What To Do About Russia

Policy Review ^ | October–November 2005 | By James M. Goldgeier and Michael McFaul

[Hunden]

In his first term in office, President George W. Bush established and nurtured a close personal relationship with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin. Early on, Bush’s overtures toward his counterpart in the Kremlin produced beneficial results for the president’s policies. President Bush succeeded in persuading Putin to acquiesce in the abrogation of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, a revision of the Cold War arms-control regime that Bush deemed necessary for his security agenda. After the attacks of September 11, Putin sided publicly and unequivocally with the United States in the war on terror, providing material and intelligence assistance to the American military intervention in Afghanistan and not hindering the deployment of American troops in Central Asia. Since then, Russian and American officials claim that the two countries have continued to share intelligence in fighting cooperatively the global war on terror.

During each man’s second term, however, the Russian-American bilateral relationship exhibits little of the optimism and enthusiasm expressed immediately after September 11 in both countries about common struggles, new alliances, or shared values. At their recent meetings, both Bush and Putin have made sure to continue to praise each other personally, but behind the rhetoric of friendship is a troubled partnership in drift. In advancing Bush’s three central foreign policy objectives — fighting the war on terror, preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and promoting liberty — Russia makes no significant contributions. In addition, the drift toward autocracy inside Russia has helped to produce a Russian foreign policy more at odds with Western interests and values in places like Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova. Rhetorically and symbolically, Putin and his aides seem determined to rekindle Cold War antagonisms, denouncing “Western” backing for terrorists after the tragedy in Beslan and American “meddling” in fomenting revolution in Ukraine while at the same time conducting joint military maneuvers with China.

[Hunden]

A comprehensive article on the disquieting evolution of Russia.

[wildcatf4f3]

Russia is Russia and will always be Russia. Look for some good literary works to come, and a bit of good theater every 50 years or so.

[Hunden]

Maybe, maybe not. A Russia specialist I know is in the habit of saying:

"The Russian is always an disappointment"

If he is right, whatever mischief you expect from Russia, its extent will still surprise you.

[Dilbert56]

We didn't abrogate the ABM Treaty. We withdrew under its provisions. The fact that the other signatory, the USSR, no longer existed, was beside the point.