How about US try something new, and take Russia's security concerns into account? Stop US from interfering in Georgian and Ukrainian elections, stop pushing NATO to Russia's borders (2/3 of Ukraine dont want NATO), stop building missile shield on their borders, stop arming your satelites states to attack Russia, stop ignoring Russian objections (and internation law) by destroying Serbia and proclaiming independence for Kosovo.
The American Empire will hopefully soon fall as the Soviet Empire did, so maybe America should try to cooperate with other nations instead of dominating them while the US still has the majority of power in the world.
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How to Manage Moscow
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that "the U.S. will have to choose between its virtual Georgia project and its much broader partnership with Russia." This, too, is linkage. It is unacceptable, but the fact Lavrov could say it reflects how much leverage Moscow has now. Over time, the best way to moderate Russian behavior is by reducing the wealth Russia derives from oil and gas. Russian policy toward Georgia would likely be less assertive if oil were $40 a barrel. Prices will move in this direction only when the United States reduces what it consumes and when it increases the supply of both oil and alternatives. Energy policy is national-security policy.
This will all take years and probably decades. In the meantime, Georgia need not be ignored. The United States is providing humanitarian help to Georgia and should look for other ways to but-tress its government. Negotiating the removal of Russian troops from Georgia and replacing them with legitimate international peacekeepers is worth pursuing. Bringing Georgia and Ukraine into the EU and NATO should remain on the agenda, although the timing and terms of further enlargement needs to be a matter of consultation with European allies—and with Russia as well.
Taking Russian concerns into account as we design and implement U.S. foreign policy is not appeasement. Nor does it give Moscow a veto. The point is that the United States cannot make policy toward Georgia or any other country in isolation. We have a range of interests, and Russia, for better or worse, is critical to many of them. Defining interests and determining priorities is the beginning of strategy. The 44th president will need one for Russia.
Haass, a NEWSWEEK contributor, is the president of the Council on Foreign Relations.
© 2008
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