About Putin and the U.S.
“One state, the United States, has overstepped its national borders in every way…This is very dangerous. Nobody feels secure anymore because nobody can hide behind international law.” Russian President Putin at a Munich Security Conference.
A few different thoughts/questions came to mind when I read the stories about Putin’s speech:
I was not shocked by this move and the fact that he has so easily out flanked the U.S. Administration. After all, he has been running downhill since President Bush looked into his heart and saw a good man.
However this speech did make me wonder – again – how a U.S. Administration stacked with so many Russia analysts could flub U.S.-Russia relations so badly?
After all it takes some doing to mangle your own foreign policy to such a degree that an authoritarian former KGB member and human rights violator feels comfortable getting on his soap box and lecturing you about international law knowing that he will not be laughed out of the room.
I wondered what reaction we would get from the White House and did not have to wait long as it engaged via Gordon Johndroe, the press secretary for the National Security Council:
“We expect to continue co-operation with Russia in areas important to the international community such as counter-terrorism and reducing the spread and threat of weapons of mass destruction”
What is wrong with this response?
For me the MASSIVE hole in the response is that human rights are not a component of the equation. Our own post 9/11 counter terror policies have been so deeply flawed that we are unable to rebut Putin’s speech by referencing his own breeches of international law. We are unable to easily oppose highly questionable actions from the Russians (among others) because of our own illegal actions. Adding insult to injury we speak about a shared counter terror agenda with Russia knowing that they have destroyed Chechnya in recent years.
I have already written more than I planned, so I will leave you with this question.
What has the Administration gained from turning a blind eye to massive human rights violations by Russia in recent years?
No related posts.
If you’re interested in a full treatment of Putin’s Russia, read Michael Specter’s (THE NEW YORKER) Letter from Moscow “Kremlin, Inc.” at: http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/070129fa_fact_specter
Comment on February 12, 2007 @ 9:15 am
In my opinion, what the United States has gained is quite simple—a pass. With so many issues on the front burners for the US, human rights is the one thing that the US and Russia can call a truce on. However, what the US has lost is much more important. By not having the upper hand on such a fundamental moral issue as human rights, the US has given away its ability to criticize the policy prescriptions of others on issues such as Russia’s increasing military capacity (see, for example, http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0212/p04s01-woeu.html) and its expanding network of armaments and defense. More and more, it seems that Russia is following the US lead, moving into the foray of questionable relationships, dangerous (or at least curious) military deals, and heavy-handed politicking. This situation leaves the US in the difficult position of criticizing without appearing hypocritical—a position few are able to effectively pull off.
Comment on February 12, 2007 @ 9:46 am