a russian agenda lacks an agenda
by Mark Hunter Mulvey
Published: March 31, 2008
“First, have a definite, clear practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends; wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end.” - Aristotle, Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scientist and Physician, 384 BC-322 BC
“Meetings are indispensable when you don’t want to do anything.” - John Kenneth Galbraith, Canadian-American economist and author, 1908-2006
–
President Bush intends to visit the Russian coastal town of Sochi sometime on April 6th, a trip that will mark the second meeting of Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin in two months (a previous rendezvous occurred in mid-March 2008). Such a hurried return can only be an indication of pressing and dire circumstances that demand our president’s immediate and undivided attention.
According to National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, “This is an opportunity for the two leaders to meet, assess what progress has been made and see whether we can come together with a framework that can… consolidate areas where we’re cooperating together, maybe resolve some outstanding issues such as missile defense, and provide a platform for the relationship of the two countries going forward.”
More imprecise words have rarely been spoken so sincerely. And Hadley actually said “maybe.”
It is important to take note of the events surrounding this sojourn to the Black Sea in order to put this blurry political scene into perspective. The key element of this hurried visit is Putin’s resignation on May 7th, which narrows Bush’s window of opportunity with the Russian leader before his elected successor, Dmitry Medvedev, takes office.
The most pressing item at hand is Bush’s desire for a missile defense system in Europe, and the need to appease fears in Moscow that such a system is not as dramatically invasive and dangerous as it sounds. Note that it does in fact sound invasive and dangerous, though I am certain it is being touted as a crucial aspect against the War on something.
Added to the mix is Bush’s visit to Romania for a NATO summit (held April 2-4 in Bucharest) during which George W. plans to pave the way for Ukraine and Georgia, two former Soviet states, to be included in the alliance. Putin intends to fight this effort on behalf of Moscow, which views a Ukraine/Georgia inclusion to the NATO fold as a defiant call to arms. Russia’s influence here lies in their earth: they supply 1 quarter of Europe’s natural gas supply.
The Russian Situation is a crowded field of issues to say the least, yet it calls into question the severity of the issues outlined. Wide-eyed U.S. officials have reportedly “set both governments scrambling to accommodate the last-minute visit and put together an agreement to justify it.”
There is no focus. There are no clear goals. There is simply an abstract desire for accord centered on international missile silos, future NATO inclusions and a Russian president’s final months in office. Justifications need to be in place before meetings are scheduled, not after. Such planning is simply an indication of lazy politics at work.
—
(email this article or post to social network)
—
