While President Obama is in Moscow this week, he ought to take time to deliver a Cairo-style speech to the Russian people, suggests Paula Schriefer, director of advocacy at the nongovernmental organization Freedom House. Currently, she said, the media mostly spout nationalist propaganda and portray freedom and democracy as bad things. Speech is stifled. Elections are meaningless. “Russians don’t like being preached to by foreigners any more than Egyptians, Turks, Iranians or, for that matter, Americans do,” Schriefer wrote. “Yet they may respond to a frank and respectful speech that emphasizes America’s real desire — not for a weak and subservient Russia — but rather a strong Russia that shares its democratic values and that can be a real partner in tackling some of the world’s growing list of crises.”
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8 Comments
“but rather a strong Russia that shares its democratic values”.
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Just what exactly have you been smoking down there on east Douglass?
140 rioters dead in China, why hasn’t Obama issued a strong condemnation and pledged our support? Whay hasn’t congress issued a strong Resolution yet? What will he do? What will he do?
Give a “China, tear down that wall” speech, and make it all better?
Will Obama find his ’soul mate’, like bush did.
“Phantom” –
Thanks for the reminder of when George WMD Bush “…looked into Putin’s eyes and saw his soul.”
And then there’s Mark Sanford and his “soul mate.”
What is it the Republic Party pols and “soul?”
The New Christie Minstrels had more soul.
Contrasting Reagan and Obama clearly shows the difference between Leadership based on specific objectives, and Leadership based on plattitudes of ‘Change’.
Indeed, the advances Obama may make this week in Arms reductions with Russia, could not have happened without the leadership of Reagan in bringing down the wall of Communism in Eastern Europe, and the Soviet Union, with his Peace through Strength approach.
Reagan did not accomplish this with just words.
His “tear down this wall” speech was very clear, but the Pershing and Cruise missiles deployed in Western Europe, the Strategic Defense Initiative, the 500 ship Navy, the Stealth Fighter, and the Stealth Bomber are what forced the Communists to throw in the towel.
Now Obama’s approach in dealing with countries which oppose us is the Peace through Hope approach.
Obama hopes that his magical words will accomplish peace.
Peace through words, ask Lord Chamberlin how that worked out for him.
And speaking of Russia, this “joint understanding” to reduce nukes, will not be implemented unless Obama backs down to Russia and scraps or reduces our defensive missles.
Wait and see who blinks, Obama or Medvedev.
Yet, Obama will come back to the US claiming some sort of a victory, even though nothing has changed, except for a few words put on paper.
Huh.
Obama’s big overseas trip being overlooked by Libs?
Libs are too busy worrying about domestic welfare programs apparently.
“JimJohnson” –
They signed a nuclear arms agreement today.
“Pro-forma?”
Perhaps.
But Obama and Medvedev met face-to-face. (An opportunity to look into each other’s souls.)
Putin wasn’t in the room but in spirit.
What Russia was isn’t what Russia is. And I’m here to guarantee you Russia is not pleased with what’s going on in Iran. And for Russia, Iran is a much closer neighbor.
Now compare Obama’s approach to Russia with George WMD Bush, who became a soul mate with Putin after getting lost up in Vladimir’s eyes.