Associated Press
In March, Mitt Romney said Russia is "clearly" the nation's "number one geo-political foe," a comment that's been widely ridiculed in a variety of circles. As Rachel noted last night, soon after Romney's comment, Colin Powell said on MSNBC, "Come on, Mitt, think."
But on the other side of the Atlantic, there's apparently one person who was delighted by Romney's rhetoric. His name is Vladimir Putin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said [Tuesday] that Mitt Romney's characterization of Moscow as the United States' "number one geopolitical foe" has actually helped Russia.
The Russian leader said Romney's comments strengthened his resolve to oppose NATO's plan for a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe, a system Russia believes will degrade its nuclear deterrent. The U.S. insists the system is aimed at Iran, not Russia.
"I'm grateful to him (Romney) for formulating his stance so clearly because he has once again proven the correctness of our approach to missile defense problems," Putin told reporters, according to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
In other words, Putin was looking for an excuse to be more obstinate on missile defense, and Romney, through his foreign policy clumsiness, gave him one. By popping off on a subject he didn't understand, Romney inadvertently affected defense negotiations, at least at a superficial level.
President Obama told Steve Kroft yesterday that one of the things he's learned is that "it's important for you to make sure that the statements that you make are backed up by the facts, and that you've thought through the ramifications before you make them."
This week is offering some rather dramatic evidence that it's a lesson Romney hasn't learned.
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"The Russian leader said Romney's comments strengthened his resolve"
Any moment now Palin/Coulter/Fox and Friends will issue the following statement:
"Romney's comments are outrageous and despicable, and bordering on treason!" Clearly he is unfit for the office."
Correction: Fox would then say "Clearly he is FIT for the office!". Then one would then need to stay tuned to their new "Retractions of Friends" show.
Considering Palin can see Russia from her home, she will probably feel vindicated by Romney's comments and the Republican War Hawks will be ecstatic. Lets see Benjamin Netanyahu's pimp Adeleson is trying to buy an American President who will guarantee we attack Iran for Israel. This way his citizens are safe while ours are in harm's way.
So Iran War #1, Libya War #2, Russia War #3, China War #4 and we are waiting on Egypt to see if we will have War #5 if Romney gets elected. No one in his family will of course serve in the Military for any of these wars.
Willard is a disaster for our country and he isn't even in any office.
Powell had it wrong. Instead of telling Willard to think, he should have been telling the people of this country to think.
And telling Willard to STFU. What a moron (Romney, not Powell).
Romney invited to Moscow to celebrate with Putin, Palin has to watch from Alaska. Cheney declines invitation due to fear from catching cold in prison.
Ironically, this particular piece of stupidity from Willard is one for which I'm especially grateful - the whole idea of the "missile defense shield" (doesn't anyone else remember "Star Wars" in the '80s?) is a giant boondoggle intended to protect war profiteers' bellying up to the treasury/trough more than to protect any number of civilians... if it ends up getting that program scrapped, good riddance!
Willard, of course, would support the program, which just makes this one more example of him stepping on a rake. The longer he keeps this up, the more he increases my appreciation for slapstick.
Vulture/Voucher 2012
Proving Two Rights DO Make a Wrong!
;-)
"... which just makes this one more example of him stepping on a rake."
best laugh i've had all day :)
Oh you guys. There is wry Russian humor in his fib, but you don't see it.
If you have any Russian speakers on your staff, ask them how the Russian networks portray Romney. They think he is not a person to be taken seriously- a rich man who took up a hobby and thinks that the Presidency would be a fun toy.
The idea of a guy like Putin saying he is affected by anything Romney has to say has some self deprecatory humor to it.
Foreign news reporting- feh. Hire some Russians if you want to report on russia.
Of course Putin doesn't mean it and is laughing into his hand while saying it. But Mitt's verbal gaffe serves as a handy excuse to be used to the outside world, while, at the same time, making Mitt's foolishness visible to all.
Hey John, before you laugh too loudly, remember in 2004 when I thought that WE as a nation had had enough of the rich, bumbling, blustering, hubris filled cowboy named George W. - they voted the little Shrub into office (I still voted for the other guy)!
The lesson that I've learned is to never, ever, underestimate the GOTP and the fear-factor that makes them continually vote against their own & our economic best interests!
Course, for all these wars they want to start I think WE need to insist on bringing back the DRAFT - so everyone's children (NO DEFERMENTS) can get in on the "fun" of war!
Zora, I was referring to Russian perspectives on US politics, not how seriously Americans should regard this election. As for what Russian politicians like Putin are saying, as with any country it is usually hazardous to take it at face value. You have to understand something about the audience the politician is talking to in order to get a bead on their meaning. If you think that Fox News/ hate radio is a separate reality, then you can appreciate how radically different an utterance can be interpreted by a foreign audience.
I think anyone who has spent some time living in a different culture understands this.
It is a complex task that people like Christopher Stevens and Vittorio Arrigoni undertake. As long as we are a globally engaged, the US electorate is going to have to come to grips with alien zeitgeists. If we find it difficult to relate to otherwise lovable Uncle Harry who thinks RushBo and O'Reilly tell it like it is, then how easy is it for us to underestimate the gulf that separates us from populations of other countries living in radically different worlds- with radically different ways of parsing reality.
John, I get what you're saying about the Russian people. I have lived overseas, and trust me, I've seen enough "ugly Americans" over there; but I also see "ugly Americans" here; and here is where Mitt is speaking, to a low-information voter crowd that doesn't appreciate the nuance of "other" or the stupid, bumbling saber rattling that Mitt thinks he's doing (incorrectly/at the wrong people). Fear was used effectively by Dubya, and if Mittens and the propaganda noise people have their way - it might be President M.....I can't even type the name, but you know to whom I am referring.
I don't think we really appreciate that the skills and willingness to expose oneself to unpleasant people is needed by more progressives emulating Christopher Stevens in the US. Nation building demands good ambassadors, and shedding of the comfort of living in one's separate reality. Sure, I could and have been very good at insulating myself from unpleasant people. I could go to the liberal left church but I don't. I go to the southern baptist church although many in the congregation are Uncle Harry's- intense cultural bigots. They think being on the Left represents a breakdown of everything they find meaningful. Well- they see something very different from our example.
What sincerely scares me are the 30% who believe the birther stories- what they will do when they find that they are doomed to be betrayed even when the GOP "wins" elections. (Betrayed by HW "read my lips", or Bush II who put the country in the toilet, or a Romney). As for Obama, they may be willing to bide their time vigorously polishing their weapons for the next 4 years, but what if continued extremism in the GOP and the demographic shift to Dems is enough to give Dems the White House again in 2016?
Is America going to Balkanise even more deeply with some disaffected extremists actually feeling that "2nd amendment" remedies are legitimate?
Honestly, I think that scenario is not improbable. Listening to some of the sectarian hate talk on the radio yesterday, I didn't see much light between "respected" AM talk show hosts and leaders of lynch mobs.
It's pretty depressing and I hope Rachel has a good cocktail recipe tomorrow.
Something very high octane.
For the longest time, it always amazed me, that even in the most turbulent times, we as a country resisted the call to "revolution" and settled our differences through peaceful albeit often raucous demonstrations and the ballot box. The "Weathermen" of the Vietnam era I consider an aberration that fizzled in any event, like other similar events in our history. I attributed this civilized behavior to a national culture that was inculcated in us from elementary school onward.
But something is happening in this post-McVeigh, post-Columbine era. Just from recent news reports, it seems the trend to "go postal" is accelerating, and not just among the self-proclaimed militia "mountain men" who seem to gravitate to the Northern Rockies.
It's more than heated rhetoric. Those hateful seeds need fertile ground to grow. And I think I agree that it is the prospect of a demographic shift that both scares and infuriates those who see "their country" slipping away. Conservative author Charles Murray lays out this case in his book, "Coming Apart." His analysis of what has happened to white society in this country since the 60's is eye-opening, even if I don't agree with most of his conclusions.
It occurs to me that a lot of this has to do with the popular interpretation of the Second Amendment. If I remember my history correctly, it was intended in the early days to insure that Tories here didn't raise a counter-revolution. These days, thought, it is often interpreted as a means of the citizens protecting themselves from the government, with a bit of nostalgia for Old West manly gunslinging thrown in. I don't believe more gun control is the answer. A cultural shift is needed, one that may never happen.
Many gun rights advocates point to Switzerland. They have lots of guns. But in their culture, the guns are to protect themselves from foreign enemies, not a domestic one. Of course, it helps that they're a very homogeneous society, and like to keep it that way, often by methods that we here could never condone.
I can only hope, just as now it's considered perfectly normal for black and white guys to drink together in beer commercials, that someday, as the demographics do shift, we can see our relationship to guns as something other than (oddly oxymoronic) anti-government patriotism.
I wonder if Sarah Palin saw that one coming from her house.
It's a lesson Romney has NO INTENTION of learning.
And it gives Putin more reason to continue his "slow pivot to Asia," turning his back on the West and making Russia more isolated and antagonistic toward the West. STUPID!!!
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/512ddcba-fc3c-11e1-ac0f-00144feabdc0.html#axzz26Mzt5dXj
The link may not work because its behind a firewall. Try goggling "Russia begins its slow pivot to Asia"
Once again Romney and Ryan have show their ignorance on the subject of Political Diplomacy . Perhaps he is like others before him who believe a country at war can make money and profits from it. I heard this very sentiment when the Viet Nam war was being fought by our brave soldiers . They were dying for a war we knew was wrong but yet they (Government leaders) thought it was good for the country. How good was it to lose all those lives and not win in the end. When our Soldiers returned they were treated inhumanly, all because they fought for our Country.
I believe Romney may have some profits to gain if we are at war.I may be wrong but we don't see where he or his sons were ever in the Military. He hid our in France as the war in Viet Nam raged on. He his under the veil of Ministry and now believes he knows how to handle negotiations with Foreign Countries. He already insulted another country earlier this year and also in the Olympics. We are in serious trouble with this man. Even the highly respected Colin Powell spoke out warning Romney to "Think first before speaking". My Dad always said" Don't say anything unkind about another and if you cannot think of something nice to say, Be Quiet". My Dad was a smart, hard working carpenter and diplomatic with others. When he died there were more people at his Funeral than the Mayor had. My Father was smarter than Romney will ever be and he was in WW II.
"it's important for you to make sure that the statements that you make are backed up by the facts, and that you've thought through the ramifications before you make them." - Obama
"Backed up by facts? Hahahahahahahha..." - Romney
So to Putin Mitt is either a joke or a tool. That is kinder than I would be.
There is no doubt...Romney is a Tool
Way to go Romney, He's not even President but, he is managing to cause problems with foreign leaders. Problems that he would never know how to fix. Do you think he has learned his lesson in keeping his mouth shut? He's addressing the wrong people anyway, he should be talking to The Middle class and our Veterans. The only people he's scoring points with are the war mongers and the rich and famous.
Can you even imagine a Putin-Romney summit? Afterwards, Mitt would pat his pocket and go, "Hey, where's my wallet?"
BTW, don't forget that it was Medvedev who said earlier that Mitt should stop partying like it's 1980. Wait, here's the quote.
As a parent I find it more than a bit distressing to hear Romney banging the war drum even before he sets foot in office. Particularly since neither he nor any of his children or grandchildren ever served or ever will serve in this nations defense. So MY child or Your children will be the ones fighting and dying so He can appear Tough. I think I prefer a president that is a bit more rational and deliberate when risking the lives of our children. Go run your businesses, or live with your hidden bank account millions and leave the big decisions to adults. Give you a license to build up an unnecessary military machine and send my kids to war? To that this veteran votes NO!!
No Thanks Mitt, we've been down that path before!
I've been wondering for some time now; the easiest and probably best way to both alleviate Russian fears, but still set up a reliable missile defense program, would be to build it in Russia. Make it a joint project between the two countries.
Since both the Islamic rogue nations and North Korea are nearer Russia, it actually seems like the optimal location for a missile defense center anyway. Russia has their own worries of attacks by unstable nations. This could help all involved.
The International Space Station proves that the US and Russia can cooperate on large joint programs. I could even see the defense program working under authority of the UN security council.
A cooperative project simply seems the obvious solution, unless the missile defense is targeted towards Russia in actuality; in which case, they are making well-founded objections.
Here's the thing that gets me. I think I've got this straight... The Fox-viewing right was absolutely apoplectic over Obama's "Tell Vladimir I'll have more flexibility after the elections" sotto voce comment to Medvedev, right? The implication(imprecation?) being that Obama was selling out our allies' in NATO and somehow a traitor.
But it turns out it was actually, their candidate Romney's full throated re-declaration of the Cold War that has given Putin the flexibility HE wants. And so he has actually undermined our interests and those of our NATO allies.
Un - flippin' - believable.
idiot;s gonna get us killed talking out of his ass!