Do you remember the famous "Reset" button that then Secretary of State gave to the Russian foreign minister in March of 2009? It was meant to show that the Obama administration would forge warn and close relationships with the Russians in place of the "problems" left by the Bush administration. Of course, since the button was put together at the State Department, instead of using the Russian word for reset which is perezagruska, the button said peregruska which means overcharged. It turns out that overcharged is actually a better description of the American relationship with Russia during Obama's term than the reset button.
The latest snit concerns Edward Snowden, the man who released details of the NSA surveillance programs to the world. Russia just granted Snowden asylum despite protests by Obama and his people. Of course, Obama's response was to cancel a trip to Moscow. I am sure that this cancellation left Russian president Putin just quaking in his boots. Certainly, as a legend in his own mind, Obama must believe that his refusal to visit Moscow must be devastating to the Russians, but those around him ought to know better. Obama just looks like he is throwing a temper tantrum.
But Snowden is not the only irritant in the Russian/American relationship. Russia has been supporting and arming Syria and the Assad forces despite American objections. Russia has been maintaining business ties with Iran despite UN sanctions and American requests to end those ties. Russia has been pressuring some of its neighbors that used to be part of the USSR; Putin wants to restore Russian greatness by absorbing some of his neighbors.
The American response has been typical of Obama's policies. The USA ended its promise to put missile defenses in Poland and the Czech Republic, despite the great political cost which the governments of those countries endured in order to make those agreements in the first place. America has agreed to a nuclear reduction program which forces the USA to reduce its forces while Russia keeps its own nuclear forces uncut. On issue after issue where Russia has opposed the American positions at the UN, Obama has acquiesced. Obama's slogan has been: "speak softly and don't carry a stick." Of course, then Obama abandoned that position as too provocative.
Russia still has the second most dangerous military forces in the world. No one but the USA has a nuclear strike force like the Russians. Obama's total failure to control relations with the Russians is a problem of monumental proportion. Maybe America should pay a bit less attention to the Kardashians and a bit more to the Russians.
The latest snit concerns Edward Snowden, the man who released details of the NSA surveillance programs to the world. Russia just granted Snowden asylum despite protests by Obama and his people. Of course, Obama's response was to cancel a trip to Moscow. I am sure that this cancellation left Russian president Putin just quaking in his boots. Certainly, as a legend in his own mind, Obama must believe that his refusal to visit Moscow must be devastating to the Russians, but those around him ought to know better. Obama just looks like he is throwing a temper tantrum.
But Snowden is not the only irritant in the Russian/American relationship. Russia has been supporting and arming Syria and the Assad forces despite American objections. Russia has been maintaining business ties with Iran despite UN sanctions and American requests to end those ties. Russia has been pressuring some of its neighbors that used to be part of the USSR; Putin wants to restore Russian greatness by absorbing some of his neighbors.
The American response has been typical of Obama's policies. The USA ended its promise to put missile defenses in Poland and the Czech Republic, despite the great political cost which the governments of those countries endured in order to make those agreements in the first place. America has agreed to a nuclear reduction program which forces the USA to reduce its forces while Russia keeps its own nuclear forces uncut. On issue after issue where Russia has opposed the American positions at the UN, Obama has acquiesced. Obama's slogan has been: "speak softly and don't carry a stick." Of course, then Obama abandoned that position as too provocative.
Russia still has the second most dangerous military forces in the world. No one but the USA has a nuclear strike force like the Russians. Obama's total failure to control relations with the Russians is a problem of monumental proportion. Maybe America should pay a bit less attention to the Kardashians and a bit more to the Russians.
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