http://blog.psaonline.org/2007/02/12/about-putin-and-the-us/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:45:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://blog.psaonline.org/2007/02/12/about-putin-and-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-29366 Jen Maceyko Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:46:22 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/2007/02/12/about-putin-and-the-us/#comment-29366 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. 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.

]]> http://blog.psaonline.org/2007/02/12/about-putin-and-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-29360 Richard Stazinski Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:15:24 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/2007/02/12/about-putin-and-the-us/#comment-29360 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 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

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