Greg Djerejian thinks the wily Russian bested Bush in the art of diplomacy and grand strategy:
Putin, I think it’s fair to say, rather outmaneuvered Bush on this issue at the G-8 meeting, first by making the case there’s nothing particularly magic about the Polish and Czech locations, second by making the point those locations leave countries like Russia (and thus other countries east of Poland, like say Ukraine) exposed to the supposed Iranian missile threat to Europe, third by looking like he’s in good faith trying to work with the U.S. on a responsible collective security posture, while nevertheless rejecting key elements of the U.S. approach (which now no longer quite have the same trappings of something of a fait accompli), fourth by appearing now like he’s acted in good faith to broach a compromise so that when the U.S. essentially rejects in large part (as is ultimately likely) the Azeri option, Putin doesn’t appears the bad guy, and therefore, allows himself room to more robustly counter the ultimate American decision made (particularly re: the interceptors in Poland), so that he’ll be on firmer footing to showcase his disgreement.
But Bush will have a “war czar” soon, so things are sure to be back on track.