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 WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush's meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin this weekend probably will be their last while Putin is still president. Once again, controlling the threat of nuclear weapons is circling back to American and Russian leaders.
This time, the immediate issue in that minefield is expanding U.S. missile defenses in Eastern Europe. Bush argues that bases in Poland and the Czech Republic serve the defense of many nations, including Russia. Putin suspects the defense is aimed at Russia.
As an inducement, the United States is prepared to promise not to activate the new sites unless Iran proves to be an imminent threat to Europe by test-flying a missile capable of reaching the continent.
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