In the States, no one seems to care.  No so in Central and Eastern Europe, where Obama’s abandonment raises the specter of abandonment by a feckless hegemon.

The Poles, Czechs, Hungarians, Slovaks, Latvians, Moldovans, Romanians, and many other allies who went out on a limb for Washington are watching the Obama administration’s refusal to support missile defense for NATO.  Foes are watching as well, and they are emboldened by what they see.

The Russians, in particular, are active in their attempt to reclaim Central and Eastern Europe.  Moscow works directly but also through Leftist parties to advance its interests.  By killing a robust missile system for Europe, Moscow and Leftists benefit:  divisions and dissension are growing in NATO.   Security from ballistic missile attack and solidarity for the NATO alliance are sacrificed.

U.S. allies learn a hard lesson about the Democrats and the Obama administration.  Obama found Machiavelli rightside up and turned him upside down.  If you punish your allies and reward your enemies, you won’t have allies much longer.

The Air Force’s neglect of its nuclear mission and responsibilities is shocking, but should be expected for the reasons that Gertz’s story identifies.  But what is more worrisome is that the “nuclear neglect” is found at the highest levels of the civilian leadership from Clinton until the present.  It is right to chastise Air Force Secretaries and Chiefs of Staff, but there is a lot of blame to go around, it includes Secretaries of Defense Perry, Cohen and Rumsfeld.  We hope that Secretary Gates will be successful in his effort to reverse the decline.

The Schlesinger Commission (referenced in the story) and the equally important  Welch Commission are good places to start, but their suggestions have to be incorporated by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Air Force, and Navy–as well as by the Secretary of Defense.

If not, then the United States is on the path to de facto denuclearization.  The consequences of this for the country, our allies, and our ability to deter our foes must be considered.