Notes from Howard's Sabbatical from Working. The name comes from a 1998 lunch conversation. Someone asked if everything man knew was on the web. I answered "no" and off the top of my head said "Fidel Castro's favorite color". About every 6-12 months I've searched for this. It doesn't show up in the first 50 Google results (this blog is finally first for that search), AskJeeves says it's: red.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Putin's Agenda
Interesting article from the Guardian A force to be reckoned with "Vladimir Putin's aim could have been achieved in collaboration with the west; instead Russia's reassertive power is now defined in opposition to it."
3 comments:
Anonymous
said...
The article pretty much contradicts the quote (from it) that you provided: i.e. the West was simply not interested in collaborating... so, Putin ended up calling (in a bit clumsy and undiplomatic way) things as they are... And if such are state of affairs then one has to do something about it (I do not support Putin's silly rhetoric, things could be handled as firmly but much more diplomatically).
The article also forgot to mention opposition to the US system in Czech republic and wider in Europe.
"Bush famously declared, when the two first met in 2001, that he had glimpsed Mr Putin's soul"... and then scrapped ABM treaty and then pretty much undermined Russian interests on every single occasion...
Yeah I was lazy and just pulled the quote from the top. I don't think it's clear from the article who didn't collaborate. :)
I remember at the time Bush said he glimpsed Putin's soul that it was ridiculous. It's sad that the only thing Bush hears when it comes to foreign policy is threats. It's sadder that that is what Putin has been pushed into doing. And you would have thought that Dr. Condi, the Russian expert, might have been in a position to make sure things were handled better.
I heard only recently that the US has been helping Japan develop missile technology. I assume it's because of North Korea, but oh what a shock that Russia might be concerned. It's not like the US was ever concerned about missiles in Cuba.
This is what German Foreign Minister said back in February:
"One should have spoken with Russia earlier as the sites where they (the missiles) are to be stationed are edging closer to Russia. Considering the strategic nature of such projects, I call for a prudent approach and intensive dialogue with all partners who are directly or indirectly affected."
There is also a quote from Polish (!) Deputy Premier opposing the plan.
Not to mention opposition to US plan in Europe and the very countries that are supposed to be benefiting from it.
I mean, this is so far from this being just paranoid Putin. It seems to be one more US neo-con stick they are trying to pull out and it seems like Putin had/couldn't manage anything better to react with other then threats.... It is all very sad.
3 comments:
The article pretty much contradicts the quote (from it) that you provided: i.e. the West was simply not interested in collaborating... so, Putin ended up calling (in a bit clumsy and undiplomatic way) things as they are... And if such are state of affairs then one has to do something about it (I do not support Putin's silly rhetoric, things could be handled as firmly but much more diplomatically).
The article also forgot to mention opposition to the US system in Czech republic and wider in Europe.
"Bush famously declared, when the two first met in 2001, that he had glimpsed Mr Putin's soul"... and then scrapped ABM treaty and then pretty much undermined Russian interests on every single occasion...
Yeah I was lazy and just pulled the quote from the top. I don't think it's clear from the article who didn't collaborate. :)
I remember at the time Bush said he glimpsed Putin's soul that it was ridiculous. It's sad that the only thing Bush hears when it comes to foreign policy is threats. It's sadder that that is what Putin has been pushed into doing. And you would have thought that Dr. Condi, the Russian expert, might have been in a position to make sure things were handled better.
I heard only recently that the US has been helping Japan develop missile technology. I assume it's because of North Korea, but oh what a shock that Russia might be concerned. It's not like the US was ever concerned about missiles in Cuba.
Here is a good link with what some European politicians thought about this issue.
http://www.spacewar.com/reports/German_FM_Raps_US_Approach_To_Missile_Shield_Plan_999.html
This is what German Foreign Minister said back in February:
"One should have spoken with Russia earlier as the sites where they (the missiles) are to be stationed are edging closer to Russia. Considering the strategic nature of such projects, I call for a prudent approach and intensive dialogue with all partners who are directly or indirectly affected."
There is also a quote from Polish (!) Deputy Premier opposing the plan.
Not to mention opposition to US plan in Europe and the very countries that are supposed to be benefiting from it.
I mean, this is so far from this being just paranoid Putin. It seems to be one more US neo-con stick they are trying to pull out and it seems like Putin had/couldn't manage anything better to react with other then threats.... It is all very sad.
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