Russia’s top military general says that US missile defense plans are directed against Russia, and that the issue is holding up progress on a new arms treaty between the two.  ‘[I]t’s completely understandable that we have a very negative attitude about this issue.‘  The White House denies the claim that the issue is an impediment to START negotiations. ‘It certainly wasn’t what President Medvedev told President Obama.‘  Madeleine Albright is the second political commentator (after James Corum) to seize on Russia’s use of the term ‘sphere of influence‘ this week. Speaking in her capacity as adviser to a NATO strategy group, Albright said that the term ‘is not recognized as a legal principle‘.  Georgian opposition leader and former prime minister Zurab Noghaideli has signed a deal to work together with United Russia.