IN MY HUMBLE OPINION
Something is brewing re the US-Russia policy which few seem to be paying attention to - except those who count.
President Obama has been contained as usual, as though he's paying no attention to Russia, but this is his style - which is deceiving. It was Obama, who at end of a long pre-election event, was asked by some journalist as he walked off the stage, "well, what about the Russia policy? In an almost distracted manner, Obama quietly remarked, "we need to reset the Russia policy," and walked off into the crowds. This was not Joe Biden's line, as has been attributed - it was Obama's. Biden simply borrowed and used it later on, which whipped up a round of new sound bites among the pundits.
Consider the following recent under-announced happenings: Kissinger's trip to Moscow in January and his follow up articles; a quiet contact (or more) with Mededev which leaked and sealed off quickly; the development of the relatively new Commission on US Policy for Russia with its star-studded board - and their new pronouncements as of yesterday; Dr. James Billington's quickly assembled Library of Congress Conference on future relations with Russia being held on March 27 (with a Who's Who guest list on Russia issues) to make recommendations to Obama re Russia relations; Kissinger, Sam Nunn, George Schultz and other dignitaries apparently landed quietly in Moscow today for meetings with Medvedev and Primakov - and there are other dropplings over the past couple of months to justify the guess that some new break through is underway. Even the over-announced cultural blunder of the yellow 'restart box', although unfortunate, was nonetheless another indication that we may be seeing some "about face" re Russia - perhaps with a similar effect of Nixon going to China?
To good to be true? Perhaps, but all the above doesn't just happen for no reason in Washington.
Some suggestions;
Brzezinzki wants an inside track on what Russia might do if the Ukraine situation gets out of hand (with or without 'assistance').
They need to discuss concretly Russian passage of NATO troops to Afghanistan - which probably also has a bearing on the Ukraine situation.
they needto discuss Russian energy policy to the EU, which energy at present largely goes through the Ukraine, until other routes are completed - and secured.
They need to discuss Russian financial assistance to the Ukraine perhaps, in case EU banks become shaky over it.
Looks like they have a lot to talk about...
Posted by: Philip Andrews | April 08, 2009 at 05:44 PM