Posted on 04/06/2006 11:41:39 AM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
PASADENA - Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said the United States has an illusion of omnipotence - "the victory complex" - that's more dangerous than Russia's inferiority complex.
"Both countries should overcome those feelings," he said, "and their leaders should reflect what the people want, and what the people want is dialogue."
Gorbachev spoke through an interpreter Wednesday to a full house at the Distinguished Speaker Series at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
He said the United States has a right to claim a leadership role in the world based on its military, cultural and economic power.
"But partnerships rather than domination should be used to exercise that power," he said. Gorbachev, the 1990 Nobel Peace Prize winner, spoke for almost 90 minutes on a wide range of issues.
On Iraq, he said: "I believe the only way out is for the U.S. to have an exit strategy that gives Iraq a chance to solve its problems, gets help from other Arab nations and does so with the involvement of the U.N. Security Council."
Gorbachev took a swipe at the Bush administration's efforts to bring democracy to Iraq.
"Leaders should learn from Russia and not interfere in other countries," he said. "You cannot enforce democracy. Democracy is only worth something if it's homegrown. We need to respect other nations. Those who try and teach democracy often have a history that's not that good."
Gorbachev said it would be a mistake to lump the majority of the world's 1.5 billion Muslims with a few extremists and fundamentalists.
"Traditional Islam and Christianity share the same values," he said. "They don't want to be condescended to. They want to be equals with the West."
"We're still using the old tools of force, thinking that war solves problems," Gorbachev said. "The people of the world don't need or want that, and instead envision living in a balanced, stable world where diversity is accepted and recognized."
He said perestroika, the government restructuring he started in the Soviet Union, was interrupted by the corrupt administration of Boris Yeltsin, but is resuming under Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Anything can happen," he said. "There will be rollbacks and we may stumble, but Russia will never turn back, Russia will move forward.
"We want to have democracy. But what you did in 200 years, we cannot do in 200 days."
There has been backsliding on nuclear treaties he signed with Presidents Reagan and George H. W. Bushcq in the 1980s and '90s, he said.
"We agreed neither country would use nuclear weapons in a first strike. We signed a statement that said a nuclear war could not be won and should never be fought," he said.
Current U.S. nuclear strategy discusses the possiblity of using nuclear weapons for a first strike, he said, so Russia has inserted similar language in their nuclear plans.
Doesn't he sound like a jealous older brother????
That's his opinion. OTOH, Gorby's got a nice map of Gorbistan on his head.
... and Gorbie has delusions of relevance.
equal to the west? why? should grendel have been equal to beowulf? the giant to david? no they shouldn't have been because for that to be fact would have meant tyranny and terror for all.
Gorbie, still using up perfectly good air.
The world is full of armchair quarterbacks.
Gee, I wonder why he picked the USA as his retirement country? Why not Rawanda?
Omnipotence? Gorby hangs with liberals all the time. They think the US can't do anything right. Omnipotence? Sure, right.
DoctorMichael says Gorbachev has `illusion of relevancy'.
Guess there was nothing available on the Black Sea.
Let me know when Russia has all those nuclear missiles dismantled, okay Gorby?
Don't look now, Gorbie, but......
To the contrary, the United States faces great danger, and offers vulnerability as an open society. But yes, we are strong. And yes, we have a president who understands all of these things.
Mr. Gorbachev, you are right our (American Democracy) Republic thrived for 200 years until around 1917. Since your revolution, Mr. Lenin's folks have been doing all they could to undermine America, inlcuding the current efforts of your ACLU. Our Republic was built upon the solid rock of an Almighty God. Without Him, and His Word, it won't work.
Oh yes, to my knowledge, America has not made a unilateral nuclear strike to date.
When was the last time you ruled one of the largest nations on this planet?
Poor Mike is suffering from "Jimmuh Carter" syndrome.
I like the scene in one of The Naked Gun movies when Leslie Nielsen removed Gorby's spot with an eraser, saying "I suspected that."
When was the last time you Gorbachov ruled one of the largest failed and Evil nations on this planet?
Shouldn't he be playing golf or something instead of taking the Jimmuh Katuh approach to retirement?
Has he still got digs at the old Presidio in San Francisco?
Seems to me that the transition from a totalitarian to a democratic regime happened on Mr. Gorbachovs' watch.
I'd rather listen to what he has to say then any of the posters on this thread.
*LOL* Gorbachev tried to allow some changes to PRESERVE the Communist system.
I'd rather listen to what he has to say then any of the posters on this thread.
*LOL* Its your choice.
Best wishes.
Sure we do. With the inability to do anything at all about the 12-30 million illegal aliens laughing at us in our own streets, we feel just very darned omnipotent.
Well, we have n new strtegic partnership with India, Gorby. Eat your heart out.
"Traditional Islam and Christianity share the same values," he said. "They don't want to be condescended to. They want to be equals with the West."
Wrong, on our worst day we don't need the power of a religious leader to keep our democratically elected leadership in place from week to week. That is what goes on at Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque, Mecca, SA every week. When Islam finally understands that our religion, the one we live and die for is the "religion" of liberty, they can begin to achieve legitimate permanent power.
Until then, we will naturally condescend to them because they are inferior because of their inferior and immature belief system and tribal nature.
Gorby, wake up, it's easy to call 'em from the bench.
"I'd rather listen to what he has to say then any of the posters on this thread."
@@@@@
Then I suggest you go here
http://www.mikhailgorbachev.org/
And quite wasting our time with your ranting.
Like I said once before: "the Jimmuh Carter of Russia"
Mikey knows "what the people want"? BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! That's a good one!!!
shut up commie
What did Gorby get, 1% of the vote the last time he tried to run from Russian President?
Under Irrelevance, see Gorby.
Gorbachev has the illusion that anyone gives a crap what he thinks. Marxist coward loser.
Hmm hey Gorby- how much money have you made criss crossing this nation speaking? I saw you personally last year and my ticket was $200.
yeah we're just a bunch of greedy immature punks, yeah that's the ticket. </sarcasm>
"Oh yes, to my knowledge, America has not made a unilateral nuclear strike to date."
You're right, we haven't made A unilateral strike, we made TWO. Perhaps you never learned about Fatman and Little Boy in school. Thank God Harry Truman didn't have the Democraps of today whispering in his ear.
Too bad he didn't have the cojones to let Patton run over those red bastards when we had the chance. We wouldn't be listening to this crap today & we probably wouldn't have to deal with the red chinese tomorrow.
Gorbachev's foundation money has much more influence than many realize. This was the 'partnership' reference he was making. Those are done through NGOs. Putin was very smart to crack down on them. I really wish Bush would.
Rawanda is Clinton's reign.
I haven't a clue as to what you are talking about.
Oh, yes, during WWII. Then Russia was supposedly on our side. Since then they have not been, and we haven't made a nuclear strike in that time. I stand corrected. Sorry, but there is a serious illness in the family, and I am not up to par, apparently.
Fatman and Little Boy were the nukes we dropped on Japan.
GW: "omnipotent"; no, just Chief.swinging.dick
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