Looks like a case of psychological projection to me...
Posted on 07/13/2006 1:36:06 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Sergei Ivanov, Russia’s defence minister, on Thursday warned the west to stay out of its internal affairs saying it would use its “military might” as a deterrent and a guarantor of its sovereignty. His comments came as President George W. Bush sought to put democratic freedoms in Russia back on the agenda for the Group of Eight summit in St Petersburg this weekend.
In an article published in Izvestia newspaper Mr Ivanov – a possible successor to president Vladimir Putin in 2008 – hailed Russia’s resurgence as a great power, underpinned by a triad of “sovereign democracy, a strong economy and military might”.
He said Russia must hold its own “in the face of those who criticise us or are our open enemies”. These, he wrote, can be divided into two camps of “soft” opponents and of terrorists. Mr Ivanov said some democratic states which criticised Russia for its authoritarianism “were unhappy about an independent, strong and confident Russia”.
Russia’s future depended on its ability “to provide adequate response both to attempts to exert foreign policy pressure and to direct aggression, including international terrorism”, he said, adding that in both cases “combat-capable, well-equipped and modern armed forces” would play “a priority role”.
Mr Ivanov’s hawkish article is the latest sign of deterioration in Russia’s relationship with the west. It came as Mr Bush prepared to fly to St Petersburg on Friday for talks with President Vladimir Putin of Russia and to meet civil society leaders, ahead of the G8 summit.
Mr Bush on Thursday restated US concerns about freedom of expression in Russia. “We share concerns about the ability for people to go to the town square and express their opinions, and whether or not dissent is tolerated, whether or not there’s active political opposition,” the president said at a joint press conference with Angela Merkel, German chancellor.
However, the president emphasised that he had no desire to lecture Mr Putin or “scold the person publicly” during his visit which begins on Friday with a meeting of civil society activists.
In a signal that he did not intend to embarrass his Russian counterpart at the G8, Mr Bush said he intended to press the message in “a respectful way”. “I’m also going to be respectful of the leader of an important country.”
Mr Bush sought to create a united voice with Germany on the issue, noting that it was in Mr Putin’s interest “to implement the values that Germany and Russia – Germany and the United States share”.
Mrs Merkel echoed his comments about the need to press Mr Putin privately, noting: “We should not speak loudly and in public about certain issues.”
She side-stepped calls to criticise Russia on energy security and took a more cautious approach on human rights, calling merely for Russia to embark on a path that leads to a “lively and pluralistic society”.
Speaking on the fringe of the US-German summit in Stralsund, northern Germany, German officials said Berlin was cautious about taking a confrontational approach towards Moscow, noting the county’s energy dependency on Russia and its important role in resolving conflicts including over Iran and North Korea.
OK Russia, you use that fearsome military might. Granted, your military is no pushover and not to be underestimated, but lets face it, you treat your military like cattle to the slaughter and that tactic just doesn't work anymore.
Standing army, meet Daisy Cutter.
Don't get this guy upset, he may take a shoe and bang a podium with it...
What are theses thugs doing in the G-8? They want to be known with the civilized world?
Back to the G7...
Russia is not what they seem ......and the sons of the Soviet Union are the Fathers of a New Socialist Strategy
However, they are pushing their luck. They need trading partners in order to build their economy.
Their population is shrinking, and unless they get their economy strengthened and give some people hope, their attempts at strengthening nationalism are going to look more and more hollow.
Looks like a case of psychological projection to me...
So what got their panties in a wad this time?
Is that why your subs have been spotted off the east coast?
And we are letting Russia into the WTO because?
Putin is a snake.
If Russia thinks it can undertake a quick escalation with the United States they are very confused. It thinks this only because China has been allowed to grow strong. I believe it is time to pull are friends in and push our enemy's out. Global economy really means black mail to our economy. It's time to treat the red block .....like the red block it is....ICBM FOR THEM HOOORAH
What do they produce that anyone would want to buy?
What do they produce that anyone would want to buy?
Oil.
Should have nuked those mongoloid bastards when we had the chance- paraphrasing Patton.
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