Biden: "Withering" Russia Will Bend To U.S.

[DavidS]

Biden: "Withering" Russia Will Bend To U.S.

WASHINGTON -- Vice President Joe Biden said in an interview that Russia's economy is "withering," and suggested the trend will force the country to make accommodations to the West on a wide range of national-security issues, including loosening its grip on former Soviet republics and shrinking its vast nuclear arsenal.


Mr. Biden said he believes Russia's economic problems are part of a series of developments that have contributed to a significant rethinking by Moscow of its international self-interest. The geographical proximity of the emerging nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea is also likely to make Russia more cooperative with the U.S. in blocking their growth, he said.
But in the interview, at the end of a four-day trip to Ukraine and Georgia, Mr. Biden said domestic troubles are the most important factor driving Russia's new global outlook. "I think we vastly underestimate the hand that we hold," he said.

 

[Midnight Marauder]

Who does he think he's fooling? Himself?

 

[Annie]

Biden: "Withering" Russia Will Bend To U.S.

WASHINGTON -- Vice President Joe Biden said in an interview that Russia's economy is "withering," and suggested the trend will force the country to make accommodations to the West on a wide range of national-security issues, including loosening its grip on former Soviet republics and shrinking its vast nuclear arsenal.


Mr. Biden said he believes Russia's economic problems are part of a series of developments that have contributed to a significant rethinking by Moscow of its international self-interest. The geographical proximity of the emerging nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea is also likely to make Russia more cooperative with the U.S. in blocking their growth, he said.
But in the interview, at the end of a four-day trip to Ukraine and Georgia, Mr. Biden said domestic troubles are the most important factor driving Russia's new global outlook. "I think we vastly underestimate the hand that we hold," he said.

DavidS, what is your analysis of Mr. Biden's analysis?

 

[Baruch Menachem]

Putain has been a 'great leader' along the lines of Brezhnev and Chernenko. Power to the center was more important than the lives of the average Russian. Political and Military power arises from economic power, and the rule of men like that is what cost Russia the cold war. Given Russia's resources, people and position, there is no good reason except ineptitude and cupidity for such a disgraceful military disaster.

The Russian leadership is too self involved to really care much about tomorrow. So the situation will only get worse for them

Russians are't really big on bending to reality. At least the leadership isn't. We tried to make them see real all through the cold car. they preferred to see their people starve in the millions to see reason. And Putin is just as bad as Stalin in that regard.

 

[DavidS]

Biden: "Withering" Russia Will Bend To U.S.

WASHINGTON -- Vice President Joe Biden said in an interview that Russia's economy is "withering," and suggested the trend will force the country to make accommodations to the West on a wide range of national-security issues, including loosening its grip on former Soviet republics and shrinking its vast nuclear arsenal.


Mr. Biden said he believes Russia's economic problems are part of a series of developments that have contributed to a significant rethinking by Moscow of its international self-interest. The geographical proximity of the emerging nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea is also likely to make Russia more cooperative with the U.S. in blocking their growth, he said.
But in the interview, at the end of a four-day trip to Ukraine and Georgia, Mr. Biden said domestic troubles are the most important factor driving Russia's new global outlook. "I think we vastly underestimate the hand that we hold," he said.

DavidS, what is your analysis of Mr. Biden's analysis?

I don't think Biden would make it out of Russia alive if he had said that while in Russia or to Putin's face. Russia bend to the US? HAHAHAHAHAHA!

They may be inferior in every single militarily and economically way, but they will never bend to us. Russian people are stubborn, proud and innovative. Americans are arrogant.

 

[xsited1]

Biden: "Withering" Russia Will Bend To U.S.
...

Biden needs to have his mouth taped shut... permanently.

 

[Midnight Marauder]

Biden: "Withering" Russia Will Bend To U.S.
...

Biden needs to have his mouth taped shut... permanently.

Yup, so much for the "reset button" huh?

 

[Baruch Menachem]

Biden: "Withering" Russia Will Bend To U.S.
...

Biden needs to have his mouth taped shut... permanently.

Sewn shut, after being crazy glued.

Biden is a poster boy for the kind of thing that got us the reputation of "ugly americans" back during the 60s'.

Imagine if Quayle had said anything half as remotely as stupid. (So he can't spell. Neither can I, I love spell check on my mac.)

 

[ba1614]

Man, as much as I dislike the direction Obama is taking the country, I shudder to think of this asshat taking the helm.

 

[GHook93]

But I can see why they might like their sphere of influence kept in tactic over the former Soviet states. At least without us meddling in their business. I mean we get pissy when Russia deals with the Grand Tyrant Hugo Fat Ass. We get upset when Russia tries to step foot into Latin America, because we consider that our sphere of influence.

I honestly believe we should take more of a partnership approach with Russia! They still have the antagonistic approach with us, but they are not the hardcore communist/socialists of the past. In fact they have been moving to a market based economy with mass privatization for years. Putin might be a shady figure in our eyes, but Russia saw massive growth, more stabilization and a growing middle class during his Presidency.

It is a mischaracterization to say Russia is US or even European like free market systems, but they are moving in that direction. I believe they currently have the 7th largest world GDP. It is also a huge mischaracterization to say they are still a communist country. I honestly think we should move more towards solid partnership with Russia. They are a very commodity based economy still, so their privatization is very shaky still.

Reasons:
(1) They have the largest nuclear arsenal in the world
(2) They have similar problems as we do with, Islamic terrorism, illegal immigration (from former Soviet states and China)
(3) They still have the 2nd toughest military in the world
(4) They area growing economic country
(5) They are still a world power
(6) And honestly who help us win both world wars more, Britain, France (LOL!) or Russia? Simple answer.
(7) What do WE get from NATO? NOTHING, but weak countries relying on us and bitching at us! Not to mention pissing of Russia more.

My suggestion:
(1) Listen to Ron Paul on this one, and pull out of NATO
(2) Offer a Russia a true Partnership and New Alliance. Some China as a much bigger threat to them via China's trade policies and illegal immigration, plus their ambitions.
(3) State the US will stay out of their sphere of influence, if they stay out of ours.
(4) Agree to reduce nuclear arsenals together
(5) Hold military operations
(6) Agree to a new alliance: Called the Triple Alliance - US, Russia and Britain (with possibly India and Brazil in it), which includes a military understanding (not a direct alliance like NATO) and a full free trade agreement.


America should move more towards a partnership with Russia instead of trying to reopen the cold war!

 

[Toro]

Russia has a serious demographic problem. Even with all the oil, the country could collapse if Russians don't start making babies.

 

[Annie]

Biden: "Withering" Russia Will Bend To U.S.

WASHINGTON -- Vice President Joe Biden said in an interview that Russia's economy is "withering," and suggested the trend will force the country to make accommodations to the West on a wide range of national-security issues, including loosening its grip on former Soviet republics and shrinking its vast nuclear arsenal.


Mr. Biden said he believes Russia's economic problems are part of a series of developments that have contributed to a significant rethinking by Moscow of its international self-interest. The geographical proximity of the emerging nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea is also likely to make Russia more cooperative with the U.S. in blocking their growth, he said.
But in the interview, at the end of a four-day trip to Ukraine and Georgia, Mr. Biden said domestic troubles are the most important factor driving Russia's new global outlook. "I think we vastly underestimate the hand that we hold," he said.

DavidS, what is your analysis of Mr. Biden's analysis?

I don't think Biden would make it out of Russia alive if he had said that while in Russia or to Putin's face. Russia bend to the US? HAHAHAHAHAHA!

They may be inferior in every single militarily and economically way, but they will never bend to us. Russian people are stubborn, proud and innovative. Americans are arrogant.

Americans aren't innovative?

 

[GHook93]

Russia has a serious demographic problem. Even with all the oil, the country could collapse if Russians don't start making babies.

There Muslim population is reproducing very rapidly, but not enough to stop the population declines they are seeing. However, they still have 145 million people.

 

[garyd]

They had 260 million just forty years ago. Russia's problem mirrors that of western Europe and for much the same reason. No reason to make babies if you don't think there is much of a future awaiting them. And that's only part of the problem.

Oh and for what it is worth if Biden said it you can be sure it is wrong.

 

[Xenophon]

Biden: "Withering" Russia Will Bend To U.S.
...

Biden needs to have his mouth taped shut... permanently.

I disagree, what better way to expose the fools in the white house then to let they guy they touted as a 'master' of foriegn affairs speak.

 

[DiveCon]

Biden: "Withering" Russia Will Bend To U.S.
...

Biden needs to have his mouth taped shut... permanently.

I disagree, what better way to expose the fools in the white house then to let they guy they touted as a 'master' of foriegn affairs speak.

kinda shows that neither of them were competent for the job, doesnt it?

 

[Xenophon]

I knew it before the election.

Biden has consistantly been WRONG on foreign affairs his entire career, why Democrats assumed this would be his strength nobody knows.

 

[RadiomanATL]

Vice President Joe Biden: Weakening Russia Will Bend To U.S. - kdka.com

 

[Lycurgus]

Honestly they need a matching pair.

 

[Epsilon Delta]

Probably the worst foreign policy gaffe "they've" made. A comment like that seems so diamterically opposed to what Obama was trying to do when he went over; it's like they're on different parties! I mean, on the one hand, he is right, the demographic problem is huge. I think they are one of the, if not THE, fastest shrinking countries in the world. What's happening in Europe is bad enough, in Russia, it is insane. That they're economy has been "shrinking" is a little debatable, of course the world-wide recession is hitting it hard, but there is no denying that since 1998 the country's economy has done nothing but a METEORIC [if uneven] recovery in terms of employment and GDP growth.

Well, in any case, basically saying "The Russians are going to get weaker and they'll eventually have to listen to us cuz they ain't got a choice" is just sooo... STUPID! Even if he's would be right, you can't say that. At least the quote they keep playing on TV and saying they're "withering" and whatnot, he oughta have saved that for 2015 or 2019, when he's out of office. Huge mistake SAYING that, even if he were right.