Posted on 07/29/2008 1:13:03 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
MOSCOW - A top Russian diplomat on Tuesday dismissed U.S. presidential hopeful John McCain's threat to expel Russia from the G8, saying he should get himself elected first and brushing off the prospect of expulsion.
"We can afford to cut off relations with any of our partners if that's what they want . . . We're not interested in what McCain has to say. Let him become president first, then we'll listen to him," the diplomat told reporters.
"We want the American electorate to answer for the choice it will make . . . At the moment, they are turning Russia into a scapegoat for the mistakes of their foreign policy," said the diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The United States "is on the verge of an existential crisis," he added.
Referring to U.S. diplomacy over Iran's nuclear program, the diplomat also said that the current U.S. administration was not taking into account Moscow's point of view and only had a "with us or against us" mentality.
Russia is building Iran's first nuclear reactor at Bushehr.
Asked about his threat to exclude Russia from the Group of Eight industrialized nations if he wins the White House in November, McCain told ABC television in an interview last week: "We need to improve their behaviour."
Under Vladimir Putin's eight-year presidency, Russia had become "an autocracy," he added. He also said that Moscow was "blocking action in the United Nations Security Council on Iran."
"We want better Russian behaviour internationally, and we have every right to expect it," he said. "And I will do what I can to see that they reverse many of the behaviour patterns which have really been very unhelpful to peace in the world."
This alone should be enough to vote McCain!
All this said while wearing an ‘Obama’ lapel pin.
the diplomat also said that the current U.S. administration was not taking into account Moscow’s point of view and only had a “with us or against us” mentality.
Guess they didn’t get the message after 9-11.
“We’re not interested in what McCain has to say. Let him become president first, then we’ll listen to him,”
Meanwhile, Barack Obama is free to come over and have some vodka and hookers with us anytime he wants.
"Curiously, Mr McCain’s statement appeared to be in stark contrast to the one of his Democratic opponent Barack Obama. Last week John McCain’s rival twice touched upon the relations with Russia calling attempts to isolate Russia counter-productive. In his keynote speech on foreign policy in Berlin before a 200.000 audience Barack Obama advocated abandoning a cold war stance in the relations with Russia. On his return from a big overseas tour, Barack Obama pointed out in his interview with Reuters that it’ll be very difficult for the USA to address the key challenges, such as exerting pressure upon Iran in connection with its nuclear program, without Russia and China’s participation." - LINK
TRANSLATION: Iran hasn’t paid us for that nuke plant yet............
If this “top Russian diplomat” can manage to get himself elected president, or at least grow a pair and allow himself to be named, maybe I’ll listen to him. Coming from AFP though, I don’t know if he even exists.
Outside the US, ANY Presidential candidate who is seen as weak on national security, who is willing to open boarders, promise the world a giant Uncle Sam welfare check (As Obama literally has with his promise to give .7% of the US GDP to foreign aid)...... any candidate that is like that is seen generally favorable. The despots in Libya didn't like Reagan, and the Germans protested him as well, even though he single handedly did more to end the Cold War than any of their politicians. The Russians liked Carter, so did Castro, and even Chavez today.
For those who stand outside the US, a weak President that simply wants to distribute US treasure, allow the use of US forces under international organizations such as in the Balkans, but is unwilling to tie any stipulations on aid, does not push allied nations to act (allows the moochers to mooch without question), someone who does not call out Russia for what it is, someone who would simply appease and follow the European suit reference Iran...... to the rest of the world that seems like a great idea. Obama is the natural choice of many outside the US, we'll see in November what the US has turned into. Maybe he's not to far from the truth with his statement of us being in an existential crisis.
Not true, Ivan.
The United States "is on the verge of an existential crisis," he added.
That's true.
Referring to U.S. diplomacy over Iran's nuclear program, the diplomat also said that the current U.S. administration was not taking into account Moscow's point of view and only had a "with us or against us" mentality.
I wish that were even more true than it is.
The Russians are not expecting to get paid for the nukes or the other toys. They will just write the costs off. CODB. 500 years ago it was called 'tributes'.
You nailed it, Putin loves high oil prices and BO is the best bet to achieve this....and Pelosi and Reid (until the Mafia wacks him for trashing Las Vegas)
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