Putin Postures, Condi walks the line.
In a moment of political theater designed for domestic Russian consumption, Putin pounded on his political chest by “dissing” Secretary Rice and Secretary Gates with a more than “fashionably late” arrival to their meeting yesterday while delivering a message that the planned anti-ballistic missile shield in Europe would trigger ominous changes in US-Russia relations. He hinted that this could potentially trigger a new Cold War. (Chicago Tribune, “From Russia, little love for U.S. plan;” LA Times, “Rice and Gates get nowhere with Putin” in St Louis Today; Australian Broadcasting Company, “US rejects Russian appeals to halt missile scheme;” Mangalorian Star, “Putin threatens to withdraw from arms treaty;” AP in Pravda “Putin makes Condoleezza Rice laugh in Moscow;” MSN Video)
Condi reiterated the facts that Russia has nothing to fear from an anti-ballistic missile system for Europe — especially one in which they’ve been asked to participate! Putin would do more to further Russian relations with former Warsaw Pact nations (damaged by years of Soviet-era occupation) by working towards their common defense and economic development than actively posturing to block such activities. Could you imagine the “fallout” if a former “Eastern Block” nation were hit by an Iranian nuclear, chemical or biological device? Even if it were delivered by Teheran’s terrorist proxies? The damage to Russia’s relationships with its neighbors would take decades to repair until memories of Moscow’s Ayatollah-friendly policies faded.
However, it must be too much for a former KGB officer, like Putin, to accept that the US really isn’t a threat to his nation even if we are increasingly friendly with their formerly occupied neighbors. Unfortunately, Russian history doesn’t lend itself to a national psyche that favors cooperation with foreign powers over confrontation — especially in light of their internal politics that involve a multitude of ethnic and religious factions, many of whom have been savagely suppressed. It may be many years, until a new generation of Russian leaders that grew up in the post-Soviet era, before there are fundamental changes in our relationship with the Russians.
Until then, Condi’s consistent message will be essential if we are to reach a resolution to these areas of friction with our former arch enemy. She will stress political and personal liberty (BBC, “Rice holds Russia rights meetings”), continue to make offers “to partner” in strategic defense, anti-terrorist activities, and economic development until there is a generation of Russian leaders willing to listen. It may be a long wait. Hopefully, the rest of Europe and the world won’t just learn to work around Russian intransigence, thus leading to further isolation of Russia and increasing the possibility of political instability. (Khaleej Times, “Assertive Russia;” New Europe, “Five countries agree on JV to build Odessa-Brody-Gdansk”)