It has redefined limits of peace initative with any Russian involvement.
Can Obama's Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament initiative still be achieved? This is the plight of Russia all the time, standing its sovereignty while 'fighting the good fight' but receiving the worst PR on the planet. It is what caused the Cold War and fuels poor alliances between 'Nuclear Wannabee Nations.'
War Games. For God sake why? What was so idiotically important that could be FIRST be resolved by diplomatic measures?
Europe needs to 'get over' its fear of Russia. Russia is forced into aggressive stance all the time because of the 'unjustified' actions of The West. If a country cannot remove itself from 'the image' of being hostile (an enemy), even when in the face of overt FACTS otherwise (in this case the human rights abuse of Georgia of its own people), it is left to accept its 'reputation' as defined by its offenders and act in its own best interest. That is what Russia has been forced to do and continues to do.
The NATO war games were "W"rongly deployed and as long as this stance against Russia continues, it will act without regard to preceived reputation and posture itself 'as if' an enemy of The West.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev taking part at a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier outside the Moscow Kremlin Photo: AP
President Obama is going to have to harness peace initiatives with not only countries like Iran and North Korea, but, Europe as well. The initative will have to dictate a purging of all definitions of 'past relationships' with Russia and find new ways to remove the posturing.
NATO war games hinder U.S.-Russia ties, Putin says (click here)
Sun May 10, 2009 11:44am BST
By Guy Faulconbridge
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned in an interview published on Sunday that NATO military exercises in Georgia did not help efforts to rebuild Moscow's relations with the United States.
Putin, speaking in an interview with Japanese media before a trip to Tokyo, said the NATO war games were a signal of support for the Georgian authorities which last week clashed with protesters demanding President Mikheil Saakashvili resign.
When asked about Washington's efforts to reset relations with Moscow, Putin said: "As to the NATO military exercises in Georgia, this is of course a signal in the other direction....
Russia doesn't have a choice to protect the people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It is forced into a posture of protector and opposition to The West. This is about the most foolish motive I have ever witnessed by NATO in conducting 'military exercises' in the face of a Georgian government known to have killed its own people with overwhelming and unmerciful force.
In the same method, Prime Minister Putin hasn't formalize the efforts by Russia with these two 'estates' before the UN. BUT. Russia, being Russia, doesn't have to.
Zyuganov Would Like Moscow to Annex Abkhazia, South Ossetia (click here)
May 05, 2009
Paul Goble
The leader of the Russian Communist Party said in Strasbourg last week that in his view, it would be “desirable” if Moscow were to annex Abkhazia and South Ossetia, an opinion several Russian commentators said reflected the thinking of many in the upper reaches of the government of the Russian Federation.
Speaking to Georgian journalists on the sidelines of a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) last week, Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the KPRF, said that “history does not turn backwards” and that Moscow will “not back away from [its] recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia” (www.rusk.ru/newsdata.php?idar=182666).
And then he added that if it were up to him, “I would conduct a referendum and would include Abkhazia and South Ossetia within Russia,” a comment that was posted on the KPRF website last Thursday (kprf.ru/international/66074.html) and one that apparently reflects the generally unexpressed views of many in Moscow.
In reporting Zyuganov’s remarks, the Russkaya Liniya portal -- a Russian Orthodox site with close ties to the Russian government and statist Russian nationalists -- asked several of its regular contacts for their comments about the possibility of such a move, one that would send shockwaves not only in those two breakaway republics but across the post-Soviet space as well....
Europe and NATO is so "W"rong here its a darn shame. NATO went forward with its 'military exercise' because, '...you know how it is...you just can't let Russia believe they have the upper hand... and where after all would Europe be without the 'New Berlin Wall' of Former Soviet States.
Amazing.
In a recent assessment of the 'near border' nations of the USA, Secretary Clinton noted there is increased influence by Iran and China. The USA is compromised due to the hostile actions of the Bush/Cheney Administration. I can't believe NATO has been this stupid.
