Posted on 07/17/2006 9:46:10 AM PDT by The Lion Roars
Americans need to ask themselves whether we have had it coming. For consider how we have dealt with Russia's interests and sensitivities.
Listening to U.S. advisers on how to privatize the wealth of the Soviet state, Russians saw their national assets looted by thieves, hustlers and ``oligarchs'' welcomed in the West, as their per capita income sank and their social security vanished.
They saw the United States bomb into submission a Serb nation Russia had always seen as her Balkan god-child, for Serbia's crime of trying to hold on to her cradle province, Kosovo.
They saw U.S. agents, under cover of Bush's ``democracy crusade,'' effect the defeat of pro-Russian governments in Kiev and Tiblisi
They listened as U.S. neoconservatives cheered for Chechen rebels and officials from Cheney to Sen. John McCain bashed Putin and Russia, with some calling for her expulsion from the G-8.
Putin concluded, not incorrectly, that these Americans do not want partners; they want poodles. He imposed a flat tax, stripped the oligarchs of their assets and jailed them or ran them out of the country, liquidated the Chechen murderers of Beslan, started using his oil wealth the way great powers always do, and began to reorient his foreign policy without consulting Washington, as Washington never consulted him.
The minimal price of regaining Russian good will is to start treating her like a great nation. That means getting out of her face, getting our alliance off her front porch, and getting our bases and our Cold War agitprop agencies and pests out of her back yard.
Russia today threatens no vital interest of the United States. Is it too much to ask that we treat Russia and her ``space'' the way we want Russia and Russians to treat ours?
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Buchanan BUMP
Wouldn't that be "correctly"?
Ping!!
This article is mostly garbage. Putin is an evil a-hole who is running his country into the ground. So tired of everything blamed on Bush. No one ever said opening up your country to market forces was going to be easy or error free. Ridiculous garbage.
... if you share the same opinion of the US' vital interests as Pat Buchanan. I have on my list of vital US interests an item that may not appear on Patrick's: "prevent the subjugation of the American people to savage, brutal, barbarian Islamic fanatics". I am curious to hear Pat's explanation as to why this item is not on his list. In the meantime, as long as Russia supplies nuke fuel to Iran, I'll not be convinced of his assertion.
This is not to say he is not correct about Serbia. Bombing Serbia was one of those Clinton Legacy things that will stick with us a long time.
Russia, like most of Europe, cannot call itself a great country anymore when their people are not having enough children to even replace their current populations. In 50 years, Russia will barely exist. Today, its GDP is about the size of Holland's. Pat is just trying to make sure he comes up with another way to bash Bush. Plus, he likes authoritarian type governments.
It ain't that. It's a Third World nation with nukes.
Anyone that believes we could ever have held it for long is fooling themselves!
Especially ones that share his disdain for the Jooos.
Peyote Pat strikes again...
Treat somebody like an a$$hole long enough for no rational reason and he'll start acting like one. Buchannon is dead on with this one.
Putin can go screw himself.
I agree we need to wean the Commies from the Chicoms, but the fact is, they are trying to position themselves as new brokers in the Middle East and Far East, and their oil allows them to do so.
Yeah, well he doesn't think we should have fought Hitler and has argued that Hitler posed no threat to the US, so why would he mind Putin? Putin may sell the technology to make nuclear weapons to the Iranians, but, according to Pat, Putin's a swell guy who poses no threat.
Even so..he is an a-hole with oil and nukes. He has won elections in Russia and chances are that he will pick his successor. If we push Russia towards China we risk losing a lot. On the other hand if we bring Russia closer to the US we deprive the Chicoms and Syria and Iran of a powerful ally.
The very thought of Russian Akulas in Chinese hands are a scary thought. We need to engage Russia and Putin whether we like it or not. That isnt even a choice to make.
I saw Pat on TV over the weekend. It was amazing (but not surprising). He basically came out and said that Israel caused the trouble in Lebanon and the Gaza and that the world should condemn such troublemaking.
No they haven't. Russia had advisers to Saddam on the ground when we invaded. They gave Saddam sophisticated radar jamming systems. They sell missiles and technology to Iran & Syria. Maybe when Putin stops acting like a Breshnev wannabee then we can treat them as an adult.
I believe that Pat is telling us to bring Putin and Russia closer to our alliance. He wants to deprive China and the Arabs of a strong ally. We cant take on everybody!! We have to be smart.
Buchanan's editorials are repetitive: Bash Bush, bash Israel, prop-up authoritarian regimes.
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