Will Obama Start a New Cold War?

Will the president-elect of the United States start a new cold war with Russia? Given his public pronouncements, it's entirely possible.

During the presidential debates, Barack Obama agreed with John McCain that Russia must be confronted. He also repeated McCain's contention that Russia had invaded the former Soviet republic of Georgia, when in reality – and as Antiwar.com reported from the start – it was the Georgians who invaded (and the Russians who defended) the province of South Ossetia.

Obama has refused to say whether he'll continue the aggressive policies of George W. Bush, such as placing a missile "shield" in Poland that is clearly aimed at Russia. The Russians have responded by stationing missiles in their nearby territory. The arms-control agreements Ronald Reagan negotiated with Moscow are now defunct, and Obama hasn't pledged to restore them. Worst of all, Obama has come out in favor of expanding NATO up to Moscow's doorstep – a dangerous stance that puts peace at risk.

The struggle for a peaceful foreign policy is far from over. Indeed, it has barely begun. Under Bush, our relations with Russia deteriorated into outright hostility, and it doesn't look like Obama is going to be any improvement. He may even be worse.

But we won't let him get away with it. We're beholden to no one but you. Antiwar.com is financed entirely by reader donations, averaging around $50 a shot. Now we're asking for your support – because independent coverage of American foreign policy is a matter of life and death.

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