The Bush foreign policy is a disaster. Take the most recent misstep. Placing missiles and missile radar in Eastern Europe bordering Russia. Understandably Russian President Vladimir Putin is upset. From an AP story today on Yahoo news by Vladimir Isachenkov:
"President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia's test-firing of new missiles this week was a response to U.S. plans to build missile defense sites across Europe, and suggested Washington is pursuing an imperialist policy that has triggered a new arms race.
"In a clear reference to the United States, Putin harshly criticized "diktat and imperialism" in global affairs and warned that Russia will keep strengthening its military potential to maintain a global strategic balance."
With one decision, Bush takes the United States back to the Cold War and the Arms Race of the 50s and 60s. The United States naively says that Russia has nothing to worry about because the missiles are not pointed at Russia. How would Americans react if Russia placed missiles in Canada and Mexico? We already know the answer to that. The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Americans were furious, Kennedy's inner circle debated nuking Havana and Moscow, the world almost suffered its first nuclear war.
Nevertheless, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice insists that the U.S. does not understand why Russia is so upset with the U.S. missile plan. The New York Times in a story from the AP reports:
"Russian attitudes are locked in the past, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday, adding that the United States is perplexed by the current fracas with Russia over a planned U.S. missile system in Europe."
Here again, Rice demonstrates she is not up to the job. It is hard to believe she is so sheltered that she is "perplexed" by the Russian reaction.
"President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia's test-firing of new missiles this week was a response to U.S. plans to build missile defense sites across Europe, and suggested Washington is pursuing an imperialist policy that has triggered a new arms race.
"In a clear reference to the United States, Putin harshly criticized "diktat and imperialism" in global affairs and warned that Russia will keep strengthening its military potential to maintain a global strategic balance."
With one decision, Bush takes the United States back to the Cold War and the Arms Race of the 50s and 60s. The United States naively says that Russia has nothing to worry about because the missiles are not pointed at Russia. How would Americans react if Russia placed missiles in Canada and Mexico? We already know the answer to that. The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Americans were furious, Kennedy's inner circle debated nuking Havana and Moscow, the world almost suffered its first nuclear war.
Nevertheless, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice insists that the U.S. does not understand why Russia is so upset with the U.S. missile plan. The New York Times in a story from the AP reports:
"Russian attitudes are locked in the past, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday, adding that the United States is perplexed by the current fracas with Russia over a planned U.S. missile system in Europe."
Here again, Rice demonstrates she is not up to the job. It is hard to believe she is so sheltered that she is "perplexed" by the Russian reaction.
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