Eastern Europeans know perfectly well that they are second-class citizens in Europe, and that NATO would not come to their rescue if Western Europe were not also in danger, but they do not like to be told that this is actually so. Barack Obama’s administration is not received as enthusiastically in the east as it is in the west because it comes dangerously close to being frank about the region’s place in the world (“End of an Affair?” September 12, 2009). Although George Bush’s rhetoric was overblown when it comes to NATO’s stance toward Russia, the new American president should do a bit more to soothe Eastern European sentiments. After all, 1953, 1956, and 1968 are still alive in the memory of millions of people. And the Russian bear is as eager to prance about its old front yard as it has ever been.