normally hate commenting, but i thought i would give it a go for this blog. Been reading your stuff for awhile.
For North Korea or Iran to lauch missles to take us out of the pctuire or Isreal for that matter would be utterly suicide. We stillhave the advantage of numbers and targeting technology. Idoubt if North Korea or Iran would put any money on wheretheir missles would hit. Plus we have tested our missle defensesystems in the Pacific and they have proven sucessful so far. ForIran to strike at Isreal again is stupid. They have the Patriot anti-missle missle which is improved over the earlier ones deployedduring the Gulf War. The problem I see with the Patriot is theheight of interception is too low not to allow damage on thesurface. But you can bet the retaliation by the Israelis would letthe world know that them having nukes was not just a rumor.