Re: Btw, this is why I believe Putin will try to draw closer to the US over this terrorism issue. It provides him the political cover to obtain US economic support, while bringing those lawless elements in Russian society under control.
President Putin visits Germany: Moscow and Berlin seek a new role in world politics
By Patrick Richter
3 October 2001
wsws.org
Excerpt:
Putin, who delivered most of his speech in German, emphasised that Europe’s economic weight must now find its counterpart in world politics—against the US and together with Russia: “No-one doubts the great value of the relationship between Europe and the United States. However, I am simply of the opinion that Europe can only ensure its reputation as a powerful and genuinely independent centre of world politics when it unites its own possibilities with those of Russia... Now is the time to consider what needs to be done to ensure that a unified and secure Europe becomes the herald of a united and secure world.”
Putin justified the necessity of integrating Russia into Europe with the words “the Cold War is over” and that Russia was “a friendly European country” where education expenditure exceeds that for defence.
Directing himself to the German political elite, Putin conjured up the joint traditions of their two countries. He recalled the German princess Sophie von Anhalt-Zerbst, who rose to become Catherine the Great (1762-96), a powerful ruler of Russia, and then made the leap to politics: “Between Russia and America lie oceans, between Russia and German, however, great history.”
[snip]
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Told you so, Hawk....
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