Tannishblog

The US and Russia are sparring again. Tensions rise at Vladimir Putin comments on America’s recent refocus on ballistic weapons.

Putin said Russia’s testing of new intercontinental and cruise missiles earlier this week was "aimed at maintaining the balance of forces in the world." "Our partners are filling Eastern Europe with new weapons," he told reporters in Moscow in a joint news conference with Greek President Carolos Papoulias. "What are we supposed to do? We cannot just observe all this. In our opinion, it is nothing different from ‘diktat,’ nothing different from imperialism." Washington is currently discussing deployment of parts of the system with Poland and the Czech Republic.

He’s right. America’s current incarnation, as exemplified by our cowboy/ yahoo/ redneck administration, is an Imperialistic beast. Our rediscovered bombplex mentality is only another manifestation of "bring ‘em on!" At some point, the braggadocio must be challenged, the bluff called. Somebody is going to step up to put the bully down. The grand theatre of foreign relations can be reduced to playground politics.

The White house denies the claim of a new cold war. Dominatrix Rice shoots back:

Rice, for her part, took aim Thursday at Russia’s record on human rights and democracy under Putin.

Rice said the United States wants a strong Russia as a partner, but Russia needs to adhere to democratic norms, such as allowing an independent judiciary, a free press and free and fair elections.

"Democratic institutions and an open society are not a source of weakness," Rice said after accepting an award for promoting better relations between the United States and Germany. "Nor is freedom of speech and freedom of the press just a nuisance that the state can attack at will."

Wait! We’re criticizing their human rights record? After Gitmo, shouldn’t we just shut up about that? And did you notice her rhetoric was as empty as a Rovian promise? Nothing was said about ballistics…

But what would you expect them her say? A huge portion of Gross Domestic Product is entwined in the military-industrial sector. Shareholder view - and of their lobbyists - a new cold war would be great for business.And in modern America that’s all the justification needed.How many of those shareholders work in Washington today?

Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea and Russia have all been recipients of America’s arrogant hubris. Whose next, China?

This must stop.