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A Strong Alliance with Russia is in Our Best Interest
realclearpolitics.com ^
| February 13, 2007
| Ed Koch
Posted on 02/13/2007 9:59:27 PM PST by neverdem
The United States should work hard to develop a strong alliance with Russia. I believe such an alliance would be in the best interest of both nations.
During the Cold War, Russia -- then known as the Soviet Union -- was our enemy. But today, with radical Islam on the march, we should remember that Russia's roots are in Western civilization. We should nourish those roots and cooperate closely with Russia in the war on terror.
Russia has suffered large numbers of injuries and deaths as a result of terrorist actions, primarily by Chechnian Muslims who have been responsible for major terrorist acts in Moscow and the town of Beslan. The latter involved the killing of over 325 hostages -- half were children -- and hundreds more were wounded. Many of those deaths appear to have been the result of incompetence on the part of Russian forces seeking to free the hostages. Nevertheless, it was the taking of those children hostages by the Chechnian terrorists that caused their deaths.
Friendship with Russia is also important to the West because Russia has huge reserves of oil and natural gas. Russia is capable of supplying Europe's energy needs on a scale comparable to Saudi Arabia. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, however, Russian self-esteem has suffered in many ways. Under President Vladimir Putin, Russia is no longer seen as a world super power equivalent to the U.S. Some countries, which used to be part of the Soviet Union, have joined NATO, greatly reducing Russia's sphere of influence. Some of those former Soviet nations now have NATO weaponry in place.
Based on statements that President Putin made on February 10, Russia clearly feels threatened by the U.S. You don't have to be a psychiatrist...
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: alliance; geopolitics; russia
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It's an interesting idea, but maybe the Russkies are too paranoid, not to mention their mafia like government.
1
posted on
02/13/2007 9:59:28 PM PST
by
neverdem
To: neverdem
Poor Ed is going to blow a valve if Rudy gets the nomination.
2
posted on
02/13/2007 10:01:42 PM PST
by
zarf
("I am what you call a "controversial figure". People either hate me or they despise me.")
To: zarf
3
posted on
02/13/2007 10:03:30 PM PST
by
zarf
(Her hair was of a dank yellow, and fell over her temples like sauerkraut......)
To: neverdem
Russia is part of the problem Ed.
It is arming our enemies.
It seeks to bring us down by a thousand cuts.
4
posted on
02/13/2007 10:07:17 PM PST
by
DB
To: neverdem
The Russians don't believe they have lost the cold war. They believe they have duped the US into thinking we have won the cold war.
Meanwhile, Putin and his cronies keep funding and supplying all those who hate us.
5
posted on
02/13/2007 10:09:01 PM PST
by
SFC Chromey
(We are at war with Islamofascists, now ACT LIKE IT!)
To: neverdem
Sorry Mr. Mayor, when the Russians provide assistance, technical and political support to the mad mullahs in Iran, it proves only one thing:
They are no friends of ours.
Remember how you supported President Bush when he said at in the beginning days of this War, "You are either with us, or you are with the terrorists"?
The Russians were all over Iraq like a cheap suit, advising Saddam Hussein and giving his Baathist party advice on how to deal with the U.S.
Likewise, the Russians (and the Chinese) have been balking at any meaningful sanctions against the Iranians, and they've achieved success, as the latest Euroweenie report proclaims that it's now "too late" to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Mr. Mayor, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
Kindly consider changing direction, you're generally a pretty good guy.
6
posted on
02/13/2007 10:30:46 PM PST
by
mkjessup
(If Reagan were still with us, he'd ask us to "win one more for the Gipper, vote for Duncan Hunter!")
To: neverdem
Speaking of mafia like government, Look what their own military is doing to new recruits:
The Russian military is reported to be investigating claims that army conscripts were forced to work as male prostitutes in St Petersburg.
Russian soldiers 'used for sex'
7
posted on
02/13/2007 10:36:06 PM PST
by
auzerais
(Never believe a word written by the MSM.)
To: neverdem
Exactly, what I have been posting this evening. Just as we allied with the Soviets against the common enemy of Nazism, we should ally with Russia against the enemy that has actually declared that they intend to destroy our country as well as Russia. It may be too late, I believe that Russia is now convinced that the West cares nothing about their destruction by the islamists and accordingly they are now attempting to reach a temporary accommodation with the Shiite Muslims theocracy that governs Iran. At least that buys them time while the Muslims will concentrate their efforts on the destruction of the West.
8
posted on
02/13/2007 10:45:51 PM PST
by
brydic1
To: neverdem
9
posted on
02/13/2007 10:50:56 PM PST
by
familyop
("G-d is on our side because he hates the Yanks." --St. Tuco, in the "Good, the Bad, and the Ugly")
To: neverdem
Russia's roots are in Western civilization.
Really? I can't think of any roots.
10
posted on
02/13/2007 10:53:46 PM PST
by
joseph20
To: neverdem
"we should remember that Russia's roots are in Western civilization. "
Ed Koch is in urgent need of medical attention. Judging from the above statement, possible Alzheimer. A mix of Byzantium and Sinic [via Mongols] civilizations has its roots anywhere else but in the West.
11
posted on
02/13/2007 11:06:09 PM PST
by
GSlob
To: neverdem
Judging from Putin's recent statements, Russia doesn't want a strong relationship with us, so I guess that idea is right out.
12
posted on
02/13/2007 11:08:42 PM PST
by
Polonius
(It's called logic, it'll help you.)
To: DB
13
posted on
02/14/2007 12:45:32 AM PST
by
Cindy
To: GSlob
"Ed Koch is in urgent need of medical attention. Judging from the above statement, possible Alzheimer. A mix of Byzantium and Sinic [via Mongols] civilizations has its roots anywhere else but in the West."
Russia is a Slavic country like Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Ukraine. What's more culturally it's very close to them. You can't say that Poland or Slovakia deserve to be considered European/ western countries and denied Russia's close links with western culture. Byzantium by the way is also part of Christian /European /western [as opposed to Asian]civilization. Byzantium through Orthodox church shaped Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia. Those influences are part of European heritage, If you deny it you cast Greece and Bulgaria as non-european area.
Sinic influences are present in Russia to the same degree as in England and France. Even Islamic influences are stronger. Heart of Russia state has always been in Europe [Europe ends at Ural mountains]. Asian part of Russia has always been simply a colony. But believe me it influenced Russia to smaller degree than India influenced England. At one point Mongols forced Russia to pay tribute, but Mongols also conquered big chunk of Europe in XIV century [it may be XIII it can be checked easily] and stay there for a few years.
If you limit western culture to Anglo-Saxon,then you are right Russia doesn't belong there. However if you definite western culture in opposition to Islamic or Sinic or Indian or African set of values, you can't denied that this definition covers Russia as well.
However the idea of treating Russia as a prospective ally of US is ludicrous. Now Russia is trying to rebuild its influences in the world using its natural resources as a tool. It's strongly felt in eastern Europe. Here Russia sees itself as US competitor. I believe that Russian politician perceive US as the biggest danger to their interests. They would rather forge close relationship with eastern rising powers.
14
posted on
02/14/2007 12:56:02 AM PST
by
pppp
To: mkjessup
Koch is a good guy; one of the few Dems I like. He is no pollyanna. He doesn't say the Russians ARE our friends as if dismissing the current problems. He is postulating a goal to improve things. And he says it will not be easy. Would you rather we not pursue that?
Read his words again
"The United States should work hard to develop a strong alliance with Russia. I believe such an alliance would be in the best interest of both nations.
My belief is that if a true, sincere, and total economic and military alliance were fashioned with Russia, we would be assured of victory over Islamic terrorism. A Pax America and Russia, guaranteeing peace throughout the world, while not easy to do, is nevertheless doable."
15
posted on
02/14/2007 1:10:48 AM PST
by
midway
To: familyop
Mayor Koch was the closest in likability to Mayor Fiorello Laguardia. When he as Mayor of the Big Apple he walked around the lower East Side like a regular schmoe, he ate in the same old place, talked citizens like he was their uncle.
Normally Mayor Koch is right on when it comes to Islamic terrorism issues, the state Israel, supporting the President, blasting fellow Dems for being soft, and his general overviews on the Mideast. I have always liked him, although there were differences on some social issues. As far as what the Mayor stated about Premiere Putin he must have had some bad pastrami.
16
posted on
02/14/2007 1:29:26 AM PST
by
M. Espinola
(Freedom is Never Free)
To: neverdem
Russia (and China) will, sooner or later, become - again - very powerful nations. It is hard to see warm friendship developing between the competitors; I'd say the most we can count on are the occasional alliances when they profit all sides. The main goal though is not turn those nations into enemies, this is a wrong time for it.
I may have missed something but didn't North Korea change its tune shortly after Russians said, they regarded nuclear North Korea as a threat to Russian security. That part of the world is not all that stable and the agreement, I believe, is to shutdown the reactor, not to dismantle it. Then there's also Iran; Russia and China do not want to interfere there for now. But Middle East guys know that it is not a good idea to piss either country off - neither (unlike the West) will have any issues with nuking the whole place.
If a reasonably neutral relationship is maintained, those countries can even be a sort of deterrent. The downside is, of course, that the world will again be divided into zones of influence but I don't see how it's possible for it to be otherwise at this point.
17
posted on
02/14/2007 1:33:11 AM PST
by
aliquis
To: pppp
Civilization is sociology. Orthodox civ in this regard is an intrinsically despotic civilization, and belongs squarely with islamic and sinic civs, despite being nominally Christian.
"You can't say that Poland or Slovakia deserve to be considered European/ western countries and denied Russia's close links with western culture."
I was born and grew up in russia and I most emphatically deny the validity of your quoted statement. Barbari sunt, barbarice egit.
18
posted on
02/14/2007 1:40:36 AM PST
by
GSlob
To: pppp
"Links with western culture" ought to extend beyond wearing western-looking trousers and using toilet paper. Huntington in its "Clash" did a good analysis, which I was merely elaborating upon in my "civilization is sociology" formula. In Huntingtonian approximation, "civilization is religion". My elaboration is perfectly justified, as the Western civ is not split into Protestant civs and a Catholic civ, as not all catholic or protestant countries [look at the former colonies] even belong to the Western civ, and as a non-christian Israel clearly belongs to it. What unites [or divides] the societies here, and constitutes the in-/ex- clusion criterion is the sociology - including the sociological aspects of the Huntingtonian religion marker.
19
posted on
02/14/2007 1:55:29 AM PST
by
GSlob
To: M. Espinola
I agree from what little I've read over the years. There have been one or two other soft-headed columns lately. We all get older. And one can't help but sympathize with people here who have relatives in Russia during bad times. He probably feels that for some people he knows.
20
posted on
02/14/2007 2:32:19 AM PST
by
familyop
(Essayons)
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