US State Department: relations with Russia 'outstanding'

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041207/pl_afp/us_russia_ukraine_iraq&cid=1521&ncid=1478

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US State Department moved to minimize differences with Russia over Ukraine and Iraq (news - web sites), saying that relations between Washington and Moscow were "outstanding."

"The United States and Russia have an outstanding relationship," said State Department spokesman Adam Ereli, pointing out that these relations were "broad, complex, intricate."

He said US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin (news - web sites), "can find common understanding and cooperation on a whole host of matters, whether it be arms reduction, whether it be counterproliferation, whether it be the global war on terror, whether it be other regional issues."

"There are also, as in any relationship, issues where we see things differently," Ereli continued, noting that this also was "the mark of a mature, nuanced, sophisticated relationship."

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[whosinpower]

1. Nuanced????

Putin calls Bush a dictator, declares the occupation as illegal, states that democratic elections in Iraq impossible....and that is a nuanced relationship???????

Bwhahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!

[rodeodance]

3. all is well--Irag is well, they will hold elections..etc etc --distortions

decient, lies continue! 4 more years!!

[54anickel]

8. Don't forget mature and sophisticated...Bush? ROFLMAO..n/t

[daleo]

2. Things must be very bad, for the Bush admin to say they are good

Reverse Bush logic.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. "They have the same regard for democracy as we do!"

Say the two of them in unison.

[tanyev]

5. Outstanding?

Just wait till Condi gets in there. She'll take care of that!

[cliss]

6. Don't you love the terms: outstanding.

Like an outstanding bill.

Notice the adjectives they use here, "broad, complex, intricate". What the hell is good about that? Complex? This almost sounds like the description of a vintage wine from 2001.

More bull-crap below: "a mature, nuanced, sophisticated relationship". That to me sounds like a couple that's getting ready to see their attorney.

The fact is, we've just stepped on Russia's toes (AGAIN). Due to our boorish nature, we don't even notice that we've once again rubbed Putin the wrong way by getting involved in their elections. As if we have anything to talk about.

Like the airline person said to me as I was getting ready to land in London's Heathrow airport: "rubbish, rubbish here".

[teryang]

7. Piece by piece we're picking their former empire apart

...and staking our claims to it. This language is fraudulent as are all bush regime pronouncements.

Putin is just trying to survive. He is desperate.

[bemildred]

9. They are sure trying.

I dunno if Pooty-Poot is desperate. If I was him I'd just be
stalling to allow the Iraq mess to do as much damage as possible.
Meanwhile he is cutting business deals all over the World.

I respect your opinion. Do you have reason to think that Pooty-Poot
is in trouble other than that Shrub would like that? I do understand
the "encirclement" of Russia that we are attempting, but I have
trouble taking it seriously as a "threat".

[teryang]

10. I agree with the assessment that Ukraine is a vital interest

...to Russia. If the US and NATO are allowed to finesse a pro-western Ukraine and then secure its strategic assets, an unstable geo-political trigger point is loosely mortared into the firmament. The Russians will move to get it back at one point, like the Chinese designs on Taiwan. The only reason they don't do it now, is two fold, weakness and the belief that there will somehow be economic headway that will compensate them for this huge loss.

Putin is playing the pass/ don't pass line for lower political risks while steadily taking what will ultimately become large unsustainable losses. Russia is not just another Balkan country. But that is the treatment they are getting. I am basing my judgement upon historical Russian geo-political designs and the body language of Putin and Bush when videoed together. Putin knows chimp is fucking him. He is as you say biding his time but it is a strategy that is imprudent. Basically it is appeasement based upon a false hope of economic recompense. Of course, in the short run it is always better to avoid war from a cost benefit analysis.

I'm sure that Rice has convinced everyone with a view that Russia is a dinosaur like the Austro-Hungarian empire. If that is so, and Germany/NATO also wish to feast on her bones, will the other two great Asian powers simply stand by and watch? Apparently so. This kind of neglect will have dire consequences but some time down the road. I think an American financial implosion might trigger a powerful backlash in Asia. The social security scheme is an attempt to postpone this by propping up financial markets with a taxpayer subsidy for new debt. When the economic grease stops the traditional strategic orientations will reawaken.

[bemildred]

11. Thank you.

The only point I can see that I disagree with is the "imprudent"
assessment. When you have a weak hand, there is much to be said
for stalling. Most of the rest of the World has likewise been
ignoring the crazy guy, nodding politely, and making their own
arrangements with an eye to the future. Pooty-Poot cannot make
his weak hand stronger by being belligerent, however much he might
like to, and to renew the Cold War(tm) would only shore up the
American regime. One may disagree about his tactics here and there,
of course.

The recent attempts he has made at bluster are worrisome,
however, and the bleeding sore of Chechnya a terrible wound, a
folly. But that supports the point I made about the folly of
belligerence.

We live in interesting times.

[teryang]

12. I tend to agree

There is a middle path, neither overtly belligerent nor passive, yet still taking it to the offender. Today they goofed again, discussing changing their balance of trading currency reserves. They shouldn't discuss it not publicly anyway.

I think it's pretty obvious that any overt opposition has to be coordinated with the other powers. China is so intent on internal developments and acquisition of raw materials that it is neglecting the balance of power.