Obama's to-do list grows after overseas trip

Obama's to-do list grows after overseas trip - Washington Times

Two days after Mr. Obama told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev his plans for missile defense were aimed at Iran, Mr. Medvedev rejected that, saying he still viewed plans for a defense site in Eastern Europe as a threat.

And even as the Russian president signed on to the Group of Eight major economies document calling for 80 percent emissions cuts by 2050, his adviser told reporters they couldn't meet the target and said it was "unacceptable."

The Russians weren't the only ones who balked at the climate change agenda. Developing countries such as China, Brazil and India, rejected Mr. Obama's and Western European leaders' request that they agree to cut their greenhouse emissions.

Still, the National Security Network, a liberal-leaning advocacy group, said Mr. Obama did get much of what he wanted from the trip: a unified statement from the G-8, including Russia, condemning Iran's nuclear program as well as a $20 billion world commitment - $5 billion more than expected - for food aid to developing countries, with new good-government strings attached to the funding.