Posts About Russia
Tough Times for Multilateralism
Kosovo’s independence is just the tip of the secessionist iceberg.
Cold War Enemies Do Business Today
This question has unfortunate undertones left over from the Cold War era. The so-called West as a political unit is a relic of that era. But the U.S. does not speak for Europe as it once did, and Europe and Russia often do business in mutually beneficial ways.
Don't Treat Russia like a Third World Country
Since the end of the Cold War, Russia has done much to ingratiate itself with the West, sometimes at the expense of its own pride and national interests. It went along with the West in dismantling former Yugoslavia. Britain would have received more cooperation on the Litvinenko case if they had opted for friendly persuasion and mutual respect.
You Benefited From Fossil Fuels, Why Can’t We?
Fossil fuels allowed the industrial world to develop. Now that the Third World is benefiting from them, the West suddenly says, “No more!” It's a conspiracy.
The World Wants a Balance of Power
In comparison to the cards that the United States holds and that this administration is not shy about using, I think the Russians are way behind in wielding power.
Russia Could Check U.S. Power
I am not very informed about the Eastern European issues that made Russia stand up to the U.S. and NATO, but I can safely say that the world with a single superpower has not been that safe. I don't know if George W. Bush would have made his adventure into Iraq had the Russians been a force to reckon with or not, but I am sure that the White House and Pentagon would have had to think much harder about it before getting themselves into the mess they have....
The Danger is Trouble at Home
In my opinion, Russia does not have much of a coherent foreign policy. What they do abroad is more like the side effect of internal policies. As long as Russia is internally stable, it's not a threat beyond its borders. But if there is trouble at home, watch out.
A Dangerous Neighbor Indeed
Yes, Poland should worry. Russia is no longer a liberal democracy.
Waiting for Biggest Kid on the Block to Grow Up
Why is Russia in the G8? It is far from a consolidated democracy, or a fully developed economy. But Russia is already in the club, so the best approach would be to try to make it one of us. Putin takes advantage of Europe and the U.S.'s fears of Russia. He should instead be held to higher standards of conduct.
Cold War Antics Still Go Both Ways
Washington announced that it was expanding the missile shield defense system but Putin's reactions make him the dangerous part of the equation? Putin should be held accountable for his crackdown on the media, but the G8 should not allow Cold War tensions to reemerge because of it. The powers would do better to focus on poverty, which kills more than missiles.
Beware the Bear, America
Russia's main assets -- its energy reserves -- are being used to break encirclement by governments supported by America.
A Perfect Dictatorship?
Putin’s Russia has suddenly grown claws. It seems intent in reclaiming its long lost petro-bully fame.
Iran Is Invincible, For Now
Mexico City, Mexico - We have reached new, ominous depths when the world's cleverest political strategy is crafted in Tehran. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has taken the two main geopolitical forces of our times - the high price of oil and the growing instability in the Middle East - and used them both to strengthen his regime. Sanctions, though hard to pass, are needed....
Why Gamble With Putin's Russia?
I have never quite understood the point of counter-summits or any other alternative demonstrations in or around a formal conference on world affairs. I tend not to trust those who rely on megaphones and songs of protest. I have the same worries about the G-8 counter-summit in St. Petersburg....
Back-Flip Multilateralism
New Delhi, India -- What a wonderful idea! Why not begin by choosing Kofi Annan's successor from the current general assembly in Germany? Teams that believe in kick-and-run rule themselves out as anathema to UN culture, which takes care of half the teams on display....
Don't Mix Popular Movements with Government
New Delhi -- The G-8 is an assembly of governments, not popular movements or insurgencies. Should Russia and the other G-8 countries send representatives to the Anti-Iraq War movements in America and Britain?...
Putin Asks Europe to Join Him (*Author Responds*)
Russia is courting Europe rather than threatening it.
The Force of Anna Politkovskaya's Legacy
While the world celebrates the International Women's Day, I though that one of the best ways to honor women's courage would be to write about Anna's legacy....
The Kremlin's Case Against Kosovo
The West takes advantage of Russia’s weakness, yet again.
Open Communication is Crucial
There is a desperate lack of communication between the U.S. and Russia. Unless this is overcome, relations will be locked in a vicious circle of ad hoc moves and responses and Russia will tip further in the anti-Western and authoritarian direction.
According to Putin, U.S. Is the Bigger Threat
Russia's President Putin lashed out against the United States, but had relatively mild words for Iran. In his view, America presents a much greater threat to world peace than a nuclear Iran.
Resolving Russia's Paradox
Moscow, Russia - Despite bad politics, Russia's economy is improving in the short term because of the high prices of oil and gas.
Communism's Clumsy Condoms
Moscow, Russia - When gender equality is enforced by a Communist state, the results are very different than when women's rights are secured through public activism.
Why Russia Banned "Borat"
Moscow, Russia - The Russian government banned "Borat" for offending ethnic sensibilities. This is hypocrisy; and it's the first time they've banned art since Communism fell.
Russian Xenophobia Toward Georgians Grows
Moscow, Russia - This week was marked by a tragic turn in the ongoing confrontation between Russia and Georgia. Tengiz Togonidze, a 48-year-old Georgian migrant worker died in a Moscow airport as he was awaiting deportation....
The Alliance of TV Moguls and Kremlin Elite
Moscow, Russia - Talented, professional managers of Russia's TV channels willingly partner with government to create a national image that suits the Kremlin's interests.
Discuss Kosovo to Prevent a Future Crisis
Moscow, Russia -- The emergency discussion at the G8 summit of yet another Middle Eastern crisis will barely help resolve it. Even with less chronic crises, once a war has broken out it is extremely hard to stop it. If the world's powerful leaders paid more attention to crises as they built up, bloody violence may be avoided and the need to use force to separate warring sides would be diminished....
Pragmatism Trumps Idealism
Moscow, Russia -- The United States could not have put an end to the Soviet Empire 30 years earlier by defending the Hungarian uprising against the Communist occupation. Here's why not:...
Let Russia Know Who's Watching
Whatever the goal of western attendance at the "Alternate Russia" conference may be, it is crucial that the G-7 countries speak in one voice: All seven, with no exception, should send their representatives, all representatives should be of the same level. It is equally important that they have a shared message. Otherwise, this whole affair will be easily dismissed as evidence that western governments differ on their Russia policies....
Play Hardball: Send Laura
Of course the West should send representatives. Given the Bush administration's declared passion for democracy and its taste for hardball politics, it would be unforgivable not to exploit this opportunity to provoke splendid irritation in the Kremlin....
Russia's Dissidents Need a World Audience
Tokyo -- The (original) G 7 leaders examined very carefully how liberal President Mikhail Gorbachev was when they decided to invite him to the elite club in 1991. No such rigorous test has been ever applied to President Vladimir Putin. That is a big mistake....
Does It Matter Where He's Tried?
Russia's law should dictate the answer to this question. But there is another question behind the one asked: "Should the Brits ask the Russian authorities to hand over the man accused by them of assassinating the ex-KGB agent?" I am not sure the answer is yes. Why would a British court be more objective, or do more justice?
Tired of West's Fear of "Evil Empire"
I am tired of the fears of the “Western World” of Russia and Putin. I remember the long decades of the Cold War when the U.S. put quite a number of military bases and missiles all over Europe. But few Europeans worried, afraid instead of Russia. And now? Putin wants his Russia to be respected as a serious superpower, and I think it deserves it.
Stop the Fear Mongering
It's strange to picture any country holding “cards.” If there was a deck, the United States – the strongest country in the world – would hold most of them. Yet the U.S. still seems unable to solve anything.
Stop Worrying So Much
Russia’s weird mixture of feudalism and capitalism is worrying, along with its dizzying array of legal restrictions. Compared to its strange institutional arrangements, the words of Russia’s politicians are less important....
Death and Sex Control Media
Budapest, Hungary - Catastrophes, death, sex, private life and stardom control the Hungarian press and media. Readers may be interested in the truth, but editors and publishers are not.
Stick to International Negotiations
Budapest, Hungary -- An "Alternate Russia" seems to be a good idea; "Another Russia" sounds even better. In that other Russia, no anti-democratic steps would be taken and none would be seen. In the other Russia, dissidents would have a hard time finding any reason to protest so there would be only a few of them and the rest could play chess to pass their time. In the other Russia nobody would be interested in protesting summits that were trying to solve the problems of other countries since Russia wouldn't have any....
Memories of the Man on the Tank
With Boris Yeltsin’s passing, his famous photographs light up the front pages one more time – and the memories flood back. There is his picture as opposition leader standing atop a tank to oppose a coup, and of him dancing for his precarious reelection years later.
Ukraine Should Worry About Itself
As a rather peaceful citizen of one of Russia's neighbors, I certainly hope that Putin's criticism of NATO expansion is nothing but tough talk. After all, business is going really great for Russia now (or so everyone says) - so why would Putin wish to reverse the trend?...
How the World Sees Russia's Rise
The Global Power Barometer (GPB) has been tracking global reaction to President Putin’s Munich speech and to follow-up comments from various officials within the Russian government. Global reaction was favorable to President Putin’s point about a “unipolar world” and his objection to the “almost unrestrained, exaggerated use of force” by the U.S. Reaction to the Putin speech within the U.S. was negative, particularly among conservative commentators who charged that President Putin was initiating a new “Cold War”....
Regaining Ukrainian & Georgian Trust
Russia is behaving today as you would expect from a very ”normal” country, playing those cards she has and protecting her national interests as she sees them. The real issue is whether she will respect the democratic will of her historic satellite neighbors to move toward the West, or whether she can regain their trust.
Back to the USSR
Russia should be treated, if not as a pariah itself, as an active accomplice with Tehran.
Drop the Defeatism, A United West Can Triumph
Some Europeans evidently are content being the last one eaten by the Iranian crocodile. But why the defeatism when America and Europe have the power to face Iran down without firing a shot?
Foreign Bogey an Old Dictator's Trick
Nothing in Putin's background or Russia's history suggests that Moscow is likely to hand over Andrei Lugovoi. It's not simply that the Russian Constitution forbids extradition. It has more to do with the nature of Russia's transition from totalitarianism -- and Putin's need to trumpet foreign menaces to maintain domestic support.
Turks Flirt with Picking Russia over EU
When Putin made his hard-line speech at the Munich conference on security, the Turkish public got truly excited. Given what they perceive to be the arrogance of the West, not to mention its double standards, many Turks side with Russia.
Authoritarian Bully & Imperial Wannabe
Vladimir Putin and his Kremlin elite claim that the West has ignored, neglected, underestimated or bullied Russia for more than a decade. Perception can mirror reality. But we also need Russia -- the Russia unafraid to use its gas exports and UN Security Council veto for its own interests. Russia will need close attention again.
Authoritarian Bully Wants Respect
The most comforting interpretation of the disturbing new tone from Moscow circles around elections: Vladimir Putin is in his last year as Russian President and wants to be remembered as the man who stood up to goliath.
A Cause for Alarm
So you think it's ludicrous to assume that the United States is more dangerous than Iran? Well, think again. And listen to some readers of DIE ZEIT, the German weekly that I work for.
Guantanamo and My Wehrmacht Uncles
Germany - When I was about 14, I first saw a picture of my uncle in uniform, a Wehrmacht uniform. I was shocked. It had never occurred to me that my family could have had a role in Hitler's dictatorship. Anybodies family, but not my family.
Get Energy Right
Germany -- If the G8 wants to get serious about energy security they need a commitment to start burning fewer fossile fuels. Conservation is not the only solution to the energy puzzle, but there will be no solution without conservation....
Prod But Don't Pressure Russia
Germany -- George Bush contends that America's interests and values have become one. The country, he says, is more secure "when freedom is on the march". In his view, spreading democracy is not an American passion, but an interest. Nowhere is this conviction put to a tougher test than in America's dealings with Russia....
