No, the correct question you should be asking yourself is, "Do I actually get it, or am I giving a knee-jerk reaction without cause or historical understanding?"
You do realize that these conversations have occurred with all Presidents, right? If you want more contemporary examples, study up on the Cold War talks. Each President has to deal with elections or other domestic concerns interfering with potential options the President has, almost all of which are not harmful to your country and may in fact actually be in favor of your country.
uh huh, sure...
Putin knows he wouldn't get anywhere near what he wants if a Republican is elected (Yes even Romney is miles above Obama on national defense) and since Putin is the incomming President of Russia he's forcing Pbama's hand now rather than later. Obama, feeling the heat is "begging" for more time, and assuring Putin that if he gives him that time, and since it's a foregone conclusion that he will be re-elected under normal circumstances, he (Obama) will be in a much better position to be the one to do the talking for America after 2012, BUT, if Putin forces his hand in this election year, he will have to take a more principled stand against dissmantling the missle defense in Europe, and they both risk not getting what they want politically. THAT is quid pro quo..
Now, Putin, if he decides to give the President that time, really can't lose on this "deal". If he gives him that time, and the President loses the election, then he's in the same spot anyway since if he forces Obama's hand now, he can't possibly get what he wants out of Obama because even Obama isn't that stupid, and despite his ideology on nuclear weapons, and missile defense systems, the President MUST move to the right, and Putin ends up not getting anytihing. However, if he gives Obama the "space" he is asking for now, he has a favor to call in if the Presidnet wins the 2012 elections.
American's, cept the nutty one's, are all pretty much right of center when it comes to national defense. Obama can't make deals with Putin that compromise that reality if he expects to be re-elected. If that isn't playing political games with our national security I do NOT know how else one would define it? Politics is politics, yeah I get it, but not when it comes to things like this, and no matter how the LSM will try and spin this over the next few days, THAT is exactly what Obama was caught doing on the open mic! HIS re-election was MORE important than addressing the missile defense issue with the authority and conviction that MOST American's expect out of their leader. All Obama had to say was that America will continue to protect its allies in the region, and honor those committments to peace and security, and these issues are not negotiable at ANY time. Done!
Tim-