Partly correct, Mike. Knocking down a handful of missiles from Iran can effectively neutralize Iran’s missile capability, as a handful is all they’ve got. However, in the past Putin has objected to the missile shield in terms that suggest he doesn’t think it’s a shield, he thinks it can be used offensively against Russia. That doesn’t appear to be sticking in his craw this time. Either he’s been convinced that the system has no offensive purpose, or his rhetoric has changed because he’s got other fish to fry.
Either way, I think he’s telling the Serbs “You’re not getting my help on this Kosovo thing.”
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