Obama To Putin: The Old Cold War Approach To Diplomacy Is "Outdated"

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is describing Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as someone who still has "one foot in the old ways of doing business and one foot in the new."

He says one reason he's meeting with Putin _ as well as with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (dih-MEE'-tree med-VYEH'-dyev) _ during his upcoming visit to Moscow is that he wants Putin to know that "the old Cold War approaches" to relations with the United States are "outdated."

Obama says Putin "still has sway" in Russia.

He also says the U.S. is developing a "very good relationship" with Medvedev, and that he's looking for gains in nuclear arms reduction.

During an Associated Press interview Thursday, Obama rejected the idea that Russia is an obstacle in confronting North Korea and Iran. He said there's been "good cooperation" in dealing with those two countries.

Comments

[ConcernedCitizen78]

It's welcome news that President Obama says the Cold War is history. But WORDS are easy to say. (Remember one President who said he’d solve the Palestinian-Israeli problem by the end of his term?)
What are US ACTIONS in reality? These are the realities:
1. A military budget that is bigger than the defence budgets of all the major countries combined. The latest budget was INCREASED.
2. Military bases, with men and weapons ready for war at any time, surrounding current and former Communist countries in the Cold War policy of containment.
3. A US government willing to resort to military force instead of diplomacy, for example, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, etc.
4. House Representatives, Senators, and a White House administration (not necessarily Obama himself) always ready and very willing to interfere in the internal affairs of former and current Communist countries.
5. Weaponization of space - who are the targets of this new military capability, if not powerful former Cold War enemies?
6. Even if Obama believes the Cold War is over, what about the next US president? US foreign policies are NOT CONSISTENT and depend on the whims, insecurities, and domestic election considerations of its next president and Congress.
Given these realities, how can other countries have confidence in US words?
One solution: the US can UNILATERALLY REDUCE its massive military budget and deployment (withdraw from or downsize bases like Okinawa, Diego Garcia, etc), or disband NATO. Only then will other countries believe the Cold War is over.

[MoEls]

"6. Even if Obama believes the Cold War is over, what about the next US president? US foreign policies are NOT CONSISTENT and depend on the whims, insecurities, and domestic election considerations of its next president and Congress."
There's no need for nihilism. It'll be fine when somebody makes the first step n shows that it can be done.

[betty22]

oh you are a funny guy...hahhahaha i just feel funny tonite

[POLINUT]

After watching the interview, I get the sense that Medvedev is frustrated with Putin, but nobody - not even Medvedev - dares speak up. Next best thing: Let Obama tell Russia's Czar that he wears no clothes...

[Weirdwriter]

I think he just did. Putin hides behind Cold War policy -- Obama said it's a new game and better be willing to play it right.

[oxi]

Oh really! What is NATO again?

Obama continues with the cold war not Russia!

[davidwayneosedach]

We can expect nothing from the Obama - Putin meetings. Neither side will "score."

[Weirdwriter]

Not if you regard this as a tennis match. All President Obama has to do is show he's not Bush and whatever he sees in Putin's eyes do not fool him, nor scare him. He'll be a quiet strength to Medvedev.

[oxi]

Obama not Bush?

Continued war spending for Iraq and Afghanistan...

Increased Pentagon budget...

Wireless wiretapping continues...

Patriot Act still around...

Torture is not prosecuted so it is legal by Obama...

Secrecy by Obama by witholding records and documents...

Shall I go on?

[Swampy]

Obama-Putin: This should be one of the more entertaining meetings of the year. Putin has what you'd call a rapier wit and Obama has foolishly set himself up for a close-up demonstration. Any bets?

[editorjuno]

I think the President will handle himself (and Putin's "rapier wit") with ease and aplomb, as usual. Putin is not well regarded among those who know him best, his former KGB colleagues -- if he hadn't been hand picked by the notoriously drunken Boris Yeltsin, by now he'd be just another post-Soviet nobody lucky to hold on to his dacha. He is well liked by most Russians, who tend to be comfortable with leaders who reflect of their own sense of mediocrity and pessimism.

[Weirdwriter]

If you're one of Rush's minions hoping President Obama will fail, your comment falls in line with that spiteful, short-term vision. Obama can more than hold his own with this ex-KGB honcho.

[ianrthorpe]

Whatever Obama said, clearly Putin and his buddy thought it was hilarious.

[leonel]

PUTIN IS PROBABLY JUST AS POPULAR IN RUSSIA AS OBAMA IS IN US.
ANY PERSONAL CRITICISM BETWEEN THEMSELVES IS UNJUSTIFIED.

They are probably as good leaders as both these countries are likely to get. Here and there both Obama and Clinton seem to make statements of other leaders and countries that seem just a little too harsh. I believe they are called gratuitous and ad hominem remarks that don't help. They may be blamed on overkill or maybe just their speech writers are too hyper. On the other hand, maybe criticism of this is itself overreacting. Are we acting like theater critics and looking for any annoyance we can think of? Probably.

[MoEls]

On the one hand you could see it as a criticism of Putin. On the other hand it can also be interpreted as an honest invitation: "Vlad, when we leave our long tradition of comparing dick size behind: What can we do?"
During Bush's and his chickenhawks reign Putin was damn right to be reserved and push an independant agenda. Obama can really be a change in that too.

[Weirdwriter]

Excellent.

[jackbutler5555]

There's quite a few dictators in the world and a whole bunch of human rights violators, aren't there. I say leave them alone. And you say? What? Go into those countries, throw out the dictators, and restore human rights? Really? Can you give me examples of how well that would work?

[jackbutler5555]

Obama is a smart guy. So, I'll withhold judgment about the wisdom of assailing his co-host before arriving in Russia. I hope he has it all worked out.

[SiberianRat]

I'm not sure it'll be taken as such. Putin likely won't appreciate being talked to that way, but the content of the message, we should improve our relationship, is going to be hard for him to argue against (and I don't think he wants to, really). I haven't heard about it in the press and likely won't since that sort of comment might be seen as negative and therefore won't be reported (which, IMHO, is just as well).

[MikeRdg]

'but the content of the message, we should improve our relationship'

--- well, one can always look into their eyes-------------- but make sure one has a big stick in your hand behind your back.

[claudiam]

Our man Barack! It is time for the 21st century to come alive. claudiatucsonaz

[nogimmicks]

The cold war approach is out, the real war approach is in. Drones and Marines replaced the CIA and the Voice of America.

[SiberianRat]

You're saying you want a war with Russia?

[MikeRdg]

Russia went for Georgia because they knew America was weakened. Hay! but the Romneys made money, so who cares!!!!

[MikeRdg]

Most sane people do not want war. No all countries are friendly, even though it is necessary to have some relationship with them, to underestimate, is foolish.
In Russia journalist are killed, crime is well......... it is wise to use caution, and know they have their own goals and agendas.

[jackbutler5555]

I guess your bar has internet access.

[FaceReality2]

Why did Bush and Co. want to twist Russia's tail? What if Russia moved missiles into Mexico? How would we feel?

Remember we heard Russia attacked Georgia?

"Then we come to the current crisis, with Georgia launching an attack on South Ossetia; hundreds of people have been killed, both in Georgia’s initial attack and in Russia’s ‘peacekeeping’ response: its bombing of Georgian targets. Given the intimate relationship between the Georgian elite and its American sponsors, it seems unlikely that the attack was a complete surprise to the Bush administration.

"We need not waste any sympathy on Saakashvili. It is the Georgian people we should be concerned about: they have been denied any possibility of democracy and self-government by an opportunistic international community and a cynical domestic elite. It is inaccurate to say that Russia is trying to extinguish Georgian democracy since we do not know what a really democratic Georgia would look like – it has not yet existed."

Tara McCormack is a lecturer in European Union studies and International Relations at the University of Westminster.

http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/5596/

[MikeRdg]

Russia had been moving there people into South Ossetia for a long time, and using their typical ploy of giving the South Ossetia people Russian passports. The conflict is long stemed in history between South Ossetia and Georgia. Besides someone silly used Russians as peacekeepers in the area.

The bid is Russia is trying to grab all the engery areas as possible, that way they can control and dictate.

[FaceReality2]

My understanding was that the majority of the people in South Ossetia and the other breakaway province (Abkhasia) do not want to be part of Georgia and prefer the Russians.

Shouldn't they be allowed to decide?

Does the U.S. have any business in Georgia's internal politics?

[SiberianRat]

Not true--nice you can spout GOP talking points so readily though.

[hommie]

Thanks for the historical lesson, but the bottom line is that Georgia attacked first and they attacked peacekeeper if that doesn't sink in nothing will. Your perception of Russians doesn't obfuscate the fact they were peace keepers. And the notion that they Russians are trying to grab all "energy area" is calling the pot black.

[oxi]

"The bid is Russia is trying to grab all the engery areas as possible, that way they can control and dictate."

And what is the U.S. doing in Iraq and Afghanistan?

[MikeRdg]

oh, and Americans? Too busy into Michael Jackson.

[MikeRdg]

Face Reality2--- the response comment to Face R needs to show -- the answer is hidden.

No. Don"t the people of the Caucasus have a right to independence? Here is what Russia does. In the 40"s and 50"s the Russians removed native Caucasus from their land and put them into exile. Russia resettle some ethic Russians in the area, especially cities. After Stalin died the native people from the Caucasus returned and wanted independence from Russia -- but Russia will not do it.

South Ossetia is an integral part of Georgia geographically. "The Ossete national movement was encouraged by the Soviet Government in an effort to exert pressure against Georgian independence."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4498709.ece

Georgia is important because it is a gateway into Asia, and Russia knows it.

Many of the people who became heads of brake away areas were former KGB.

For your question. Does the U.S. have any business in Georgia internal politics? Bug off.

[MikeRdg]

Would it thrill you to no end to know this Buddy of Putins from Putins St. Petersburg days, was put on a Michigan REPUBLICAN committee....?

Would it thrill you to know how they broke into the poor ladies house, and terriorized her and her son?

What to know why Palin was select? look above for the answer

[MikeRdg]

Here let me place this on top:

And doesn't knowing that Putin is a old KGB agent scare the heck out of you, then ask Mitt Romney why so many Mormons are in that business which was started way back when, with Putin's old Russian collegue? What Romney in the White House? He' ll have a ton more Russian investments.


Seriously ask Mitt, his brother was involved,

Then ask Mitt why all his close buddies have been beating the he** out of a woman and her kids for the past many years, who know about this... it is pretty strange Mitt had on his presidental committee, names of people who were involved in this Russian business, ..

[jubei]

Putin is an ex-KGB,a weapons expert and is dangerous wit the hand to hand combat and he's well trained in martial arts especially Judo and Nin -jitsu

[woodwakr]

So... what? Vlad is gonna go postal on Barack?

Right. I wish I had what y'all are smokin'.

[MikeRdg]

Ya, and ask the Romney family and the Mormon church why they are so tight with some of Putins old buddies.-- nice business you have going together.

[StuManChu]

REE-REE-REE

[jackbutler5555]

But our guy can swat a moving fly. Can Vlad do that? And by the way, how's Putin's three pointer and his behind-the-back pass?