Bush comes in and Putin is ready to try to at least salvage some Russian self respect by doing everything he can to cause the US trouble.
But Bush is not Clinton. Bush from day one treated Russia as if it were still a super power. A superpower that Bush wanted to make a friend. Putin reacted at first with a bit of scepticism. Then he realised that for the United States to continue to treat Russia as if it were still a super power, Russia had best become our friend. Putin can clearly see that a Russia that is a big deal to the USA is a big deal to every nation on earth. You can bet Putin likes that situation.
The way Russia gets to play supper power in the world is to be buddies with the US. American presidents don't spend several days playing up to third world powers. And Amercian Presidents don't visit just one third world power on a trip. Putin is getting the super power treatment and it is obvious he likes it. For 8 years Russians have faced the fact that they are no big deal. Now pictures of Putin and Bush are showing up all over Russia and the world with the implications that the USA thinks Russia is a big deal That has to play well for Putin. No wonder he is smiling a lot.
Bush has made Russia a friend. A friend that gets prestige and world influence because they are our friend. It is brilliant foreign policy. The oil rich middle east was looking at a poor Russia. Many of them hoping to reverse the Power/Client relationship they once had with Russia. They were hoping to become the money power and Russia their military suplier client. After all it was Russian arms that permitted the Israeli Arab wars. Those thousands of Russian nukes had to look very good to the oil Shieks. Now they are checkmated. It is Russia and the US against the Muslim terrorists.
Look for the long term results of these talks in Texas to be about marketing Russian Oil.
Wonderful essay, and probably pretty close to the truth. Bush has the knack to be "other" centered and have the concern of the USA and the world uppermost in his mind. (Clinton only cares about his own ego fulfillment)
I'd say that his relationship with Russia and Putin was strongly influenced by Dr. Condoleezza Rice. She deserves many Kudos. She's the Russian expert in this administration.
It's a good analysis. Russia is still a superpower and will recover its economic stability. The future is bright for both countries if they can act as allies rather than treating the world as a contest.
Before Bush's first trip to Europe, the press (both ours and theirs) was ready to crucify him. He had just killed Kyoto and they were trying to hang the stupid label on him. Also, for good measure, they were going to paint him as an isolationist and out of his league when it came to foreign policy.
When Bush traveled to Russia, Putin made it a point to compliment Bush on his intelligence and grasp of the issues. He also made it a point to criticize the previous administration because they wouldn't listen to Russia. Putin also made some overatures concerning missile defense and said he and Bush could work out an agreement. In effect, Putin rebutted all of the criticism of Bush and I think he did it deliberately and intentionally.
When Putin came to Bush's defense after the treatment Bush got from the other G7 leaders, I knew then that the relationship between Russia and the US had changed.
Excellent....and on target!
"But Russia, the main target of Opec's stand, refused to budge on Thursday night. Mikhail Kasyanov, the Russian prime minister, said during a visit to Spain that his country would not agree to any significant extra reduction in oil exports because it would jeopardise its policy of fair oil prices and steady supplies to Europe.
"We are not going to at any time reduce production on a big scale; it's impossible," Mr Kasyanov said."
From the Financial Times
I have a friend in Germany. He came here to go to school. He was here in 1991 when the Wall fell, and he was certain that all things would be better shortly.
I told him that these things do not happen quickly. The populace of these countries that have been living under a system such as that in Eastern Germany at the time, cannot conceive of "starting a business" or much anything else. They have been assigned their work for their entire lives.
I told him to expect results in 20 years, when a new generation that was able to think differently could take some footage.
Now don't get me wrong, it is possible that I forgot about the 1991 ten year olds ability to grasp concepts at the time. It's starting to look like some of them are coming on line now.
Think and Do.
You've nailed it, again and as usual. May I add to it? Bush is cleaning up the Cold War, right where his father left off and Clinton dropped it. Every worldwide alignment up until the past few months has been yet steeped in Cold War postures. Bush's strategy to reel in Russia -- and the former satelite states at the same time (brilliant!) -- will pay off hugely as China becomes the new antagonistic alignment. With the Cold War done and gone, so, too, are dispatched the ideological equations which motivated that War.
Do you hear the Chinese (or the N. Koreans) say "We will bury you?" No, they talk Taiwan and that's it. No Commie destiny or any of that cr*p. It's back to pure, old time, real politics, Thank God. The Islamic revolution is the other large part of this equation, as it is the only immediately menacing ideological threat right now. We will beat it, and hard.
It's amazing what real leadership can do. It's equally amazing that this country regularly produces real leadership. The little presidents thrive only on apathy, which is a luxury bequeathed by the true leaders.