Kissinger in Moscow, Right on Baby!

Russia wants to be a reliable supplier of energy to the west. We Americans should want it to as another supplier and OPEC competitor. Russia is doing their part in containing islamofasicism, ie Chechnia and offers to support Afghanistan operations. Russia has a dying population and needs western investment and technology to rocket their 2nd world economy. Russia has an educated population, and an infrastructure still in tact that can be used to increase their prosperity. The stage is set for a grand conjunction on the world stage.

What many miss, is that, the younger, educated, and affluent Russians, as well as generally, Eastern Europeans, want DEMOCRATIC CAPITALISM. This group wants it all, really bad to. They are crying for the US to be friendly to attract all of Russia toward that end. There is also the die-hard communists, that slow that progress. Putin in stuck between the two, and to maintain power, he panders both. (dont that sound familiar here in the US??) So, you have to read messages from moscow, with suspect intentions as to which power base putin addresses. Most of the print misses the full story time and time again.

RUSSIA (deep down) really wants to be our pals, in many ways, so we all can prosper, yet also has cultural tendencies retarding that move, and hence, they hesitate, especially with a large number of older but dying commies who only think the US is bad, and putin has to address that substantial segment of the population, hence, Putin:"MANIAC WITH RAZOR BLADES", re Bush's unilaterism, after, of coures, Bush scolding Putin all the time for anti-democratic press controls, yet from a popularity prespective, Putin may know what is better for Russia at this point in time, faced with different problems and culture. What is retarding their integration into the western mindset is their cultural history, sour grapes cold war loss, and their tendency to support strong man rule. Lets understand them for what they are, baby democrats, and also, understand that we Americans can also drop our INHERENT mistrust of them as well.

The stage is set for a YANK-BEAR coming together, in this democracy century. Putin understands that the upcoming TRADE WARs will put a premium on PRODUCTIVITY. He needs the west to help position Russia into a competitive posture in the UP COMING TRADE WARS, or Russia is doomed to 2nd world status. He wants to be America's PAL, but has to also serve domestic politics and biases and cultural feelings. Its a complicated game for sure.

IF WE AMERICANS would only understand that they have had a very bad history over the last 100 years, and are suspicious, jealous, and feel demeaned and ridiculed, unnecessisarily so, and they have been brainwashed by 100 years of totalitarian control, we can then understand their hesitations to join the WEST, but if we could just open our arms, WITH A BIG BEAR HUG, (and BHO could be good for this), we could have the BEARS out of hibernation, and feeding world civility and prosperity, and fully on the WORLD TEAM.

Here is the KEY!!!!!! Listen up folks, our worst enemy of the cold war will become our best friends in the days and years ahead. Putin wants to and must integrate his energy empire into the world economy. Putin wants russia to have respect in the west, (its the pride thing from losing the cold war). Putin knows that Russia's future lies in advance technologies and productivity that the west can provide for the jump start to the Russian Economy. Russia is moving toward international trade, democracy, and world civility. Sure, its a long and slow process, but baby steps every day, bring the YANKS and BEARS closer together, AS THE CONFLUENCE MARCHES ON!!!!

ENCOURAGE RUSSIA to fully join, WTO, EU, NATO, G20, etc.

Get em locked in with the BEAR HUG!!!!

This is what got my attention:

"But Ryabkov suggested it is up to Washington to give ground over missile defense. He said Moscow wants an equal say in evaluating threats, plotting responses and designing any missile shield in the region."

THAT's it baby, offer protection of Russian airspace, and get the RUSSKIES on board planning JOINT MISSLE DEFENSE. Treat them as equals, give them a say, ask them to join us, constantly, and they will move. Praise them for good democratic acts (Putin not seeking 3rd term and not changing constitution), rather than CONSTANTLY complain for imperfect democracy. (They are learning, just give them time). All ya got to do, is show respect, (with an understanding their cultural retardation toward full democractic priniciples, and their slow progress, and understand it is culturally based, but that they will move slowly toward the confluence and democratic principles in the years ahead) and understand them with a big BEAR HUG, and they will warm up TO THEIR DESTINY, as a civilized cooperative WORLD PLAYER, and eventually, OUR BESTEST PALS!!

Derrick Michael Reid

AP – Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin shakes hands with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, …

MOSCOW – Some of the biggest names in U.S. diplomacy of the past decades met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and other Kremlin leaders Friday, in an effort to improve frosty relations that experts say could threaten many U.S. foreign policy goals.

In some of his most upbeat comments about U.S. relations since President Barack Obama took office, Medvedev said his meetings with current and former U.S. officials in recent weeks "reflect the goal of our nations to significantly improve ties."

After greeting a delegation led by former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Medvedev praised the American initiative, first announced by Vice President Joe Biden, to "press the reset button" on U.S.-Russia relations.

"The surprising term 'reset' ... really reflects the essence of the changes we would like to see," Medvedev said. "We are counting on a reset. I hope it will take place."

Kissinger, an architect of U.S. Cold War strategy toward the Soviet Union, said he and a group including former Secretary of State George Shultz and former Sen. Sam Nunn had discussed energy and other "strategic issues" with the Russian president.

"I'm happy to report that the differences were not so remarkable and the agreements were considerable," Kissinger said.

Kissinger also told Medvedev the U.S. group hoped the Russian leader's April meeting with Obama on the sidelines of the G-20 meeting in London would help improve ties.

"We believe in the generally optimistic attitude, and we hope ... that the meeting between you and our president will begin a new period in our relationship and will lead to concrete results," Kissinger said.

Kissinger also met privately with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday, in a meeting shown briefly on state-run TV.

Experts say chilly bilateral relations have complicated efforts to limit the spread of nuclear weapons, ease tensions in eastern Europe and expand the war in Afghanistan.

Kissinger's group has pushed for drastic reductions in global nuclear arsenals. And reviving talks on limits to nuclear arms, especially the START I treaty, which expires in December, is at the top of the U.S. agenda.

But the broader aim appears to be repairing the damage to relations over the past eight years between Washington and Moscow, which are at their lowest point since the early 1980s — a point highlighted by both Russian and U.S. officials in Moscow.

"I see we are in a race between cooperation and catastrophe," Nunn told reporters at a briefing.

"We are certain that the low point of this period of chill in our relations is behind us," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters Friday. "The reset ... has really begun."

While the Kremlin has welcomed the U.S. initiatives, it has also sent signals that it is up to Washington to make concessions, not Moscow, if relations are to improve.

Ryabkov expressed confidence that Moscow and Washington can resolve deep differences over the proposed U.S. missile defense facilities in Eastern Europe and forge a new treaty to replace START.

But Ryabkov suggested it is up to Washington to give ground over missile defense. He said Moscow wants an equal say in evaluating threats, plotting responses and designing any missile shield in the region.

"We are ready for cooperation on missile defense, but not as a cart horse that is attached to a harness and pulls in a direction given by others," he said.

Ryabkov also said missile defenses and offensive weapons subject to cuts under treaties like START are "inextricably linked." He suggested Russia could hold back on an arms control pact if it is dissatisfied with U.S. moves on missile defense.

Washington says the missile shield based in Poland and the Czech Republic would protect against a potential threat from Iran. The Obama administration has told Russia that it could eliminate the need for such a system by using its influence on Iran to help ensure Tehran poses no threat.

But Ryabkov said Moscow sees no signs that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons, indicating the Kremlin does not plan to toughen its stance toward Tehran.

He welcomed Obama's address to the Iranian people — a video released Friday from Washington that said the U.S. is prepared to end years of strained relations if Tehran tones down its bellicose rhetoric.

"We are moving along the path that we believe should lead to the disappearance of concern about Iran's nuclear program. The path proposed by the Russian Federation is the path of dialogue," he said.

It is not clear if Russia is adopting a tough position to give itself room to bargain, or whether it will refuse to make concessions in upcoming negotiations.