Cheney admonishes Russia

[Jaga]

in Lithuania - Baltics never liked Russia so this was a good place

read more about it:
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/04/AR2006050401094.html

[george]

Well, at least Cheny agrees with me in so far as Russia using oil as a political tool.

[bescheid]

george

You all ways were correct with Russia. Russians are as they are, Russians. To deal with them, requires the prospects of damaging black mail and tangible trade offs, to keep them in line. Other wise, they are excellent business people.

You see George, it was not the subject matter that was objectionable, you were/are very correct with your assessments of Russia, it was just the manner of approach is all.

[george]

Thats the problem Beschied, being " excellent business people " and " damaging blackmail " should not go hand and hand. I think that was Cheney's point. The Ukraine, Georgia have already tasted this blackmail. Others will certainly follow. Mark my word. If my approach offends some people, so be it.

[bescheid]

George

I do agree with you on this with the Russians. And Mr. Cheney is perfectly correct.

But, to understand another people, it is not enough to speak their language or as the case may be, for them to speak your language, for correct understanding. The understanding must be empathic understanding. You must know and understand the other person (Russian) as to their perception and understanding. Other wise, the communication interchange will risk being faulty.

In as much to the Ukraine and Georgians. There has always been bad blood between them. The best officers in the Russian military were Ukrainians and Georgians. But, those people, were difficult to control because of their Independence of thinking.

So what you hear and read of in the US, leaves out a very large amount of information and understanding, as to why these events are occurring, as opposed to that of a European dealing with these matters on a daily basis.

Charles

[Pawian]

Cheney`s speech sounds very provocative in Russians` opinion. They say he is a hypocrite because while urging Russia to be more democratic and allow greater freedom for its people, the USA itself has problems with freedom e.g. in Guantanoamo base. Besides, critisizing Russia, the USA closes an eye to brutal breaking of human rights not only in China but also in Kazakstan or Uzbekistan.

Russians are also enraged by the list of demands that Cheney presented at the meeting:

*****
Among other things, the administration is recommending that Russia register nongovernmental organizations that have been pressured, such as the New Eurasia Foundation; guarantee energy supplies to neighbors; and ensure that independent monitors are permitted to observe elections down to the local level, according to officials who were not authorized to speak on the record.
"We're not ordering them, we're not telling them," said one official. "We want a good meeting." If the Russians do too, they will take some of these actions, the officials said.******

Now imagine a situation that Putin in a speech in Beijing, together with Chinese leaders, admonishes the USA and demands that all prisoners in Guantanoamo must be freed or Bush must start a peaceful dialogue with Iran. How will Americans feel and react?

That is why it is easy to predict Russians` reaction - that will be angered resistance, naturally.

I wonder why Cheney decided to give such a speech. He surely knew that it would make Russians very annoyed. Is it the end of American-Russian friendship of the recent past? Is Russia really perceived by American leaders as a dangerous opponent, not longer a partner?

PS. All in all, I am not against critisism of Russian leaders` dictatorial moves. Putin is an autocrat and that`s a fact. However, closing an eye to bad guys who are "ours" and openly critisizing bad guys who are strangers is just not fair. Don`t you think so?

[Eric]

When European or American companies branch out into other countries, it is called globalization. When Russia does the exact same thing, it is called imperialism.

Russians have learned to not really pay attention to what others think anymore. The West can call Putin a reincarnation of Stalin, and Russians still won't care, because Russians are living much better under Putin than they have in the past decade and a half. I just saw on the news yesterday that Gazprom is now the third-richest company in the world. So, let the West say what it wants. Russian business is doing just fine. And if the West continues to criticise, then Putin will carry out his threat to stop supplying Western markets, and will turn to Asia instead. What other choice does Russia have? Why should Russia have to listen to non-stop complaints and criticism, 90% of which are based in nationalism and propaganda, and yet still give the West everything that it wants? No other country in the world would tolerate such treatment for so long, but Russia has.

[george]

Pawian... comparing situations with holding possible terrorists ( and with the vast majority of the cases in Cuba detaining camps that have terrorists leanings ) with freedom seeking people in Eastern Europe.?Wow! What a stretch.

[hollister]

Remember when Bush looked into Putin's soul and saw a good man?
Which one changed?
(now he has looked into Merkel's soul....)

[bescheid]

Hollie

Interesting you should bring this up with concerning Chancellor Merkel.

[e-mail]

- Ms Merkel back home from the US

Chancellor Merkel returned to Berlin following a two-day visit to the US. At the end of her visit, she held a speech for the 100-year anniversary of the American Jewish Committee in Washington. She said that questioning Israel's right to exist, as advocated by Iran's President Ahmadineshad, was unbearable and unacceptable. Ms Merkel called Germany's responsibility for Israel a cornerstone of German Foreign politics. US-President Bush once again declined any contact with the radical-Islamic Hamas group in Palestine's government. Hamas would need to recognise Israel's right to exist first.

As an additional: The President Bush has received a letter from the Iranian President" Ahmadinseshad" concerning closer us ties.


Charles