Russia - America's Poor Choices?

[GreyICE]

This is an interesting article about Russia.

It's suggesting that we're verging on a new cold war (or at least a 'chilly' war) with Russia, as a result of our historical revisionism, and its translation into modern politics.

It's definitely worth a read.

http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=12525072

So does anyone else agree our policies towards Russia have been poor? They certainly seem so to me, even if Putin is not a great person.

 

[egslim]

So does anyone else agree our policies towards Russia have been poor? They certainly seem so to me, even if Putin is not a great person.

Putin's personality is really irrelevant to the issue, as are Russia's recent anti-democratic moves. Nationalist sentiment is strong within Russia, so any moves against perceived Russian national interests were bound to produce a backlash. And Russia is still a great power, with enormous potential.

US foreign policy is entirely unused to dealing with allies on an equal basis. Post-WWII the US was the major western power, all other western nations were much weaker and most needed US support against the Soviets. So the US assumed dominance in relations with its allies.
But since the Cold War that arrogant attitude is beginning to cause problems, relations with Russia are merely the first. Russia is too large, too independent and too proud to ever accept a long term alliance on less than equal terms. That means quid pro quo, which seems to be quite a new experience to the US State Department.

 

[Travis]

Well, if Russia would just learn it's place, everything would be fine.

Like how my 26 year old cousin Opie never complains that we stick him at the little kid table for Thanksgiving because he's got Downs Syndrome.