MOSCOW, Nov. 24, 2008
Russia's Medvedev's Tough Guy Act
CBS News: New Russian President Seems To Be Reviving Adversarial Relations With The U.S.
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Play CBS Video Video Reviving The Cold War? Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has been working to extinguish his liberal image and, to some, revive memories of the Cold War, but what will this mean for the future of U.S./Russia relations? Alexei Kuznetsov reports.
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Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev gestures during a welcoming ceremony at the government palace in Lima, Peru, Nov. 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
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Appearances can be deceiving. Six months ago, when Dmitry Medvedev was inaugurated as Russia’s new president, many hoped there would be a thaw in U.S.-Russia relations.
The soft-spoken lawyer has never worked for the KGB. His reputation as a liberal seemed to contrast sharply with his predecessor, Vladimir Putin.
However, for the past six months it seems that President Medvedev has been working hard to dismantle his liberal image and revive memories of the Cold War.
Putin had a reputation for being tough, but it was under Medvedev that Russia used excessive force against Georgia, occupying part of its territory and crushing its military. Medvedev then defied world opinion by accusing the United States of instigating the war and by recognizing the independence of Georgia's two separatist regions.
The Cold War rhetoric continued with the Kremlin blaming the United States for the global financial crisis.
"Russia has warned many times of the potentially negative situation that had built up in the American financial system, and that has now transformed into a full-scale international financial crisis," Medvedev said.
Moscow has pursued close ties with countries like Venezuela and has even sent warships to the Caribbean for joint naval exercises.
The latest from President Medvedev is a threat to deploy missiles on the border with Poland as a response to the U.S. missile-defense program in eastern Europe. It is the first time in decades that Russia's leader has officially announced his readiness to target a NATO country with tactical weapons.
"The Iskander missile system will be deployed in the Kaliningrad region in order to neutralize, if necessary, the missile defense system," he said.
Medvedev's ultimatum was widely acclaimed, not only behind Kremlin walls, but also in the streets. Many Russians see this as an opportunity for the country to expand its military influence over Europe.
"It gives Russia a perfect pretext to deploy its missiles in Kaliningrad, so that we could blanket Europe if need be," said one Russian.
Russia’s parliament also fully supports the president on this issue.
"You need two to dance a tango," said Konstantin Kosachyov, Chairman of the International Affairs Committee in the Russian Parliament. "And in case the other side continues to be assertive - we have no space to be more liberal, more cooperative. We have to protect our national interests."
Iskander missiles have a declared range of only 175 miles, but Russian top brass insist that the range could be extended in order to strike the proposed radar installation in the Czech Republic.
Medvedev’s message was delivered just hours after Barack Obama was elected - an unmistakable signal to the incoming U.S. administration.
The two leaders are certain to discuss the possibility of a new arms race when they have their first meeting. Whether or not Obama decides to go ahead with missile defense in Europe, the outcome of the summit will set the tone for the next chapter in U.S.-Russian relations.
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- Are you kidding me? Take a look at the US''s foreign policy. We have bases completely surrounding Russia''s periphery, totally misread the Georgia conflict (Georgia started the war), and then add fuel to the fire by putting a missile-shield at Russia''s front door, invaded a country that posed no threat to us, act as the world''s police, and you talk about "adventurous military behavior"? Haha.
Buying oil from Iran and Venezuela? Boo-hoo. We buy oil from Saudi Arabia and nearly every other gulf tyranny.
Posted by Mizzike3 at 03:16 AM : Nov 27, 2008
The situation in Georgia was not misread by the U.S., Georgia was operating inside its own U.N. and Russian recognized borders. Georgia was legally right, Russia was legally wrong. Even though many may not have liked the action Georgia took it was still within its legal rights! The U.S. does not have to buy oil from those who mean to do us harm, the need is not that great or mandatory, it boils down to a matter of greed and inconvenience. - Reply to this comment
- If you really wanted to make a change in the world you would join the EU or NATO.
... I await the day you come to your senses...
Posted by cizlaq at 03:24 AM : Nov 27, 2008
Come to your senses yourself - EU and NATO refuse to accept us, so no one hears us and no one wants to hear us, I suspect it is so because you need to have a foe to direct your minds the way your moneywallets want. Your main goal to fight for any cause Israel wants you to fight, because it''s money. You are cloistered in deceit because all you have is corporation interests, corporations paying you, and you not wanting to lose a sent. Sorry for my straightforwardness. - Reply to this comment
- Russia is about the most xenophobic nation on earth besides china. You guys always push for an escalation of a cold war you''ve lost before. Still you sabre rattle and act like a tiger, but your only a psper tiger. If you really wanted to make a change in the world you would join the EU or NATO and bring economic stbility or military stability to the corners of the world you occupy. Instead you butt head with anyone opposed to your view and act like an ignorant child in the world stage, You forced military is a joke and your military spending is a joke. Your oligarchs and the the russian elite are jokers one the world stage who pay double for everything just to fit in. Look if your seeking acceptance within the western european community just become intolerablely liberal. If you want to make an impression in america then show your capitalist spirit and your commitment to a stable world with military force and we will embrace you. But if you fight us then the sad truth is that you will lose.With 2x the military budget and a volunteer army we will crush you. I await the day you come to your senses but i fear i will be long buried and so will my children before that day comes. United we are undefeatable, divided we are doomed to failure.Please heed my advice,i wish you only the greatest success.
- Reply to this comment
- "The West now sees what Russia will do once it has money, be a bully, so continuing to do business with Russia with its current Policies in place is Political suicide. The West should stop doing business with Russia until Russia changes its aggressive posture and adventurous militaristic behavior. Like buying oil from Iran and Venezuela, the West is funding its own problems."
Are you kidding me? Take a look at the US''s foreign policy. We have bases completely surrounding Russia''s periphery, totally misread the Georgia conflict (Georgia started the war), and then add fuel to the fire by putting a missile-shield at Russia''s front door, invaded a country that posed no threat to us, act as the world''s police, and you talk about "adventurous military behavior"? Haha.
Buying oil from Iran and Venezuela? Boo-hoo. We buy oil from Saudi Arabia and nearly every other gulf tyranny. - Reply to this comment
- "Russia is a reliable partner, not a foe. Stop forcing them to react!"
- I am glad at least some people understand the reality without distortion. And all of you Russia-haters - you are worthless, I wish I could face each one of you on the mat, then we would see who is paranoid, and irrational and who is just full of sh**! - Reply to this comment
- [Russia is xenophobic and paranoid. They show no signs of rationality. Instead they have a military more interested in "trophies" and "glory" than in defense. They have a population that sees enemies everywhere (clinically paranoid). To treat them as rational, or assume they are rational is dangerously irresponsible.
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Posted by dburfears at 02:04 PM : Nov 26, 2008]
As opposed to how our own government of the USA has been acting the last 7 years? - Reply to this comment
- -start asking yourself WHY Medvedev invaded Georgia, and try to look for answers instead of comparisons.
Posted by ragozzi at 09:01 AM : Nov 26, 2008
The West now sees what Russia will do once it has money, be a bully, so continuing to do business with Russia with its current Policies in place is Political suicide. The West should stop doing business with Russia until Russia changes its aggressive posture and adventurous militaristic behavior. Like buying oil from Iran and Venezuela, the West is funding its own problems. - Reply to this comment
- Talk about zenophobes! Most of the comments here indicate a completely undereducated populace, or politically motivated disinformation specialists are at play.
The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA has been taken over by a bunch of neo-facsists. Our good name has been used while we surround Russia with military weapons and bases. Who would expect Russians not to worry about our intentions, when it is blatanly obvious that we are being driven by an arms industry, rather than an active political process?
Russia acted in defense of civilians being mass-murdered on the eve of the Olympic Games by a stooge President installed in Georgia during a political crisis. Sakashvilli deserves to be hung from a lamp post by his own people, a people who would be Turkic Muslims of not for the long protection of the Rus.
The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is also one of the largest purchasers of Russian Arms now, as the U.S. Taxpayers are underwriting a $15 BILLION budget to arm Afghanistan with new Russian helicopters, arms and training.
Let''s beat those weapons into plow shares and learn to build civil society again. Russia is a reliable partner, not a foe. Stop forcing them to react! - Reply to this comment
- Hey, Russia. *** you!
- Reply to this comment
- Stick to the topic please, forget about Obama tax hikes for a second.
We are discussing the article above which has to do with "Medvedev working hard to dismantle his liberal image and revive memories of the Cold War." - Reply to this comment
Author Thomas Friedman on Obama's Afghanistan plan and the war on terror.
