The healthcare debate was sidelined just a bit yesterday with the news of Obama's plan to scrap the missile shield in Eastern Europe. Let's just take a moment to noodle this one through.

If you'll remember, Obama made a grand speech in Prague back in April. During that speech Obama said that he would proceed with the development of the missile shield as long as Iran posed a threat to US and European security.

So what has changed?

Not only does Iran pose a threat, but in fact just days ago experts at the world's top atomic watchdog agreed that Iran has the ability to make a nuclear bomb and is well on its way to developing a missile system capable of carrying an atomic warhead.

Sounds like a pretty darn serious threat to me!

So the question is ... what does Barack Obama know that we don't? Here is a fantastic analysis of what Obama could possibly be getting from Russia in return for scrapping the missile shield.

So .. here's more change you can believe in. Countries in Europe that once thought the United States would be there to defend them no longer feel that way. Eastern European countries that felt the U.S. would defend them from Russian aggression no longer believe that to be so. Look for them to become much more friendly to Russian goals and initiatives now.

Elections have consequences. Elections in the U.S. have consequences for the people of Eastern Europe.

Russia really seems to be making the rounds lately. Not only did it gets its way with this missile defense shield, but it is also working on a new project: hooking up Hugo Chavez with nuclear capabilities.

Sounds like yet another threat to worry about ... and the Russians are right in the middle of it.

Hugo Chavez announced that Venezuela and Russia have created an atomic energy commission. Russia will help to "bridge the gap" and provide funding, technology and expertise so that Hugo Chavez can join the nuclear energy club.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican of Florida points out that Russia's plans to sell Venezuela arms and nuclear cooperation, "create an eerie sense that the history of Iran's Russia-backed military and nuclear buildup is repeating itself almost identically in Venezuela."

But don't you feel safer now that Barack Obama is in the White House. At least we know he isn't going to antagonize Russia. When the Russian Bear says "frog," Obama will jump. When the Russian Bear says "jump," Obama will ask "how high?"

Did you catch this story from the Russian Newspaper Pravda over the weekend? How about "American Capitalism Gone with a Whimper" for a title? Here's a quote from the article:

"It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people."

Wait a minute! Read that quote again! Here is a columnist in a Russian newspaper talking about America's decent into Marxism, and he doesn't sound all that happy about it. How do you like him calling us "passive" and "hapless?" And then there's that "sheeple" reference.

Rodina, the author, says that the American population was "dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture." Well ... you know that to be true in your heart, but it took this Pravda columnist to spell it out for you.

Fact is, the author isn't fond of Marxism. That means he isn't fold of Barack Obama. He writes "The final collapse (of capitalism) comes with the election of Barack Obama."

Just read the column .. then go outside and drive around town so that people can see your Obama bumper sticker on your car.

I encountered a flight attendant on a regularly scheduled airline this past week who actually uttered these words: "In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure ... we're screwed." The same applies to the election of Barack Obama.

Elections have consequences, folks.

Joe Biden said that Barack Obama would be tested with international crisis. Well it seems that the Russians have taken that message to heart. President Dmitry Medvedev decided that now would be a good time for Russia to set up short-range missile systems on the eastern boarder of the EU. Okay, I know. Obama isn't president yet. But this will be a situation he will have to handle.

In a nut shell, the United States has signed a deal to place a radar tracking in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland. Russia isn't too pleased. Barack Obama's opinion on the situation? He has none. Back in July of 2008, Polish officials didn't want to bring up the subject with Obama because they didn't want to "raise a controversial issue." But Obama has questioned the "logic of deploying a missile-defense system in Eastern Europe before the technology has been proven." Maybe Russia won't have anything to worry about after all.