The real threats to Russia come from the east and south, and the Kremlin knows it.

Which is why President Putin, after the rhetorical threats and press-pleasing anti-Bush sound-bites, ended his missile tarantella with what the United States called "some interesting suggestions."

Putin offered a radar site in Azerbaijan and later suggested interceptors in Turkey, at sea and perhaps in Iraq. Putin's proposals don't add up to a system that would stop an Iranian missile volley. But the specific sites weren't the point. Putin signaled a Russian interest in collective missile defense.

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, when addressing missile defense, stresses the "indivisibility of Allied security" and the need to move to "concrete cooperation" with Russia. Putin's proposal is a step toward NATO's goal.

The United States, the United Nations and Russia do face a genuine conflict of interests: resolution of Kosovo's "final status." Russia fears setting a precedent for European "devolution" (read that as Chechnya). It also sees itself as the traditional protector of the "south Slavs." However, we hear little from the commentariat about this collision.

One reason Putin's ABM tantrum excited Euro-lefties and many Democrats is they have a long-term political investment in opposing missile defense, beginning with bitter condemnation of Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative. Democrats portrayed Reagan's decision to pursue missile defense as the dangerous policy of "a Republican warmonger." They called Reagan "Hitler" and a "cowboy" -- the names they use to describe Bush today.

Time to deal with the irony: Someday a collective ABM system will defend former antagonists.