Russia versus NATO

Days after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced his country's intentions to revamp its armed forces, the top U.S. commander in Europe is warning of a new period of "uncertainty" in U.S.-Russian relations.
In Senate testimony today, Gen. Bantz Craddock, the head of U.S. European Command, was blunt. "The relationship with Russia," he said, "is likely to be more difficult to manage in coming years than any time since the end of the Cold War."
Relations between the Kremlin and Washington hit a rough patch after the August 2008 South Ossetia war, and Craddock's statement comes as European Command reevaluates plans to downsize the U.S. force presence in Europe. Two Army brigades are scheduled to return to the United States from Europe in 2012 and 2013, but Craddock is now recommending they remain stationed in Europe. Without specifically mentioning Russia, the general said in testimony that "these forces contribute directly to our dissuasion and deterrence efforts."
The Obama admistration has tried -- with limited success -- to push the "reset" button with Russia, and it wants the Kremlin's help in dealing with Iran's nuclear ambitions and preserving supply routes to Afghanistan. President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet next week with his counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev; Russian experts are already telling us to curb our expectations.