New Russian President: U.S. In No Position To Dish Out Advice

New York Times:

Russia's new president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, less swaggering than his predecessor but as touchy about criticism from abroad, said in an interview that an America in "essentially a depression" was in no position to lecture other countries on how to conduct their affairs.

With soaring oil revenues bolstering the Russian economy and Kremlin confidence, Mr. Medvedev brushed aside American criticism of his country's record on democracy and human rights. He also said that a revived Russia had a right to assume a larger role in a world economic system that he suggested should no longer be dominated by the United States.

Mr. Medvedev made his comments on Tuesday in a meeting with a small group of foreign journalists a day after the American treasury secretary, Henry M. Paulson Jr., appealed in Moscow for Russian investment in the United States. The symbolism of the visit resonated here, in that only a decade had passed since the Russian economy was in shambles and the country was desperate for Western aid.

Mr. Medvedev seemed to be seeking in the interview to raise his profile before attending the Group of 8 meeting of industrialized nations next week in Japan. Mr. Medvedev leads Russia in tandem with his predecessor and mentor, Vladimir V. Putin, who is now prime minister and is still widely considered Russia's pre-eminent leader.

In the interview, Mr. Medvedev was asked about a call by Senator John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, to bar Russia from the Group of 8 because of its record on democracy. Mr. Medvedev, who easily won Russia's presidential election in March after the Kremlin hobbled the opposition, responded that the question of democracy was irrelevant to the Group of 8 and, besides, the United States had more pressing matters to attend to.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[SteamRanger]

I can hear the supports creaking as a top-heavy empire sways in the wind. Anyone who didn't see this coming hasn't been paying attention.

[DC]

"Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky, the former oil oligarch and Putin opponent" was essentially stealing from the Russian Society under the guise of laws that allowed a tremendous theft. Putin may have been right to send him to Siberia.

We have an Administration using, bending "laws," and creating boogymen and fears to steal from the American Public. We might not have a Siberia, but we do have Leavenworth. It is where too many in our Administration belong. Putin may have it right!

[gladys46]

Sadly! We have much work to do to reverse America's standing in the world!!

[coba]

who is he besides a communist to tell us that we cant give advice. but seriously this is what happens when we borrow from countries like china and russia, we owe them billions of dollars and they have all the influence over us and they think they can say whatever they want about us. i say we elect obama and improve our standing in the world

http://sensico.wordpress.com/

[harriscrl3]

I dont know which is sadder having people like Medvedev tal to us in that manner or that we have done so much damage that we can be talked to in that manner. We have gone against everything that once caused other countries to admire us. It began when we no longer became a democracy that we cherished and Florida was stolen. We should have known then that it was a sign of things to come. We start off the Millenium badly so it shouldnt be a surprise that we detoured even further from what we were about.

Carol

[MilwaukeeDan]

Carol, the 1960s and 70s where not that great for "brand America" either. We killed a million Vietnamese and managed to get over 50,000 Americans killed "fighting Communist"(sort of like "fighting terror" of the 20th century). And now, they make Nike shoes for us, among other things.

[harriscrl3]

True but the millenium was upon us it was our chance to get it right and we got it very wrong.

Carol

[HermioneGranger]

Actually, it was 3,8 milion Vietnamese

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N19285476.htm

[blaqntelligence]

Not to mention the world seeing such American atrocities as the murder of Emmit Till and the Civil Rights movement repercussions.
America has lived a delusion for so long, they are the only one's shocked when someone finally has the guts to stand up and tell the emperor he has no clothes.

[OhioJan]

This is a sad day for us folks! With Pres. Medvedev and HIS CheneyPutin, they have been entering the 21st century, while our RepubliCON crime syndicate regresses us back into the 18th century. And, the saddest fact if that he's right: Thanks to bu$hCo,Inc American "leaders" haven't got one right to speak against ANY other Nation or ANY other government's actions or behaviors.

Many of us tried to warn those voters of this 4 years ago of the upcoming danger of a 2nd GW term, but, they were so smug. They just KNEW bu$hyCo,Inc would do an even BETTER job their 2nd time through...Well, "I told you so"!!!!! The last 8 years were spent dismantling America, while they were ALL building & amassing THEIR fortunes and THEIR multi-trillion $ properties in DuBai, so when America is FINALLY handed over to the Russian/Chinese govs, bu$hCo,Inc would be safely out of the Country & off the radar!

There was a real BIG reason why someone, a very long time ago, coined the phrase, "money is the root of ALL ev!l"...because it TRULY is!!! And, because of this "administration", we have NO MONEY, THEY have it ALL, and the Chinese/Russian govs have surpassed America in wealth, world standing, & stability - albeit TEMPORARY, they still dominate our once great Nation. Sad day for us.

[Bushwillresign]

How can honest Americans ever thank those that voted for Bush Act ll? Now they want America to open up Alaska and Florida for more oil drilling. They should be asking Bush why the gas prices are so high. We just can't believe anything a repub says anymore, not that we ever believed them anyway.

[GolfingDevil05]

Umm.. yeah. President Medvedev is absolutely correct. The G8 is not about political systems. It's about the eight largest economies, period. Yet another aspect of foreign policy that Senator McCain doesn't understand.

[gladys46]

Greed, capitalism at it's worst, delight in laying down laws, and delighting more in breaking them ... and this has been exported "democracy!"??

McCain expects transmigration of the same!!

[Jason357]

[Warmglobe]

Yeah..we are considering electing Obama

[DakotaMinnesota]

So... we fought communist Russia for half a century and finally toppled them because we wanted them to convert to a capitalist economic system... and now they (and China and India, all former communist-Marxist societies) are outcompeting us in the world.

Why exactly did we think that was a good idea?

[AliHajiSheik]

They are hardly outcompeting us. They are fortunately sitting on giant pools of oil while our president makes them rich with idiotic foreign policy. There is no inovation going on in Russia and all of their money is being spent on stuff like crystal spinners for their Maybachs and gold toilets. They're like a hyper version of 1980s Texas.

[TLV]

Sadly, you are wrong. Russia is exploring for oil in other countries as well. Iran is one of them...thus the drum-beat for war against Iran, a much weaker nation than the U.S. or Russia. If their ally, Russia, comes to their aid...our troops are sunk. It would likely be the start of a new world war. I say we'd best keep OUR traps shut and work a hell of a lot harder on diplomacy.

[SiberianRat]

While you're partly correct in that olegarkist spending redefines oppulence, I would not say there is no innovation here. Don't mistake the flashy rich guys for the average Russian--they're working their rears off to get educated, advance science, and survive in their new context. Their tenacity is remarkable, and they are surviving on a pittance in the most expensive country in the world. The New Russia is the future--the US is not, at least if it continues the way it has (which may not be able to be reversed)...

[HermioneGranger]

When exactly did you fight Russia? When you stood up against Stalin in WWII? When you helped the uprisings in Budapest, Prague and the Baltics to succeed? When you got Russian missiles off Cuba? When you prevented the Berlin Wall? Do you live in a parallel universe?

[SiberianRat]

As an American living in Russia, I can tell you that our image here, never that great, is really bad. There was a time immediately following the disbanding of the USSR that Russians respected the US--now, like much of the world, they think we're arrogant, militaristic, stupid, and a threat to world stability and peace. Medvedev is indeed very close politically and personally to Putin and there won't be major changes in foreign policy under him. He is, however, trying to tackle corruption here which is very entrenched in all spheres of life. Russia has a real chance if they play it right, and NOT taking advice or criticism from the US is smart at this time. That said, I do think that Russians would like to have a better relationship with the US and they do follow our politics. Obama is the favorite, as far as I can tell. If Pres. Obama deals with Russia in a more respectful, productive manner, then I think the future of Russian-American relations could be much better.

[MilwaukeeDan]

SR, good comment, remember Clinton's Ivy League goons that went in during Yeltsins reign? Remember what they created? And you wonder why Russians dislike Americans.

[oracleatdelphi]

So very true. This is just the "tip of the iceberg" as to what other countries think about us, and our arrogance

[wmbear]

O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-W...

We're scared....

[LITU]

Ah bravado. 'Tis a wonderful thing to demonstrate from afar. Only a fool confronts an adversary without at least a small measure of fear.

[CSE]

Oh no. Logic here will not suffice. Try using it against the chatterbox...you'll be censored.

As the economic engine of our great republic - and I use that term loosely - depresses, money is flowing into short-term, income producing obligations. Just an hour's review of funds that hold cumulatively in the hundreds of billions in these instruments shows that many see municipal debt as a safe haven for the time being. But, that municipal debt is being funded by taxes and as the tax base contracts and business stales, this debt will require increased tax revenue from somewhere.

You have to hand it to the free market GOP clan, they can milk it to the last drop before handing the bail-out to others while they retire to well funded think tanks to wait until the till begins to fill again. It is indeed cyclic.

It is also instructive to note how eager other nations are to offer economic aid. What goes around - comes around.

[SouthAustin]

America is in trouble and it's biggest problem is that a huge chunk of the population has no idea it's in trouble. Ignorance is bliss.

[TLV]

Medvedev's comment is right on the money. While our "leadership" is certainly not the worst of history's hated regimes, it comes close. Thank goodness people the world over recognize that most of us did not vote for them and do not support their criminal behavior.
The cold war is still on as Russia and the U.S. vie for oil reserves in dangerous places. We will hear more news of Medveded's feelings toward our government once Bush is gone. That's because while Bush presided, it was important for him to pump up the fact that Putin and he actually have a close personal relationship rather than admit that there is quite a bit of tension when it comes to our diplomatic relations.

[bmora]

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...It is a period of civil war. Rebel Democrats, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Republicans. During the battle, rebel Democrats managed to steal secret to the Republican's ultimate weapon, the Bush Doctrine, an draconian foreign and domestic policy with enough power to destory the country. Pursued by Republican's sinister agents, Barack Obama races home aboard his jet plane, custodian of the stolen plans that can save the People and restore freedom to the US.

[TheOneironaut]

Mmm, strong with him, "the vote" is.

[dentuso]

In essence, Medvedev suggests that the US is no longer respected globally, and that our economy is in the cr@pper.

No s$#t.