Carter dropped us out of the Olympics when Russia invaded Afganistan. Sadly, my misinformed hero Reagan, gave Stingers and guns to the Afgans assuring their Russias defeat. Then Clinton blasted Russia for their defense of Chechna and fight against radical Muslims. Then they blasted Serbia for its effords to police their territory of Kosovo to rid it of the same radicals, and imprison Russia's ally Milosovic.
Bush has to back out of the bad Balkan policy of the late democrats. My point is, you have to be a friend in order to have a friend to stand by you. And I think Bush is on the right track in his recent public approval of Putin as a friend during the last summit of 7.