Russian Deck [of cards] Deals With Who's Who In America

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | September 20, 2003 | Kim Murphy

[Ex-Dem]

For any Russian confused about the names and career highlights of the Bush Administration, help went on sale on Thursday. The "United Cards of America", Russia's answer to the US military's "Iraqi most-wanted" playing cards, features a 36-card round-up of key figures in Washington.

From George Bush ("USA President since 2001, convinced that God has a plan for him") to the Federal Reserve chairman, Alan Greenspan ("second-most powerful man in the world"), and Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld ("the face of struggle with terrorism"), the cards are an attempt to teach Russians that what happens on the Volga is increasingly determined by what happens on the Potomac.

It is a timely message, coming only weeks before a scheduled summit between Mr Bush and President Vladimir Putin, while Russia is quietly aligning itself as an important US partner on issues such as Iraq, North Korea, the "war on terror" and Iran.

"It is important that this deck of cards comes out right now when US-Russian relations are at one of their evolutionary peaks, and frankly it doesn't matter whether these relations are good or bad, it is important that they are intense, energetic and full of content," said Azer Mursaliyev, head of the foreign policy department for the newspaper Kommersant, who initiated the card project.

In recent years Russia has helped lead the opposition to US intervention in Iraq, announced plans to build nuclear power projects in Iran and hosted the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, on lavish visits to the Russian Far East - a foreign policy sharply at odds with many US goals.

But last week, when the Bush Administration announced plans to seek broader international participation in Iraqi peacekeeping under the umbrella of the United Nations, Russia stepped ahead of France and Germany and said it would not necessarily oppose sending troops under US command.

And rather than rush to North Korea's defence in its stand-off with the US over nuclear arms, Russia played a key mediating role in recent multilateral talks on the issue in Beijing.

[Ex-Dem]

"Punish France, ignore Germany, forgive Russia..." - Condi

Forgive, you say?

[smoothsailing]

Those Ruskies, still learning how to play with a full deck.

[concerned about politics]

The way they describe the cards, they aren't that bad. The Democrats cards here, though, are vicious Nazi-like death propaganda.
Russia appears to be more pro-American than our own lucifer lefties!

[TopQuark]

Yeh, but they are masters of playing with a stacked one...

[Ex-Dem]

I agree that it could be much worse...

http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2003/07/19/140540-ap.html

[goodnesswins]

Sounds like they should give those cards to the schools of America......(they sound better than lots of propaganda being pushed there.)

[smoothsailing]

No question about it.

When they align themselves with France, they are dealing with and from the bottom of the deck.

[concerned about politics]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A high school teacher, fed up with the Bush administration's playing cards featuring Saddam Hussein, "Chemical Ali" and other most-wanted Iraqis, is now selling her own deck, Operation Hidden Agenda.

*Sigh* Does she REALLY think anyone cares about what she thinks?
I swear, those people have nothing in their heads but dust.

[WorkingClassFilth]

NOTHING has changed.

The commies are still commies - only the terminology that the press corps uses has changed.

All good conservative boys and girls should go to bed now and wake up tomorrow and load ammunition.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I think the duplicity of the Islamists has caused Russia to reevaluate. Until recently I was of the opinion that the Communists still ran Russian and their goals of world domination were still the same. They seemed to have coopeted the Islamists into their covert war against us. Russia, China, France, Germany, and all the Muslim countries were pretty well aligned against us, Britain, and a few others. Basically, it was us against the world and many of "us", the Democrats were against us, too.

Once the Islamists proved an unworthy ally by attacking Russia and once we proved we were no longer the Jimmie Carter/Bill Clinton America but a country who not only had the most powerful military ever assembled but one with leadership who was now willing to use it, they took another look.

They thought they could adopt capitalism to fund their efforts where Communism had failed. I think they now see that capitalism is not so easy and that at its root is individual freedom. That is something hard for them to deal with.

As far as Russia is concerned, how smart do you have to be to decide whether to align with the failing countries or with the one with the world's dominating military and bell-cow economy? I think originally they thought they could take us down but Bush changed their mind. At least Russia seems to have wised up, but I still don't trust them. When you have spent most of your history as calculated liars how are you to ever be trusted again?

[El Conservador]

But last week, when the Bush Administration announced plans to seek broader international participation in Iraqi peacekeeping under the umbrella of the United Nations, Russia stepped ahead of France and Germany and said it would not necessarily oppose sending troops under US command.

Gotta love the Russians...

[Howlin]

Perhaps they might need to update the deck:

Democratic presidential candidate who ordered an attack on Russian troops in Bosnia

[dixiechick2000]

Awesome post bump!

"They thought they could adopt capitalism to fund their efforts where Communism had failed. I think they now see that capitalism is not so easy and that at its root is individual freedom. That is something hard for them to deal with."

[dixiechick2000]

LOL!

Glad to see you weathered the latest inconvenience.

[RussianConservative]

Play fair? Hahahaha, since when anyone play fair? Play to win, that all counts when day over and some extinct.

[RussianConservative]

Ehh? Where you get silly info? Russia becoming more free then America, also has 3 times growth rate and this year she become 8th largest economy in world and second fastest growing, after China. Russia has 13% flat tax, 24% corporate tax, no Sales tax, cut VAT tax, cut government size (while US "conservative" president grow government like bed weeds), trial by jury, liberalized self defense law, freedom of religion and Christianity taught in school. 7.2% growth GDP last half year. Number one to invest in world market for 3 years now. New factories open almost every two weeks...all major world firms have some...so where you get this sillyness stuff?

Oh, did I mention? Surplus for 4 years that Duma not allowed touch, used to pay debt, Russian debt to earnings .5:1, US 2:1. Twenty years, Russia biggest economy in world. Should be bigger then Germany in 5-6 year.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Wonderful. Maybe instead of most of the world trying to sneak into the U.S., they will soon be headed to Russia. It wasn't long ago that Russia had to lock their own citizens in while allowing very few foreigners into Russia. Spread the word, I am sure Russia is ready to take all these folks off our hands.

[RussianConservative]

First it not Russia but Soviet Union. Second, why we want Mexicans? You can have them...trip in raft to far. We have enough problem with Chinese. You want open border? Enjoy benefits.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

My point was, and I am sure you understood but decided to avoid, is if Russia is doing so well in relationship to the U.S., why is the world still rushing here instead of there?

[Pubbie]

"Second, why we want Mexicans?"

We don't want the Mexicans either (Look at the mess California is in because of Illegal immigration).

The problem is that the Republican Politicians are afraid of cracking down on Illegal Immigration because the US media will call them "Racists".

But the issue is not "Race" the issue is CITIZENSHIP.

Anyway, the Republicans need to offset the growth of the Mexican population (Who vote Democratic) by bringing in Ukrainians and Belarusians, who vote 80% Republican in US elections.

You don't mind if we allow 20 million Ukrainians and Belarusians to immigrate to US do you???

:)