[The Times, U.K.]

 

Kommersant, Russia

For Russia, Obama's

the Best of a Bad Lot

 

"Barack Obama looks like the candidate that can be expected to take the greatest strides toward Russia, since unlike McCain, he's not infected with any Cold War phobias, and unlike Clinton, he won’t be tied down by the old habits of his advisors."

 

By Konstantin Kosachev*

                                         

 

Translated By Igor Medvedev

 

February 7, 2008

 

Kommersant - Russia - Original Article (Russian)

The bet by Democrats that Americans want to change everything from U.S. policy to their leader's sex and race may be fully justified. But I wouldn't focus exclusively on the intrigues of the Democratic race. After all, the race won't be decided until November, and the competition won’t be between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, but between a Democrat and a Republican. And it is still too early to write the Republicans off.

 

From the Russian point of view, the choice is not a pleasant one. Senator McCain, who is known for comments on Russia that run along the lines of “Carthage must be destroyed,” is certainly no gift. His desire to expel Russia from the G8, like many other of his positions that are in the style of the Cold War, are sincere. Traditionally it has been felt that we [Russia] get along better with Republicans, but apparently this senator-veteran seems ready to break that stereotype.

 

Our problem with the Democrats is that (in our view), they place too much emphasis on ideologically-driven human rights issues. However under the current administration, Washington's ideology-based foreign policy probably exceeds that of their domestic opponents. It's clearly time that we stopped "fearing" the Democrats, especially in terms of the inevitable "democratic moralizing" by a Democratic president. For a country that has made its democratic choice, such calculations are largely unimportant.

 

Zbigniew Brzezinski

In terms of attitude toward Russia, neither the declarations of Hillary Clinton nor those of Barack Obama go beyond the traditional views of the American establishment. Both candidates say they recognize the need to cooperate with Russia. But how sincere these statements are is difficult to judge. We know that Clinton has retained many people from her husband's team that have no particular love for Russia. Obama, as they say, is not shy about communicating with Zbigniew Brzezinski [considered a Kremlin foe].

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

Nevertheless, it's important, for example, to seek and obtain progress in disarmament. This will be very important to Russia and vital to strengthening international security - and that possibility will arise with the victory of the Democratic candidate. Tired of Republican militarism, this is something that we and many Europeans will support.

 

Russia's President-elect Dmitry Medvedev

In any event, the future President of the United States will have to deal with the new leader in the Kremlin [Dmitry Medvedev]. For better or worse, relations with America have usually depended on personal relations between the nations' leaders, and the new man in the Kremlin may well get along with the new man [or woman?] in the White House.

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

In this regard, Barack Obama looks like the candidate that can be expected to take the greatest strides toward Russia, since unlike McCain, he's not infected with any Cold War phobias, and unlike Clinton, he won’t be tied down by the old habits of his advisors.

 

*Konstantin Kosachev, Chairman the Duma Foreign Affairs Committee

 

 

CLICK HERE FOR RUSSIAN VERSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US March 3, 8:44am]