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Paranoid Russia Poses Big Test for Obama

President's trip to Moscow will be hard work, no fun

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 3, 2009 12:31 PM CDT

(Newser) – The last time Barack Obama went to Russia, he and another senator were detained by border guards for hours—and his upcoming trip won't be much fun either, say the editors of the Economist. Russia's economy is beholden to unstable oil and gas prices, the country's mortality rate is spiking, and the political system has devolved into "a pretense of democracy." Obama must placate Moscow's "kleptocratic courtiers and former spies" without coming off as a pushover.

The president's famous calm and his willingness to admit American mistakes will benefit him in Russia, "a country whose national pride is spiked with a sense of inferiority." Perhaps his biggest opportunity lies in arms control; Russia, the world's second nuclear power, could be a key ally in reining in Iran and stabilizing Pakistan. "But this is going to be an awkward relationship," the editors write, "one where the West’s expectations of success should be low."

An unidentified woman pushes a symbolic Reset Button for US-Russian relations as she stands between life-size cardboard cutouts of Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama.
An unidentified woman pushes a symbolic Reset Button for US-Russian relations as she stands between life-size cardboard cutouts of Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama.   (AP Photo/ Mikhail Metzel)
Dmitry Medvedev, right, and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliev, left, ride in an electric vehicle at Aliev's Zagulba residence outside the capital of Baku on Monday, June 29, 2009.
Dmitry Medvedev, right, and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliev, left, ride in an electric vehicle at Aliev's Zagulba residence outside the capital of Baku on Monday, June 29, 2009.   (AP Photo/ RIA Novosti, Vladimir Rodionov, Presidential Press Service)
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin looks on during a meeting in Moscow on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin looks on during a meeting in Moscow on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Pool)
Matryoshkas depicting Barack Obama, Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin, right, are seen in Moscow, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
Matryoshkas depicting Barack Obama, Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin, right, are seen in Moscow, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
riffran
Jul 4, 2009 8:13 AM CDT
and they have good vodka too lol
freethemall
Jul 4, 2009 3:04 AM CDT
No.
SBS
Jul 3, 2009 11:43 AM CDT
The Russians have a history of being a world power and will not give it up easily. They have suffered great losses in world wars and been a major power. They will not give up their view of being a world power easily. Would we?

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