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US-Russia relations deteriorating sharply, experts warn
The Financial Times ^ | June 7 2006 03:00 | Guy Dinmore

Posted on 06/06/2006 11:22:15 PM PDT by vertolet

Relations between the US and Russia are deteriorating badly and there is a danger of conflict in the flashpoints of the south Caucasus, according to senior former officials and corporate leaders advising the EastWest Institute (EWI).

EWI board members at the think-tank's annual meeting in Charleston were almost unanimous in calling for moves to prevent what one called an emerging "cold peace" between the US and Russia.

John Mroz, founder and president of EWI, called the deterioration worrisome. He placed the trend in the context of growing distrust between the major powers, including China, with the world in a state of transition between globalised and marginalised societies "no longer on automatic pilot moving towards a market-centric world".

This had resulted in the rise of ethnic and nationalist identities, with growing numbers seeing globalisation threatening their cultures and religion.

Western societies were also losing their moral authority, he said, citing the example of the reported massacre of Iraqi civilians by US troops in Haditha which would inflict "enormous damage" on the US.

Several speakers - who under EWU guidelines spoke on condition of anonymity - expressed concerns that "populist" presidents in Taiwan and Georgia risked overplaying their nationalist hands and triggering military incidents or conflict between the US and China, and the US and Russia.

With Montenegro newly independent, and Kosovo on the way to statehood, the dangers of domino-style conflict were rising in the breakaway, Russian-backed enclaves of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia.

"Georgia is an alarming situation and worse than thought," said one former official.

"The mood is ugly and getting uglier," said a corporate executive on the state of US-Russia ties.

Noting that every declared US presidential candidate was "bashing Russia", one speaker predicted a worsening trend as both countries headed towards elections in 2008.

Established in 1980, EWI describes itself as a "do-tank", working mostly behind the scenes directly with governments to address global security concerns. In the mid-80s it arranged "non-meetings" of senior US and Soviet defence officials in Budapest to discuss confidence-building measures.

Under a new initiative, Germany has seconded Ortwin Hennig, a senior official dealing in conflict prevention, to EWI to head a task force on US-Russia relations. Washington and Moscow are also each appointing a senior diplomat to focus on the south Caucasus. EWI is working with diplomats from all sides preparing for the G8 summit in St Petersburg next month.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections; Russia; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: antiamericanaxis; blather; bs; chicoms; china; coldwar2; communism; communists; concern; cpsu; drivel; evilempire; ewi; georgia; kgb; kprf; politics; putin; russia; soviets; sovietunion; usa; ussr; wah; worry
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1 posted on 06/06/2006 11:22:20 PM PDT by vertolet
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To: vertolet

This almost isn't worth responding to. A group of high hats overcome with concern and worries and the sky falling take it upon themselves to wedge in-between world powers... wait no.

A group of high hats wedge in-between a world power and a country with rusting weapons to keep us from upsetting the little guy.

Sorry, I don't buy any of it. Sounds like more whining from the "I'm concerned" crowd.


2 posted on 06/06/2006 11:32:33 PM PDT by TheZMan (Knives, guns, and lots of ammo. Ok! The house is safe. Now onto the yard. Mines!)
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To: TheZMan

On second thought...

What do you do when you're losing the legislature, courts, mayors, governors, presidency, talk radio, the media, and so forth?

You form special interest groups that no one ever hears nor cares about.


3 posted on 06/06/2006 11:34:39 PM PDT by TheZMan (Knives, guns, and lots of ammo. Ok! The house is safe. Now onto the yard. Mines!)
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To: vertolet
"Western societies were also losing their moral authority, he said, citing the example of the reported massacre of Iraqi civilians by US troops in Haditha which would inflict "enormous damage" on the US."

Oh yes, this is the cause of it all.

(Rolleyes)
4 posted on 06/06/2006 11:37:27 PM PDT by headstamp (Nothing lasts forever, Unless it does.)
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To: vertolet

What? Russia is not our friend?? I am shocked, shocked, I tell you!


5 posted on 06/06/2006 11:37:40 PM PDT by ozzymandus
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To: vertolet

Now is as good a time as any over the past 50 years. Advantage is America's.


6 posted on 06/06/2006 11:42:52 PM PDT by Pro-Bush (A nation without borders is not a nation." president Reagan)
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To: vertolet

anymore it seems these geo-political commentators are nothing more than celebrated gossips on the phone all day with their girlfriends.


7 posted on 06/06/2006 11:46:18 PM PDT by GodfearingTexan
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To: vertolet

More "sky is falling" crap from another "independent" non-profit?


8 posted on 06/06/2006 11:46:57 PM PDT by zarf (John Edwards is the most annoying person in America.)
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To: vertolet
John Mroz, founder and president of EWI,

What's this guy's political affiliation and to whom has he donated moolah?

9 posted on 06/06/2006 11:48:09 PM PDT by zarf (John Edwards is the most annoying person in America.)
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To: vertolet
Cry me a friggin river...

The only thing Russia exports to the U.S. is slutty, manipulative ex-prostitutes who find a sucker to marry them and bring them into the country.

10 posted on 06/06/2006 11:48:30 PM PDT by Clemenza (The CFR ate my bilderburgers! Time to call for a trilateral commission to investigate!)
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To: TheZMan

Russia was never our friend. Cheney just called a spade a spade and the Russkies had a hissy-fit. What, did they expect the U.S. to be all lovey-dovey with them after the Cold War?


11 posted on 06/06/2006 11:49:33 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Conservatism is moderate, it is the center, it is the middle of the road)
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To: vertolet

Financial Times aka Chicken Little : "The sky is falling..The Sky is falling"

Who writes this rubbish anyway?


12 posted on 06/06/2006 11:50:29 PM PDT by Jameison
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To: Clemenza
The only thing Russia exports to the U.S. is slutty, manipulative ex-prostitutes who find a sucker to marry them and bring them into the country.

Now, now...Russian & Ukraine women are beautiful and will give American women a run for their money.

13 posted on 06/06/2006 11:51:33 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Conservatism is moderate, it is the center, it is the middle of the road)
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To: TheZMan
I think Americans genuinely like Russians and I think Russians genuinely like Americans....Russians are playing hockey and tennis here and there are lots and lots of legal immigrants which means that there are lots of extended families back in Russia.....

the world is changing no matter what the politicos mess up.....

who ever thought back in 1945 that we would be close allies with Japan and have Japanese baseball players in star roles.....

14 posted on 06/06/2006 11:52:20 PM PDT by cherry (.)
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To: cherry

"I think Americans genuinely like Russians and I think Russians genuinely like Americans...."

Yep.
But try telling that to the moronic Financial Times.
For these suckers, anything to bash President Bush will do.


15 posted on 06/06/2006 11:56:27 PM PDT by Jameison
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Yes, and they will take ALL OF YOUR MONEY! The most whorish and manipulative women on earth.

Ukranian women aren't as evil as Russian women. Both, however, DO NOT AGE WELL.

16 posted on 06/07/2006 12:11:55 AM PDT by Clemenza (The CFR ate my bilderburgers! Time to call for a trilateral commission to investigate!)
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To: Clemenza
Yes, and they will take ALL OF YOUR MONEY! The most whorish and manipulative women on earth.

LOL! Have you been drinking?

I'm sure most American women are pure as the driven snow too, right?

17 posted on 06/07/2006 12:26:52 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Conservatism is moderate, it is the center, it is the middle of the road)
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To: TheZMan

Excellent analysis. More Chicken Little crap from the handwringers. We should be wary of both the Russians and China, but these are for the most part civilized societies. The most eminent threats lie in the radical islamist states that have oil and are now obtaining nuclear weapons. The concept of mutually assured destruction is null and void with these madmen.


18 posted on 06/07/2006 12:38:26 AM PDT by ChinaThreat (s)
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To: vertolet
"...according to senior former officials and corporate leaders advising the EastWest Institute"

Uh-huh, and just who are these people, might I ask?...

"Several speakers - who under EWU guidelines spoke on condition of anonymity"

Anonymity? WTF??

""Georgia is an alarming situation and worse than thought," said one former official."

Uh-huh, that sounds... alarming and even worse!... Oh no!

""The mood is ugly and getting uglier," said a corporate executive on the state of US-Russia ties."

Eww now that's ugly... But is it Helen Thomas ugly?... that is the question!

""Noting that every declared US presidential candidate was "bashing Russia""

No no please don't bash Russia, Let's bash the Bush Administration instead!

"Established in 1980, EWI describes itself as a "do-tank""

EWI seems more like a doo-doo tank to me.
19 posted on 06/07/2006 12:44:33 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (ETERNAL SHAME on the Treasonous and Immoral Democrats!)
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To: Jameison
"Who writes this rubbish anyway?"

The Financial Times Limited is in London, UK. ...hope that helps.
20 posted on 06/07/2006 1:20:44 AM PDT by familyop ("Either you're with us, or your with the terrorists." --President Bush)
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