This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
At the same time, Putin asserts state sovereignty. He's less compromising toward Washington than Medvedev. Russia under him is back. It's proud and reassertive. He's not about to roll over for America.
He wants greater Moscow influence. He wants rule of law principles respected. He wants Western meddling in the internal affairs of Russia, Syria, and other nations stopped.
He stresses Moscow's "independent foreign policy." He affirms the "inalienable right to security for all states, the inadmissibility of excessive force, and unconditional observance of international law."
He and Obama disagree on fundamental geopolitical issues. Key is national sovereignty. So are war and peace. America claims a divine right to fight. Putin prioritizes conflict resolution.
Disagreements between both countries play out in dueling agendas. Russia's gone all-out to prevent full-scale war on Syria. It's valued regional interests are too important to sacrifice.
Washington notoriously plays hard ball. It retaliates different ways. For decades, Jackson-Vanik legislation remained a Cold War relic.
Section 401, Title IV of the 1974 Trade Act affected commercial relations with communist and former communist countries. It targeted nations. It influenced US/Russian relations until mid-December.
Repealing it came with strings. On December 6, House and Senate legislators passed the Magnitsky Act. On December 14, Obama enacted it. Congress and US media scoundrels hailed it as "an important step in the cause of human rights and democracy."
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
