Putin accepts missile defense in Azerbaijan

USA Today:

Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Bush Thursday that he would accept a U.S.-backed missile defense system if it is built in Azerbaijan, a former Soviet Republic bordering Iran, and not in Eastern Europe, as the administration has proposed.

The pair met Thursday on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit of leaders of industrialized nations.

Putin, joining Bush in speaking to reporters after their talks, said the two sides have "an understanding about the common threat" as well as differences.

The Russian leader said he had spoken Wednesday with the president of Azerbaijan who agreed to the use of a missile defense system in that country, located on the Caspian Sea, to protect all of Europe.

If his proposal is accepted, Putin said, he would have no need to carry out his threat to retarget Russian missiles on European cities.

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There is more. This is an interesting development. could it be that Putin has been maneuvering to get Russia protected too? Hay, all he had to do was ask. The missiles needed to knock down Iranian missiles in Azerbaijan may be different from those needed in Europe. It is possible that launch phase defense missiles could be used which are much harder to spoof.

For Putin, this move has the benefit of leaving the door open to his missiles getting into Europe which he says is not being targeted. It thus raises the question of whether we should be verifying the targeting of Russian missiles.