en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/596836 Comments by melevy_2001 http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D99717181#IDComment26238275 The idea that Obama can change Russians' minds about relations with the US is foolish. It is the US that needs to change! Before 9/11, Clinton set the stage by using NATO to bomb, not just Serbian troops (justified), but also Belgrade (outrageous). Serbia is one of Russia's closest allies. After 9/11, Putin was one of the first, if not the first, world leaders to offer condolences. How have we responded? We have continued to promote NATO membership for former Soviet states on Russia's borders, not a friendly action given NATO's role in attacking Serbia. We are stubbornly planning on deploying an anti-missile interceptor system in Poland and the Czech Republic. Since offensive missiles are easily disguised as missile interceptors, the Russians, who are not stupid, see that as a major threat. While claiming to promote democracy, we have cooperated with tyrannical governments of former Soviet states for access to their mineral resources. Saying that we value democracy while having cozy relationships with Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan is the height of hypocrisy and arrogance. We have also blatantly lied about the situation in Georgia. The truth is that the US armed and trained the Georgian army prior to the attack by Georgia on South Ossetia. We did that partly because the Georgian president is US educated; he is also a personal friend of John McCain. It was not just any attack: an attack with artillery and rockets against the capital city at midnight, clearly aimed at maiming, killing, and terrorizing civilians. American "trainers" were reportedly involved in the combat. The US has supported Georgia in this barbarity. Prior to all this, the US financially supported "non-governmental organizations" (what an oxymoron!) that presumed the right to supervise Russian elections and, in general, tell the Russians how to govern their country. Putin justifiably expelled them. Russia does need that. The Russian state and culture are one thousand years old, and Russians are secure in that fact. They will not change their ways just to please us. The best advice on relationships with Russia was given by Pat Buchanan: we should stay out of their space and get out of their face. Lots of luck in getting our supremely self-confident, arrogant, and ignorant president to heed that advice! Two years of being a senator did not make him a statesman! Fri, 3 Jul 2009 17:41:03 +0000 http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D99717181#IDComment26238275