'New era'

[Gregz]

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the United States, Russia has been reconsidering its place in the world.

The Cold War was supposed to have ended in 1991. Looking at Russian responses to Nato's eastward expansion, that alliance's campaign in Kosovo, and US plans for a new missile defence system, you could have been forgiven for thinking it had started again.

But in the weeks since 11 September, there has been a definite shift in Moscow's mood. Confirmation came with President Vladimir Putin's visit to Brussels.

There, he said that Moscow's view on Nato enlargement - so far it has been an implacable opponent - could change.



"One can take another, an entirely new look at this if Nato takes on a different shade and is becoming a political organisation," he said.

Nato Secretary-General, Lord Robertson, said Russia could not have a veto over which countries become members of the organisation.

But he did hail "a new era of substantial and practical co-operation".

The main sticking point will be the Baltic states. Moscow was outraged when its former satellites in the Warsaw Pact - Poland, Hungary, and the Czech republic - joined Nato. Cold War era generals would find the entry of former Soviet republics even harder to stomach.

There is no doubt, however, that many in Russia believe this is a moment of historic opportunity.

"Russia has received a chance to become part of the civilised world," said Alexander Goltz, a Moscow-based military analyst.

"Now we are at a very crucial turning point. There are forces who want to limit our support for this operation, and other people want Russia to be a part of the future world."

That is the difficulty which President Putin faces as he enters this "new era."

Alexander Goltz says that most of Russia's military establishment still thinks in Cold War terms.

Underlying differences

They will be hard to persuade of the benefits of greater co-operation with Nato.

Nor is it such a long time since March 1999, when opinion polls suggested that some 90% of the Russian public were against Nato's campaign in Kosovo. Then, the alliance was an object of hatred across the political spectrum.

These underlying differences may not be so apparent as former foes struggle to present a united front in the war against global terrorism.

But if this "new era" proves to be a false dawn, they can be expected to resurface. So too can the West's concerns over the Kremlin's military campaign in Chechnya.

Since that campaign began two years ago, there have been persistent reports of human rights abuses by Russian forces. Russia insists its operation there is aimed solely at those it has described as "bandits and terrorists".

The Kremlin has suggested that Islamic extremist fighters from outside Russia have joined the rebel side.

But claims by Chechens of torture and summary execution have prompted international criticism.

The United States and its allies need Russia on their side if they are to prosecute their "war on terrorism" successfully.

That may mean that differences are put aside - perhaps even eventually resolved.


Source BBC

[tkepsus]

Listen up Gregz!


"The United States and its allies need Russia on their side if they are to prosecute their "war on terrorism" succesfully"

I can say...hell yes, you are right about that!
The U.S is nothing without the support of the russians! I agree all the way down!
But don´t you think something is going to happen? I can´t imagine Russia and USA as allies! It doesnt make any sense! I´m afraid the russians will abuse this situation! They´ll somehow take over controle...maybee by force, and place the US in a situation in which they can´t survive!
3rd WW is comming....don´t you think?

By the rest, I´m with the Russians! In a way the U.S deserved this attack!

[rikbe]

Tkepsus,

You can't imagine? That is not a reason why it should not happen. I can imagine it very well. It is inevitable.

I´m afraid the russians will abuse this situation!

That's exactly what the Russians think of Americans.

Main problem is your paranoid attitude towarths each other.

[Ragnvald]

What a great future it's gonna be when Russia becomes a member of NATO.

They can bomb Serbs together then.

Also it can expand NATO towards its own boarders, install some nukes in Latvia pointed at Moscow, right in the centre of St. Basil cathedral.

Russia can help to make even bigger noise about "human rights" abuses in Chechnya, and even send some arms and military advisors to chechen bandits to help to fight itself. On the way Russians can blow couple of buildings in Moscow, cut heads of some foriegn correspondents and civilians, kidnap some people and demand ransom, establish Shariah law in some its villages on Chechen boarder, just to save some time for Chechen guerrilas.

One day Russia can even attack itself, joining NATO forces in their fight for "freedom" to exploit Siberian resources.

[Gregz]

Russians ordered by NATO to invade and bomb Russia and then told off about resulting "human rights" violations. lol


Best Regards

Gregz

[Ghaleon]

Russia is a key factor in this crisis. Hell, Afgansistan used to be Soviet terrtory, or really close to it. Russia knows a lot about their tactics as well as many other things.

Putting them in NATO would be the best thing in the world, for they always wanted to be in it. It will loosen the tension between Russia and other major countries, if any.

I believe Russia should gain extra bonuses if it helps more, because it is a low income country, opposite to its former Soviet side. if they help us beyond what is needed, hell we should help them rebuild their foundations of democracy, in which they are really trying to comprehend, and help their economy back up to be at least a world power again. Even though they were communists during that time of the Soviet Union, they were a world power of immense measures. Let us help them get back on their feet for being in dicator rule for half a century!

Best Wishes!
Ghaleon

[mastodon]

NATO Drive for Closer Russia Ties Stirs Unease
Gazeta.ru

"NATO Secretary-General George Robertson set off on Wednesday on a mission to explore radically enhanced ties between the Western defence alliance and Russia to reward Moscow for its new cooperation against terrorism."