An old Russia adage: Trust but verify

U.S. President Barack Obama, right, Czech Republic president Vaclav Klaus, center, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speak after a news conference at Prague Castle in Prague, Thursday. (AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Presidential Press Service)

After signing a nuclear treaty with Russia this week, President Obama declared, "The pursuit of peace and calm and cooperation among nations is the work of both leaders and peoples in the 21st century. For we must be as persistent and passionate in our pursuit of progress as any who would stand in our way."

Peace in our time. Why does that sound so familiar?

No one remembers Neville Chamberlain's domestic policies.

“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” said George Santayana.