The Soviet Union Russia invades Georgia, threatens to nuke Poland if they sign the missile defense shield treaty with us (Poland signed the deal anyway), and now this? From FT.com:

The Bush administration is set to put a high-profile nuclear deal with Russia on hold, according to US diplomats.

Officials expect Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, to recommend that George W. Bush, president, recall the civil nuclear co-operation agreement from Congress in the wake of Russia’s conflict with Georgia…

Moscow has put great store in the civil nuclear co-operation deal, which would permit the potentially lucrative transfer of fuels and materials between the two countries. The US had earlier argued the agreement was needed to set up an international nuclear fuel bank in Russia.

The idea of such a facility, intended to dissuade countries from developing highly sensitive nuclear technologies, has won broad international support.

OK, it’s not that big of a deal, but still — US-Russia tensions aren’t looking good lately. Is this going to effect the 2008 election? Mmm…. not so much, because voters care much more about the economy than about what’s going on with Russia.

But the informed voter recognizes that McCain’s tough stance towards Russia — similar to Reagan’s treatment of the “Evil Empire” — was what worked in crumbling the Red Regime in the 80’s/early 90’s. What’s Obama’s foreign policy with Russia? I’m not sure; but I think it involves a lot of “talking,” followed up by “tough talks” with potential sanctions such as “not talking anymore,” or “talking less,” or “we’re not going to talk to you until you apologize.”