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

[lisakaz2]

Maybe if democracy really mattered to the group of 8, Bu$hie would have some 'splainin' to do, too.

Hate to say it, but at lot of ppl 'round the world will agree with Medvedev.

[amoment]

From what I can tell, many people here agree with Putin's puppet, just as I do. I just hope Barack and Michelle don't make a slip and agree with the Russian.

[Coyote2]

Okay folks, a forewarning: I now have my shaman hat on. Look at the Russian state symbol: a two-headed eagle. It has been foretold that our two states will be as one. How could this be? Well first Russian pride must be rebuilt. Then American hubris must be cleansed. Then we need a common goal and a common enemy.....­..........­.....

[JohnIII]

The Russians produce their own oil. Must be nice.

[Coyote2]

their production is falling

[JohnIII]

Why is that?

[Coyote2]

ha ha ha ..........­..........­.....

..........­..........­......sorr­y about that......­........

Ha ha ha ha ha ha aha ..........­.....oh jezzus....­...sorry..­....phffff­ffffffffff­ft

[Coyote2]

How far the mighty have fallen following a Monkey king.

[GrainOSand]

The NYT article provides an excellent look in the mirror at George Bush’s America in two sections:

“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 said world leaders should realize that the credit crunch and a gathering global recession signaled that the worldwide economic architecture needed to be overhauled. He did not specify how this should be done, but indicated it should entail a reduction in the influence of the United States.”

One need not make pleas or engage in a rant, one must simply ask that we all take the blinders off and see we are on a curve leading to nowhere special, proud, or productive. Trickle down and tax cuts for the wealthiest American’s has worked. It has worked for those doing the trickling and those getting the cuts. The poor individual, who just a couple of years before, was considering retirement at 55 or 56, may need to rethink. Is it all Bush’s fault, yes but he is not in the guilty boat alone. Many are guilty by association and that includes John McCain. Many contributed to this “boohoo” economics, which is not to be confused with “voodoo” economics, or the dreaded “doo-doo” economics. No, this boohoo economics of George Bush is producing rivers of tears. Tito, get America a tissue and a sedative, for tomorrow we begin again.

[vippy]

and yet there are still so many Americans who say the rich are paying too much in taxes, that if I pay 28% their 1% is more than I pay - can you even fathom such a statement? I think everyone
should pay at least the 28%, the more you make the more you pay taxes, that is fair.
McCain wants to give the rich even more tax cuts. Yet the voters don't want Obama because he
is black. I have to agree with Medvedev. We torture like the best of them, we hide detainees from the Red Cross, we have secret prisons around the world yet we on to China for human rights
violations. Just does not make sense to me!
Americans need to get a better education and not believe this is the best country to live in. Has not
been for a long time for the middle class, ask those who have 8 homes.

[GrainOSand]

The percentage paid should be proportional and fair. All cases where it is not are a sham. I have no qualms with someone who works to become super wealthy, or someone who was blessed by fate to be born into the lap of wealth. I wish that this could be true for all who covet such a lifestyle and existence.

My view on wealth is that once you take care of the essentials all else is a judgment call. This should be the standard of any society supposing greatness. The standard condition for all citizens should be the ability to survive such that one can reach their potential. Survival should not find people living paycheck to paycheck in a country so rich and so untaxed compared to other nations -- the minimum wage is paltry compared to the cost of survival. Survival should find people able to save money, and build towards a future. Survival should never be near famine, survival should never want for healthcare; survival should have the same educational opportunities as those who are living above the survival level. Survival should not mean having to live in an American killing field as it does for many throughout this nation. Survival should be whole families that function to raise strong children and nurturing relationships within the surrounding community. Survival should be fair and just for all. Survival, the new lower class and the old respect for life, if only we would adopt the principles of -- survival.

[americanalien]

Bush and the Republicans have succeeded in making America the laughing stock of the world. They have compromised our standing abroad, shredded our constitution and made us all less safe. Just a decade ago we were giving aid to the Russians as their economy was in shambles following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Today the Russian economy is in a far better shape than ours thanks to Bush and astronomical oil prices. Their coffers are overflowing with money, they have one of the biggest foreign currency reserves in the word valuing in the hundreds of billions of dollars while we are sinking ever deeper in trillions of dollars of debt and inching ever closer to recession. This is what the Bush economy of tax cuts to the rich and runaway spending on unnecessary wars have accomplished. Mr. Medvedev is correct in his assessment. This country is in no position to criticize anybody else since our own house is in such disorder. We'll never be able to reclaim our image until Bush leaves the White House.

[Coyote2]

$$$ a BILLION dollar$$$$$ a day in the hole

[trudem2]

Please get real: this is D-E-P-R-E-S-S-I-O-N territory, and the Russian prez called it like it is...

unlike our "leaders."

[researcher]

we have stole all of our society security and we now borrow from the communists, the socialists and kings and we are trying to tell the world how great our deregulated capitalist economic system is

typical self rightous american mentality

the end is near imperialistic capitalism is going down fast

the world will be safer for it

the end result of this corp and media and gov fascism

bye bye middle class

[True]

Russia is not a shining example unto the world, but he's not wrong.

I'm reminded of the Biblical teaching regarding removing the stick in your own eye first.

Of course the "christian" right probably cut that part of their Bible out.

[researcher]

the christian right has cut out a lot of the bible that does not agree with their war mongering and self righteousness

jesus come back your followers have missed your message

second thought dont come back they would eliminate you again for your words of love and peace

who did jesus have the most problems with in his day

the religious right

go figure

[Vermontah]

This probably'll never get read but hey. I think the "Religious Right" is a misnomer. The Republican Party stole religion, fed it its issues and manipulated people of faith for their own nefarious political gains.

The truth is, God is love, God is about compassion and understanding and caring for the weak. Religion is about community, sharing, and practicing these values.

I think Obama can bring about a huge change in this country by turning the Religious Right into the Religious Left. Already we are seeing evangelicals flocking to Obama and rejecting the disgusting Republicans. I think in their hearts the religious sector of our country has always disliked the Republican Right but thought they were the only ones paying attention to them.

Now it's different. People are realizing that it's the DEMOCRATS who share their values, who are closer to the American ideal, who represent compassion, caring, and God's love. With the new religious Left behind us we will truly change the fabric of this country.

OBAMA 08

[shedances]

Medvedev sounds like a person to be reckoned with ... he's got ideas and the courage to speak them. I don't agree with everything he days; but he makes a strong case about the problems the U.S. is dealing with ... and the stupidity of judging Russia. I agree, True. Russia has a lot of problems. Some of it (eg., Russian maffia) is active in our country, too. Neither nation is squeaky clean; but the U.S. isn't progressing as it should.

K

[Jason357]

Yep. It's so childish of American leaders to just whine about how the guy doesn't think for himself, blah, blah, blah. The Russians are have some brilliant resources. All our leaders seem to be able to do is bully and call people names in the media.

Though the Russians may have some different ideas, at least their leaders defend their own country and don't take sides with other countries against their own citizenry like the US government constantly does.

[Agentlady007]

I think you meant to say " The Christian's Right". Which identifies the cause of perfection within a belief higher than our selves. As mortal beings we are all about physical when you know heirarchy in the rligious spectrum of time, and less attached with the divine mind, especially when we take it for granted.

[WFV]

Unfortunately, he's right. Get used to it - everybody knows we are diminished financially and militarily. Thanks, George.

[freshnotbitter]

I get the feeling that Putin's critics are going to miss him.

[speakeasy]

uh oh, looks like W's gonna have to head over to Russia to stare down Medvedev and look into his soul. He's batting what? .000099 The only person he looked into his soul correctly was from Saudi Arabia and he ended up holding hands. WTF did he read on that one???

[Birdman]

Seems he is pretty much right, thanks to ole drinking buddy George the man who claimed he was going to bring integrity to the whitehouse managed to do everything wrong and has dirtied the good reputation of this country. Hopefully we as a people can put the last 8 years behind us and undo all the bad crap GW has done.

[rtnd22]

do Americans finally see how Republicans have not only undermined their own brand but America's as well...wha­t a shame

[JohnInDallas]

Unfortunately the average American doesn't see much of anything. this country is in a huge crisis. Either America has to do something about it or get accustomed to comments like those from President Medvedev.

How bad is the crisis? Read this shocking article on today's AlterNet article called, "Ignorant America: Just How Stupid Are We?" (Millions of Americans are embarrassingly ill-informed and they do not care that they are.) By Rick Shenkman. Posted July 2, 2008. This article is a must read!

You can read the article at
http://www.alternet.org/democracy/90161/?ses=8f95e0f8d06aaca68f71f2da7761265c

He has a book coming out under the same title

Rick Shenkman, Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter, New York Times bestselling author, and associate professor of history at George Mason University, is the founder and editor of History News Network, a website that features articles by historians on current events. this essay is from his new book

[totaldisbelief]

?? US of A is in no place to dish out advise??..­....no shitski Dmitri.

[ProgressiveThought]

Sad but true. thanks corrupt Republicans and G W. Bush. Once the move is made to switch dollar as the common oil currency we are screwed. FU big corporations and globalization. Americas chickens are coming home to roost! We got cheap goods from China in Wal-Mart in exchange for $5 gas. I called what is happening 5 years ago.

[jennbeez]

I was waiting for someone to mention the currency connection. The US has in just 8 short years lost her ability to keep oil trading solely in petrodollars (which has a very convenient dampening effect on inflation) and that fact has not been missed by the rest of the world. We are so screwed when they start trading oil with the Yuan.