U.S. Ties With Russia Being Reassessed, Bush Aides Say

[Faygo Kid]

Source: New York Times

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — Russia’s military offensive into Georgia has jolted the Bush administration’s relationship with Moscow, senior officials said Thursday, forcing a wholesale reassessment of American dealings with Russia and jeopardizing talks on everything from halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions to reducing strategic arsenals to cooperation on missiles defenses.

The conflict punctuated a stark turnabout in the administration’s view of Vladimir V. Putin, the president turned prime minister whom President Bush has repeatedly described as a trustworthy friend. Now Mr. Bush’s aides complain that Russian officials have been misleading or at least evasive about Russia’s intentions in Georgia.

Even as the conflict between Russia and Georgia appeared to ease on Thursday, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates said the Russian attack had forced a fundamental rethinking of the administration’s effort to forge “an ongoing and long-term strategic dialogue with Russia.”

“Russia’s behavior over the past week has called into question the entire premise of that dialogue and has profound implications for our security relationship going forward, both bilaterally and with NATO,” Mr. Gates said at the Pentagon. “If Russia does not step back from its aggressive posture and actions in Georgia, the U.S.-Russian relationship could be adversely affected for years to come.” . . .


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/world/europe/15policy ...

---

How far will this administration go?

Don't tell me Cheney didn't know ahead of time that Georgia was going to attack the separatists.

Not as close as he is to Georgia. Like being the controlling hand. What do they have in store for us?

I have said it before: George W. Bush is a fool who has served his purpose. His drunken pix in China being revealed are no coincidence. Be very afraid.

[opihimoimoi]

1. Poor Bush...Condi is no fucking help...now who the fuck is gonna call the shots?

All the usual peeps have baggage with re to Foreign Policy...no credibilty...

So now what???

Its like small kids trying to negotiate better candy deals at the store...with the Candy Master....futile

[bemildred]

2. If you want to threaten someone, you need to use something they are afraid of.

Just saying ...

[Selatius]

3. We need to find more ways to piss off Russia. Maybe we can provoke Ukraine to pick a fight next?

I bet this is what Cheney is thinking.

[TacticalPeek]

4. Perhaps the NYT link is truncated?

No go for me.

[bemildred]

5. Try this:

NYT

[Arctic Dave]

6. MIC needs a new enemy. Iraq is a bust after January.

What better cash cow, then a new and improved Cold War.

[still_one]

7. Ever since this demonic administration decided to back out of the ABM treaty

unilaterally, things went down hill

The U.S. want missles in Poland and other Eastern block countries. This is similar in reverse when Russia wanted to put missles in Cuba during the Cuba missle crisis

The sooner the garbage in the white house is out, the safer and better for the world

[McCamy Taylor]

8. Putin wants to be dictator of Russia. This will let him have his wish.

I can just see him and W. plotting this together. Putin: "I'll invade Georgia. You issue a ridiculous ultimatum to make my people angry. They will respond by giving me unlimited power. We will have the Cold War again. Both our people will surrender their rights to us." W. : "Sounds good to me."

Russia has as many nukes as we do. W. isn't going to do shit about this and neither is McCain. Who are they kidding?

[tanyev]

9. But Bush looked into his soul! And Condi is an expert on the Soviets!

No one could have anticipated that they would screw this up, too. Like everything else they've ever touched.