John McCain: Boot Russia out of the G-8!
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A decade and a half ago, the Russian people threw off the tyranny of communism and seemed determined to build a democracy and a free market and to join the West. Today, we see in Russia diminishing political freedoms, a leadership dominated by a clique of former intelligence officers, efforts to bully democratic neighbors, such as Georgia, and attempts to manipulate Europe's dependence on Russian oil and gas. We need a new Western approach to this revanchist Russia. We should start by ensuring that the G-8, the group of eight highly industrialized states, becomes again a club of leading market democracies: it should include Brazil and India but exclude Russia. Rather than tolerate Russia's nuclear blackmail or cyberattacks, Western nations should make clear that the solidarity of NATO, from the Baltic to the Black Sea, is indivisible and that the organization's doors remain open to all democracies committed to the defense of freedom. We must also increase our programs supporting freedom and the rule of law in Russia and emphasize that genuine partnership remains open to Moscow if it desires it but that such a partnership would involve a commitment to being a responsible actor, internationally and domestically.
-- U.S. Senator and presidential candidate John McCain, writing in the November/December issue of Foreign Affairs magazine. Hat tip: Robert Amsterdam.
If he doesn't become president, Mr. McCain should be the next U.S. ambassador to Russia! There's simply no doubt that his stance on Russia and democracy is insightful and correct. If only more would listen to him, before it is too late.
By contrast, Hillary Clinton says in the same publication that while Russia has screwed us on Kosovo, Ukraine, Georgia, the Baltics, Iran, democracy and, well, just about every which way, that's not such a big deal because "Putin has used Russia's energy wealth to expand the Russian economy, so that more ordinary Russians are enjoying a rising standard of living." That's what Chamberlain said about Hitler. Thanks a lot Hillary -- brought to you by the woman whose husband gave us the KGB presidency in the first place. It would be interesting to ask her to name a specific policy Putin enacted which has increased the income of the average Russian, and to ask her whether she feels increasing their average wage from $2.50/hour to $3/hour is really an offset to the absolute destruction of democracy, revival of a neo-Soviet state and provocation of a new cold war. Also interesting to ask whether she realizes she is agreeing with George Bush Jr. (without giving him the credit).
Talk about a clear choice at election time!
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