OCR Text |
Show A3 DAILY HERALD Sunday, May 13, 2007 U.S. relations with Russia have gone steadily downhill under Bush Anne Gearan U.S. officials point to numerous areas of cooperation with Russia and insist that even a WASHINGTON President missile-tippe- d argument over Bush may have liked what he U.S. defense plans in Europe saw when he first peered into does not signal the dawn of a Vladimir Putin's soul nezrrry ; new Cold War. six years ago. Yet while Bush "On many things we have was looking away, the sunnier done very well, but the fact is horizon he sought with Russia that on some others it's been turned cloudy, a difficult period," Rice said in Senate testimony Thursday. Testy, suspicious and de-fined by misunderstandings Rice said the relationship was ' and perceived hurts, the relacomplicated by a rollback in tionship between the Cold War democratic reforms in Russia powers has worsened steadily and the Putin government's on Bush's watch. treatment of nearby states. A worried Bush is sending "Pretty rocky," was the Secretary of State Condoleezza harsher assessment of Steven Rice for with Pifer, a specialist on Russia Moscow this week, just three and former Soviet states at the weeks after a similar mission Center for Strategic and International Studies. by Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Bush also called Putin It was not supposed to be on Thursday. The two leadthis way, not with two leaders ers are to meet next month in who seem to like one another, Germany, and Washington is generally good economic times in both countries and contrying to prevent a diplomatic disaster. verging interests in the fight Putin is not sounding reagainst terrorism. Rice, Bush's ceptive to the Bush adminlongtime top foreign affairs istration's message that the adviser, is even a specialist on U.S. intends no harm to an Russia and a fluent Russian increasingly restive Russia. On speaker. "I am sure that she is disapWednesday, Putin made what many took as a veiled compari- pointed everybody on a son between the global aspirasenior level in the State Departtions of the United States and ment is disappointed," said et-born Nazi Germany. Dimitri Simes, presi- - ' THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ' - fence-mendin- g Sovi- dent of the Nixon Center in Washington. "They have every right to be disappointed. I am quite disappointed myself ." Perhaps Rice, of all people, should have seen the deterioration coming. But she, like the rest of the administration, became preoccupied with terrorism after the Sept. 11 attacks and with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that followed. The chumminess between Bush and Putin was regarded as a foreign policy bright spot, but the underlying relationship between the two countries was a relatively low priority. "With everything going on in Iraq, with Iran, North Korea, at that level at some point you run out of time," Pifer said. "It's a question of bandwidth." Russia and the U.S. talk past each other on the basic issues that divide them. The U.S. looks at Putin's consolidation of power and sees a dangerous retrenchment on basic democratic principles. Russia tunes out the lecture from a world power it considers overbearing and hypocritical. The U.S. is unnerved by Russia's growing energy wealth, its use of energy as a political cudgel and centralization of the once entrepreneurial energy sector. Russian leaders !lrv J and more willing to challenge ' (I the U.S. and Europe. "President Putin thinks the United States has been weak- ened by Iraq and that he has been strengthened by recent events and oil," former U.N. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke said. "He is trying to put Russia back on the international map." The U.S. has tried to lower the temperature, in large part because it heeds Russia's cooperation in international negotiations or confrontations with Iran and North Korea, and on n issue. the ALEXEI PANOVAssociated Press Russia is likely to cooperate Russian President Vladimir Putin invites Secretary of State only so far as it sees its own Condoleezza Rice for talks in his interests served. country "The whole idea going into residence west of Moscow Oct. 15, 2005. The warm partnership hoped for by President Bush six years ago between the relationship in the early part of the adthe old Cold War superpowers has soured with suspicions, ministration is: How can two misunderstandings and perceived hurts on both sides. great powers work together on issues of mutual concern see their return ticket to world tion missiles and interceptors and common interest?" State relevance. at bases in Poland and the Department spokesman Sean In fact, on Saturday, the McCormack said. Czech Republic as a strategic "That's still true, but also in leaders of Russia, Turkmenibulwark against a potential stan and Kazakhstan reached threat from Iran, especially if great power relationships you Iran gains nuclear weapons. a landmark pipeline deal that are going to see differences. will strengthen Moscow's conRussia sees the breaking of Where you are not compromistrol over Central Asia's energy promises it thought it had exing on principle you narrow export routes. The agreement acted from the West and unac- those differences, and in some sets back U.S. and European ceptable U.S. encroachment on cases you need to agree to disits doorstep. efforts to secure alternatives agree." As Putin enters what is probto Middle East oil and gas that On the Net: would be independent from ably the last year of his presiRussian influence. dency, he has become more de- Background on The U.S. sees its plan to sta fiant of international pressure ties: http:tinyurl.com2jsv75 high-price- d If i) Israeli-Palestinia- JVovo-Ogaryo- n U.S.-Russ- mm MM DOWN TO EARTH . If you are currently experiencing, 4 QDEQposG (tec? Herniated or Bulging Disc Degenerative Disc M Sciatica Jtit vV PrePost Surgery Patients Acute sX & You May - Chronic Low Back Pain Rich, Dark Color Qualify for $350 in Services! vmsm J All Natural, No Chemicals Weed Free Finely Textured High Organic Content See the difference a spring chicken can make! CALL TODAY it J First 50 Qualified Callers! To The pr r 667-356- 7 J Great for new and existing yards and lawns. Compost enriches soil by attracting earthworms and harbors friendly bacteria to keep plants healthy. Call Today For Your free Consultation! www.biasdccom' Now'throueh Saturday. Matf ri - w Fred,!: r?t' buyr2 get 1 Bras from: 4" fYTTTTtjW I VXl . v 1 r AmbrtfelleTLi V Ul Illy (llUII , 9. f !s LiIy of 'France f Maid'enformv i Underscore Barely There Lilyette- U - J- - . Ss . M - , - PI r ''jjrjr'expandc AA-- J cups through ! :s tr. Jcf r.: ' andjcp.drn ' '4, - '.a. It lJ wnn aireti aeposn I & "l inase prree ? access to your money including 8,500 Chase ATMs nationwide, free 1 I.! SM gives you more tree yf Chase Online Bill Pay, a free Chase Visa' Check Card with Zero Liability protection and free personalized voice, text and ail alerts. It's more than free, it's the freedom to bank when, where and how you want. YOUR CHOICE. YOUR CHASE 'Ztra liability prottction Chne promptly. V 2007 JPMornChMe rtimbursM you tor wy untuthoritcd cwd transKliont nudt at itortv ATMs, on the phon or online whn reported Bit, N.A, Membtr f 0IC |