It’s only a one paragraph blurb (paid subscription required), but it appears that Robert Gates is moving toward more cooperation with Russia on missile defense, “In his first appearance before Congress as a member of President Barack Obama’s cabinet, he says mutual missile defense projects with Moscow are not as far-fetched as recent events would suggest.”

When this is juxtaposed with the fact that the Czech parliament has placed an indefinite delay on a on a vote approving the missile defense radar, it would appear that using BMD to poke Russia in the with a stick is no longer the order of the day.