Quote:
Originally Posted by Claeren
I am not exactly sure where you were going with that but i certainly do not underestimate Russia's power TODAY, not to mention into the immediate future.
A few short years ago Russia was literally bankrupt and America was on the verge of a golden era. With strong leadership the world IMHO was poised for something great. Instead it squandered that global goodwill and moral legitamacy and has since floundered itself towards bankruptsy. While Russia has adopted the best of capitalism (and even of the outward vestiges of democracy) while maintaining/rebuilding a totalarian regime ruled by their own elite - sadly not all that different from what has increasingly become legitmized in America itself.
I think Zbigniew Brzezinski has really pushed a lot of thought in this area into very interesting places and his criticism of BOTH Iraq wars as a distraction from what should be true American goals is very valid, as is his warning that we will pay for ignoring Russia in the future.
But Russia is arguably stronger today than it has ever been, and it is growing quicker than ever! ALL while being more legitimate as many in the Russian middleclass now dismiss democracy as a facade of a corrupt American elite - no more or less valid than their own. not sure where that leaves us, but i do know it is not as good a place as we could be in when thinking back to 1989....
The Clinton years ignored trouble in the Balkins admittedly, but the Bush years have been far worse in terms of allowing corrupt elements to again entrench within Russia and to now grow their power...
The problem is not these other countries, it is America's own loss of moral and political legitmacy. Every Bush lie, even if the right-wing like Hoz agrees with those lies or can excuse them, is still one more step away form the rest of the world. Whether they see it or not.
Claeren.
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What should the US have done? They were already giving them massive amounts of aid, which led to their economic recovery. To try and blame the current situation in Russia on Bush is absolutely ridiculous. Russia has and always will be a fiercely nationalist country.
If you give Russia aid they will see at as a cultural invasion and not goodwill. To blame the US for the corruption is absolutely ridiculous.
Honestly what specifically did you expect them to do? (please answer this question for me before you go any further) Ignoring Russia? When did they ever ignore Russia? The truth is the Americans can only criticize Russia so much, even in economic downturn they would never risk open warfare w/ them.
So when Hillary gets elected next november will you still be spouting this America is a totalitarian state stuff, or will you find some other conspiracy theory to occupy your time? I hear that CSIS is using satellites to spy on us? I recommend a tinfoil hat of some kind.