Obama, Medvedev overheard on missile issue

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - In a private conversation made public by a hot microphone, President Obama appeared to be putting off diplomatic talks with Russian leaders about a controversial missile defense system until after the November election -- prompting quick attacks from the president's Republican rivals.

The conversation was caught by television footage of a casual one-on-one chat Monday between Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. On the tape, Obama leans toward Medvedev and can be heard giving him a message for the once-and-future Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

"On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this can be solved," Obama said. "But it's important for him to give me space.

"This is my last election," Obama went on. "After my election, I have more flexibility."

"I understand," Medvedev responded. "I will transmit this information to Vladimir."

The exchange raised alarm among Obama's critics about his long-term commitment to the missile defense system. The United States has promoted it as a shield to protect Europe from missile attacks by Iran. The Russians fear it would be aimed at them, and opposition to the missile shield was a major theme of Putin's recent presidential campaign.

Putin, who previously served two four-year terms as president, won a new six-year term March 5 in an election that critics charge was flawed. He will succeed Medvedev, who replaced him in 2008 when term limits prevented Putin from seeking a third successive term.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said "we look forward" to hearing what the president meant by "more flexibility" when he returns from South Korea.

John Bolton, ambassador to the United Nations during the George W. Bush administration, called Obama's comments a "fire bell in the night," which signaled not only that Obama would scale back the missile defense program but that he may be planning to give ground on a range of national security priorities.

"There's huge cause for concern here," Bolton said. Obama is too much of "a politician to entirely show his hand in the first term," he added, "but it would be open season" if he were re-elected.

By afternoon, the Republican National Committee had cut a video ad with the subtitle, "What Obama tells world leaders when he thinks you aren't listening."

White House aides said the president was still "deeply invested" in the missile defense system.

What Obama meant by "flexibility" was unclear. Some analysts speculate the United States might try to win over the Russians by showing them classified data to prove that the system could take down Iranian launches, but not Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles. Few experts think that would persuade the Russians.

Public broadcast of the private exchange provided a rare glimpse at the candor world leaders sometimes exhibit at such high-level meetings. Last year, journalists overheard Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy talking about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Sarkozy said that he "can't stand" Netanyahu.

President Obama: "On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this can be solved. But it's important for him to give me space. This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility."