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Editorial See other Editorial Articles Title: The Russian Bear and the Crippled American Duck After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia, though one of the four members of the Quartet, assumed only a nominal role in the Middle East peace process. Under President Vladimir Putin, however, this major power started recovering its original role in the international arena, parallel, if not rival, to that of the US. Russia has declared its return to the Middle East: firstly, in its opposition to the American occupation of Iraq, secondly, in its criticism of the way the US is tackling the Iranian nuclear project and thirdly, in its active involvement in the Palestinian file. Regarding its involvement in Palestine, Russia has forcefully expressed itself by Putin's invitation for Hamas leadership to have negotiations with his administration in Moscow. This move was considered by the western powers a bold violation of the international unanimity not to deal with Hamas. It is true that Russia, in its capacity as the heir of the Soviet Union and a member of the Quartet, has the capability of working with all parties to find a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Constraints Still, due to its financial and economic limits right after the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia could not contend with the US, the major and most influential member of the Quartet. Arab states, on the other hand, knowing that Russia will avoid any conflict with the US, whether in the Middle East or elsewhere in the world, were not keen to develop their relations with Russia of the 1990s. However, Russia is recognised, vis-Ã -vis the US, for its clear adherence to positive diplomacy and refusal of any foreign interference with the Middle Eastern states. That is why Russia has adopted an independent policy in the region based on enhancing efforts that aim at settling difficult problems in the Middle East and preventing new crises from erupting or deteriorating. In this sense, Russia insists on complete respect for international legality and on the necessity of establishing candid and constructive dialogue between concerned parties regarding present crises, where isolation policy is avoided. This is what has always been repeated by the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, causing contention with Washington. In fact, after having recently met with the American president and his secretary of state, Lavrov went to the extent of describing the US as the most difficult partner of Russia. In a press conference after the Quartet meeting on February 2, this year, Lavrov and Rice were on two opposite grounds when the former strongly criticised the American policy that refuses any dialogue with Iran, Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah. The most important results of President Putin's foreign policy, as described by Lavrov, has been enhancement of the Russia's position in the international arena, where Russia has taken important steps in various directions emphasising its independent policy. This has convinced the world that the strong, self-assured Russia is anything but a transient phenomenon. This strong position that Russia is assuming has brought back some kind of balance to the international relations, where one can draw possibilities for world policy after the past state of chaos. Russia, therefore, has started to see the importance of returning to the Middle East, whether for economic reasons or for politically competing with the US, especially with the latter's failing policy in the region. Promoting the policy of dialogue, Russia tries to convince the Quartet to lift the sanctions imposed on the Palestinians and to encourage them and the Israelis to start direct and continuous dialogue. National dialogue Russia, in this sense, insists on having an international conference on the Middle East, which Lavrov describes as an idea that has been accepted by the sponsors, including the US, as a necessary step to be taken. The Russian policy also works in Iraq on the same lines. Russia is calling for a national dialogue among the various Iraqi factions, with the objective of attaining national reconciliation. Such a dialogue can be held under the auspices of the United Nations and the neighbouring countries, particularly Syria and Iran. Iraqi leaders, as Russia calls for, should think of a new Iraq, not of settling past accounts. Russia believes, as declared by its deputy defence minister, that the new American strategy in Iraq will only intensify resistance and increase the rate of violence, jeopardising security in the Middle East. As far as Iran is concerned, Russia considers its cooperation with this country a strategic partnership. The two countries have political and economic interests in Central Asia, Caspian Sea and Caucasian states. In that region Russia believes that it cannot fill the vacuum alone. That is why Russia tries hard to have Iran, as well as Syria, play a tangible role in the Middle East peace process, including the Lebanese affair. No doubt that Russia is concerned about the rise of new dispute focus in the Middle East, a region practically adjacent to its borders. That is why it keeps looking for compromises with all possible partners, old or new, including Saudi Arabia and Israel. It is to be noted that Putin's recent visit to Saudi Arabia, with increasing indications of similarity in positions taken by Russia and many Arab states, has been the first of a Russian head of state to the Arabian Peninsula. The warm reception given to Hamas leader (Khalid Mesha'al) and his delegation by Putin and Russia in late February and the subsequent endorsement of the Makkah Agreement between Fatah and Hamas is another big Russian initiative that 'antagonised' this relation with the US. Now, nobody doubts that Russia is back to the Middle East region and in a forceful manner. Such a comeback is expected to be enforced especially that the lame duck (the Bush Administration) seems to be moving in the direction of being a crippled-duck!
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#1. To: Brian S (#0)
Through the years it has become evident that there is unusual cooperation between those who rule our country and both Russia & China. With China they gave China the very low currency value that has benefited them enormously and allowed the very rapid industrialization of their country. and with china they gave China all that nuclear know-how during the 1990's when Bill Richardson was Secretary of Energy (his department did it). That was 2 things the US did that benefited China strategically in a huge way. With Russia there have been similar things too. Including the strange cooperation between US & USSR in 1983 over that KAL plane that went down in the ocean near Russia's eastern shore. Conclusion - our country's leadership clique cooperates inappropriately and strangely with Russia & China. All we know for sure is that all those tens of thousands of nuclear weapons the Russians have (they allegedly have a lot more than we do) are one day going to be pointed at us. and same with all the nukes china is building with help of our government. they do a great big dance and act like we're on different sides. But it is choreographed.
Galatians 3:29 And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
The Cold War ceased being real somewhere around the Cuban Missle Crisis. By the mid 70's it was a complete fraud with Russia being stuffed fat with below market value grain shipments paid for by the US taxpayer so the Russians could maintain the status quo. Technology transfers started under Nixon and kept right on up through Reagan- in an effort to keep the Russians at least a plausible threat that would justify 300 billion dollar defense budgets and a far flung empire of military bases. Even loans and credits were extended to the Soviets. The biggest fraud untruth is how Reagan was the "defeater" of the Soviet Union. Hell- he resumed the grain shipments Carter had cancelled! When the Sovs did fall in 89- DC went into panic mode and met the developments in the Eastern Europe with a call for the Soviet Union to "restore order" and pleas for the Soviet Republics to remain a part of the Soviet Union.
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