Russia: No NATO cooperation Anymore
The Russian bear has decided that it has to fight back against the Western attempt to punish it for its aggressive imperialism. Earlier Medvedev and Putin warned that the Russian reaction to the missile defense shield in Poland would go ‘beyond diplomacy.’ Today, the two men follow through on their promise (somewhat): they will stop their cooperation with NATO.
Of course one wonders why this is such a big deal. Russia was the main enemy of NATO in the past. It seems it could very well once again become this enemy; the enemy NATO had to fight. If this is the case, it is sad that it has to come to this, but it would not change much as such; NATO would finally have a good, strong reason to live again. Preventing Russia from annexing countries in the region was the organization’s goal, it will be the same from now onwards.
As such, Russia’s announcement does nothing to change reality; it is merely a sign that reality has changed. Proof, if you will, not a cause.
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I think Russia should be liberated from Putin’s grasp. Or they need to realize from within that restrictions on freedom of speech, free journalism, and corruption are problems that will only hurt the Russian people alone.
I agree that a change in Russia would be a great thing, I just don’t think it will happen until Russia can’t use it’s oil to buy international power and domestic prosperity. When you have natural resources, you don’t need freedom. It’s only when you actually have to make people produce and innovate that the benefits of freedom are seen.
In general the Russians support Putin. Even if the country had a free and fair election he would win by a massive margin. Russians feel, correctly, that Yeltsin plunged their country into chaos in the early 1990s. They therefore think that the country needs a strongman to keep the chaos away. Putin is the strongman.
I don’t agree with them, but I have met lots of Russians and most of the want Putin to be in charge.