[Man of the Right]

The Russian people are friends of Americans, not enemies. That's clear from the popular reaction following 911. The Russian government is trying to re-establish the country as a great power by maintaining good relations with both the U.S. and Chinese. Clearly, an accomodation has been reached with the Bush Administration regarding the Taliban. Otherwise, U.S. planes and special ops people wouldn't be headed for Tajikistan, where the Russians have a motorized division, an airbase, and are patrolling the Afghan border. Militaries of the two countries are cooperating in Kosovo. In 1979 the Russian invasion of Afghanistan looked like a thrust toward the Arabian Sea. In retrospect, it looks more a defensive action to halt the spread of Islamic fundamentalism into central Asia. I get no pleasure seeing footage of Russian helos shot down, Russians killed in truck convoys, and Russian prisoners herded along the road by Afghans. If I walked into a room with Russians on one side, and Afghans on the other, there's not much question who I would feel more affinity with. Russia is a White, Christian, semi-Western country. They don't hijack airliners and fly them into office buildings. They have a tradition of fighting courageously in their own defense. We were allied with them twice in the 20th century. They're part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

[1rudeboy]

Agreed. They are part of the solution now. History has provided us with a singular opportunity . . . Russians and Americans will fight together against a common enemy. Don't be discouraged by the posts you see here. We are the hammer, and the Russians are the anvil. Putin is smart enough to come on board. Let the carnage begin.