Healing the U.S.-Russia rift
President Barack Obama's visit to Russia this week is a logical follow-up to his stop in Egypt last month.
In Cairo, Mr. Obama took steps to heal the United States' wounded relationship with the Arab and Muslim world. In Moscow, the president has begun to mend U.S.-Russian ties, which were also badly damaged during the Bush years.
In a few short days, Mr. Obama has made important progress in restoring one of America's most important bilateral relationships. He and President Dmitri Medvedev quickly reached an agreement to cut their strategic nuclear arsenals by at least one-quarter. (Mr. Obama has had a deep interest in the nuclear issue dating back to his college days, as The New York Times reported over the weekend.)
In his speech Tuesday, Mr. Obama returned to a theme that has served him well at home and abroad by stressing that the U.S. and Russia "share common interests" -- in particular deterring North Korea and Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He struck a conciliatory tone aimed at soothing Russia's sensitivity about its sovereignty and role in the world.
[Associated Press photo]
