I'm just a simple, Texas-redneck conservative. Please explain what "your" definitions are of a "Russophobe" and the kinds of "Nazi genocides" some would like to repeat on the Russians. Them don't sound like nice terms to me. When someone throws around the terms Russophobe and Nazi I get a mite prickly because, like thousands of other American families, I lost relatives because of the actions of both the afore-mentioned governments.
If you're saying some of us don't appreciate it when Russian technology and technocrats and under-the-table shenanigans are responsible for American warriors being killed . . . I'd say you're right. If you're saying that we think those who're responsible for the deaths of American warriors should be held accountable . . . I'd say you're right.
If your head is in the sand and you don't find it a mite curious that before the war the Russian diplomats were pounding on the "lift the sanctions" drums quite vigorously as, according to them, Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction BUT NOW THAT SADDAM'S GONE these same drum-beaters have changed sides seamlessly and without embarrassment to beat opposing drums saying "the sanctions can't be lifted until UN INSPECTORS CERTIFY THAT IRAQ IS FREE OF WMD'S," . . . then I'd say you pick selective arguments to promote and refuse to face the real world.
I suspect, just as Turkey did, the Russian attitudes are nothing more than shake-down attempts . . . though somewhat more diplomatic and hidden than Turkey's in-your-face blackmail attempts, they remain nothing more than Russian hands being held out wanting Uncle Sam to lace them with greenbacks.
I also suspect I probably fit into your Russophobe category when in fact I, like millions or other Americans, just don't appreciate it when an ally stabs us in the back. And unlike some other countries in Russia's part of the world . . . we put a high value on human life -- American Warriors' lives lost protecting our freedoms more than any other.
Russia, just like the U.S., has her fair share of zealots and for you to try and paint me or any other FReeper with broad strokes as being "Russophobe zealots looking to repeat Nazi genocides on the Russian people" does whatever cause it is you're trying to promote no good. If you have some facts and names to back up your accusations, I'd be interested in hearing them and I'd willingly and enthusiastically join you in condeming these people. If all you have is the two sentences mentioned above, please take your anti-American horseshit somewhere else.
The rest of the world just doesn't get it. WE'RE AT WAR!! I assume by your screen name that you're Russian, not American. If my assumption is wrong, please forgive me and ignore my rant above -- you have the right to say what you will. If my assumption is correct, no Russian, in my book, has earned the right to criticize ANY American. When all the Iraqi facts are shaken out, we'll ALL learn what the culpability of the Russian government's role was in killing American warriors. But I won't hold you, RussianConservative, personally responsible for it as I don't know enough about you to do so . . . just as you don't know enough about me or many, many of my FReeper pals to imply what you imply. But we will hold the Russian government accountable.
You've only been around Free Republic for three weeks but you might've learned that France's problems aren't with the U.S. government. They're with the American people!! WE, We the American People, run this country. We who fight each other, quarrel quite angrily with each other, curse each other on a daily basis, and, yes, sometimes even come to blows against each other . . . it is this WE who somehow manages to govern this country. But we ALL have one thing in common . . . I have the right to criticize ANY AMERICAN I wish, but the citizenry of those countries who would do us harm or have done us harm, as I believe we'll prove France and Russia has, have absolutely no right to criticize even the most vile zealots among us . . . whether they be Russophobes or Francophobes or Phobo-damn-phobes. Us Americans are oftentimes a dysfunctional family, but we're still a family. When push comes to shove, especially in this dangerous world of ours, ALL WE HAVE IS EACH OTHER. I've earned the right to whack my brother or sister on the nose, you haven't.
We're at war, I hope Russia comes to her senses. If not, that is her choice and WE will decide how to deal with her. For the U.S. to expect that our "ally" act like an ally shouldn't surprise you. Just as it shouldn't surprise you if the U.S. and some of her citizens get a mite pissed off when this "ally" is responsible for American warriors losing their lives. The American-Russian relationship is bruised, whether it turns into a full-blown divorce is dependent on future Russian actions and what the REAL facts are in Iraq. If it turns out that, as I expect it will, Russian fingerprints are found on the weapons or tactics used to kill American warriors, I suspect your Russophobe file will become quite large.
RussianConservative, I hope you stay around. We need to hear differing views. But, sir or ma'am, we can police our own zealots. We do it every day.
To the Russians all I have to say is as soon as we can we will stab you in the back the way we did on NATO expansion and on Kosovo and on the State Dept meetings held with Chechen "officials".
As to Putin and Russia's actions, US actions and support of Saudies and blocking Russia of bombing of Taliban caused hundreds of Russian civilian deaths, yet hardly any word or worry from West or Western press.
Goes both ways.