Russia-US relations

[mendeleyev]

www.mendeleyevjournal.com





FSB agents arrested an alleged CIA spy yesterday in Moscow as he traveled to meet with a person the CIA was attempting to recruit, according to Russian officials. Embassy diplomat Ryan Fogle was arrested and the FSB says that Fogle carried a large sum of money, technical devices and written instructions for the individual he was working to recruit.


Fogle's Russian issued diplomatic pass.

Spy arrests are to be expected from time to time as even friendly countries spy on each other. In this particular case the cold war may be over but the state of relations between the United States and Russia is currently very chilly at best.



Fogle's State Department Embassy ID.

We do marvel at the blatant stupidity of the USA in recent years and for the sake of argument we'll call it the "Bush Obama era" as both the previous and current US presidents have been nothing more than amateurs when it comes to dealing with Russia. From former President George W. Bush gazing longingly into Vladimir Putin's eyes, to President Obama's nothing short of idiocy in replacing an Ambassador whom Russians loved (John Beyrle) with someone the Russians hate (Michael McFaul),the USA has no idea how to work constructively with Russia.

We hesitate to remind readers of new Ambassador McFaul's claim that the Russians were hacking into his cell communications and bugging his office because they seemed to know his every move in advance. Only when it was pointed out to the Ambassador that the Russians were merely following his own Twitter "tweets" on his schedule, did he finally issue an official apology to the Kremlin. McFaul's apology however came after the matter had been raised by the Russians not only to the State Department where Hillary "What difference does it make?" Clinton, despised at best in the Kremlin halls, seemed bewildered by it all. To make matters worse the Kremlin took it's complaint even higher to the occupants of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave in Washington.

We should also remind readers that new Ambassador McFaul's first official meetings after presenting his credentials to the Kremlin was to hold a series of meetings with the leaders of Mr. Putin's opposition.  It that really the work of a "reset" in Washington's eyes?



The two countries are struggling to maintain civil relations.

So last week the tallest and most talkative new Secretary of State strode into Moscow. The same man who embarrassed himself during a presidential debate several years ago by claiming to have visited the famous KGB prison, Lyubanka while referring to it as Treblinka Square  (Treblinka being the name of a concentration camp in Poland), came to seek Vladimir Putin's cooperation on Syria.

Upon his arrival Mr. Putin kept him waiting, for 3 hours, then sat quietly with kind of a smirk on his face while fiddling with his ink pen to keep awake as Mr. Kerry, who loves to hear himself talk, did just that: he talked and talked and talked. Once the surely torturous session was over, Mr. Putin kept his press briefing comments about their meeting very brief, ten sentences to be exact. In response to Mr. Putin's brief remarks, Mr. Kerry gave a speech of which there were ten sentences in just the first three paragraphs, that was just the introduction of his remarks.

Gushing that his visit to Moscow represented yet another "reset" for relations between Moscow and Washington, what did Secretary Kerry do on his second day in Moscow before returning to  Washington? He held a series of meetings with leaders of Mr. Putin's opposition and several non-government NGO's under scrutiny by the Russians. Smart move, Mr. Kerry. The Kremlin was probably none the wiser.

So let's go back to the spy arrests in June 2010 of FSB (formerly the KGB) agents, including Anna Chapman, in which the agents were quickly whisked back to Moscow in a quiet little agreement after ABC news learned that an unnamed official in the Obama administration may have been enticed by a certain very attractive and very sexy Russian agent.





(Page one of the US government's introduction of the plea agreement to send Anna Chapman back to Moscow within 72 hours of being arrested for spying.)

Thus it was no surprise that the arrest of American diplomat Ryan Fogle, operating out of the US Embassy, resulted in his quick release and banishment back to Washington. The Russian foreign ministry declared Mr. Fogle to be "persona non grata" and ordered his immediate expulsion. Fogle was flown overnight back to the USA.

What is the good news in all this? The Kremlin could have locked up Mr. Fogle for decades, dragging his case slowly through televised public trials while embarrassing the USA every step of the way, but they didn't. Not only was an exchange likely, but this signals Mr. Putin's willingness to work with the USA on certain issues, perhaps even Syria up to a point.

Today Mr. Putin hosted visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Sochi, home of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Their meeting was cordial and Mr. Putin was wide awake this time, no smirks or ink pen fiddling, telling the Israelis that "our relationship with Israel is both friendly and mutually beneficial."


Mr. Putin prepares to greet Mr. Netanyahu in Sochi.

When Mr. Kerry came to Moscow to talk about Syria, afterward Mr. Putin made no mention of Syria at all in his remarks. This time however with Mr.Netanyahu at his side he did speak to the Syria issue, telling the press that "The situation in Syria is a particular concern. My colleague and I agree that continuing the armed conflict in the country is fraught with disastrous consequences for both Syria and the region. Only by quickly ending the armed struggle and arriving at a political settlement can we prevent a very negative outcome.


Sochi, Russia: Israeli PM Netanyahu and Russian President Putin.

As part of his remarks Mr. Putin said, In this crucial period it is especially important to avoid actions that could destabilize the situation. Mr Prime Minister and I agreed to stay in contact: both in personal contact and via our organizations and special services.


Although their private meeting lasted for several hours, comments to the press were brief.

Obviously the timing of this arrest is of importance to the Russians. Mr. Putin has just concluded meetings with David Cameron Prime Minister of the UK and now Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu ahead of a planned Moscow summit with President Obama on the Syrian issue in September. The two will also have the chance to exchange views and ideas in June at the G8 Summit.

Mr. Putin's message was not meant only for Mr. Netanyahu, but also directed toward Israel's allies in Washington. "In this crucial period it is especially important to avoid actions that could destabilize the situation."

[Larry1]

To the mods,

Can this thread be merged with this one I created this morning:

http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=16046.0

[mendeleyev]

Yes, please. Sorry Mods as I didn't see that one before posting.

[mendeleyev]

Russian social media can be interesting. Perhaps you recall last week the G8 Summit and the side meeting with Mr. Putin and Mr. Obama. They two refused to look at each other, averted eyes, stared at the ground, sat with their hands folded and spoke thru interputers although Mr. Putin understands English. When finished Mr. Obama put his hand on Mr. Putin's shoulder as they were walking away, causing Mr. Putin to create more distance between himself and Mr. Obama.

Well photoshop can be a bitch fun for those who know how to do such magic. I have neither the time or the skill.



So what was the immediate reaction? All I need to do is show the first two comments:

Comment: The monkey on his back.

Comment:  By the looks of it I'd think the monkey is being ridden.


Before you think I'm the racist, keep in mind that I'm just the reporter and not associated with the message. This does show the deep rift between the two and as it is true that Vladimir Putin intensely dislikes Mr. Obama, always has and even the term detests him might be a mild description, it doesn't help that Washington sends mixed signals which further angers Mr. Putin.

The dredging up the old story of a Super Bowl ring was timed to make Mr. Putin look bad after his refusal to agree with Washington's view on Syria. Especially when Robert Kraft had in Russia told the media that the ring was a gift and only upon a few days reflection back home, and perhaps some nagging from his late wife, did he decide that the ring had been "stolen." No matter what you think of the story, it is a very old story and an odd time to be hitting the news now. Thank you James Carville and Rahm Emanuel for dipping into the sewer to pull that one out again.

Would you like to know the real story why Mr. Putin kept John Kerry waiting, for over three hours, before finally meeting with him? Let us be blunt because Mr. Putin's 40 minute phone call with Israeli PM Netanyahu didn't take 3 hours. That was a message directed squarely at Washington because Kerry's visit included more mixed signals. Mr. Putin had ordered Red Square cleared of parade practices on the day prior to the Victory Day parade, in the middle of the day and by doing so disrupted the work of parade coordinators. Mr. Putin gave the order so that Mr. Kerry could take his entourage to see Red Square.

So what kind of thank you did the USA show to Mr. Putin for making that happen? Kerry scheduled personal meetings with key opposition leaders for the next day. He also met with several NGO directors who had come under fire by the Kremlin. Mr. Putin was infuriated at the timing of the meetings which are something more usually handled by an Ambassador in most cases instead of a visiting Secretary of State on his first official visit to Russia.

Since the Putin government practically controls the media, when Mr. Putin wants to demonstrate his displeasure with Mr. Obama, within a short period of time that message can be delivered to the vast majority of Russians to whom 85 percent or more get their first and primary news coverage from television.

So, what does that have to do with Edward Snowden? The State Department and many in the media are frantically frothing at the mouth over what kind of secrets might be revealed to the KGB. Obviously there are things they don't want Russia to know. Just as obviously Vladimir Putin ordered Snowden be allowed on Aeroflot flight SU213 from Hong Kong to Moscow. When was the last time you were allowed to board an international flight with a revoked passport and no visa?! To Russia, no less!

[Belvis]

Just as obviously Vladimir Putin ordered Snowden be allowed on Aeroflot flight SU213 from Hong Kong to Moscow. When was the last time you were allowed to board an international flight with a revoked passport and no visa?! To Russia, no less!

According to russian media Snowden's passport was revoked when he was landing in Moscow. And he does not need visa to stay at Sheremetevo airport overnight.
I would find very strange if Putin decided to assists US in capture of Snowden. Except that US extradite russian colonel Poteev (from russian intelligence service) that is not going to happen.

[Faux Pas]

So, what does that have to do with Edward Snowden? The State Department and many in the media are frantically frothing at the mouth over what kind of secrets might be revealed to the KGB. Obviously there are things they don't want Russia to know. Just as obviously Vladimir Putin ordered Snowden be allowed on Aeroflot flight SU213 from Hong Kong to Moscow. When was the last time you were allowed to board an international flight with a revoked passport and no visa?! To Russia, no less!

I agree with you. It's patently obvious to me that back channels were getting things done. Areoplot wouldn't have let him board with a revoked passport and no visa. Putin, like the U.S. officials are talking out of both sides of their respective mouths

According to russian media Snowden's passport was revoked when he was landing in Moscow. And he does not need visa to stay at Sheremetevo airport overnight.
I would find very strange if Putin decided to assists US in capture of Snowden. Except that US extradite russian colonel Poteev (from russian intelligence service) that is not going to happen.

Why would he not need at least a transit visa?

[Belvis]

Why would he not need at least a transit visa?

He has booked the capsule hotel in Sheremetevo which was arranged for transit passangers. Besides there is an option to get transit visa at Sheremetevo but Snowden has not use this option.

[mendeleyev]

Belvis, the US State Department revoked his passport when it was clear that he was preparing to fly to Moscow. The Russians were not caught by surprise as Ambassador McFaul discussed the issue with the Russian Foreign Ministry prior to the flight. He was stonewalled.

If I were in any country preparing to fly to Moscow I'd need a working passport and a visa. Aeroflot checks those prior to boarding and again during the board process.  If I didn't have a passport and visa for a final destination I'd not be allowed on the plane. Period. Yes, it is true that in some cases a transit visa is not needed, but a person without a working passport is considered to be a "stateless" person and cannot travel to Russia except under very limited conditions which in most cases are Russian nationals who were stuck in one of the CIS states or Baltics after the breakup of the CCCP. Those are few and far between.

Passports these days are electronic documents and it only takes seconds for a border control agent to know if there is an issue with a passport.

Keep in mind that I personally agree with Russia on this decision. Snowden may in reality be a far left whack job but the truth is that he revealed a series of lies the US government was feeding its citizens. Sure it was inconvenient to the US for China to learn that the USA had been hacking Chinese computer systems and cell phones at the very same time Washington was getting its panties in a knot over the problem of Chinese hacking.

The Russians had already figured out that former President Dmitry Medvedev was being hacked as early as 2009; one of the reasons why Mr. Putin wears not a cell phone nor uses a laptop or tablet or home computer. Sure those around him have those devices but he has no use for them personally.

What this does is to give Vladimir something new and fun to lecture Barrack about at their next meeting and he loves to lecture Barrack as much as Obama doesn't like to be lectured, by anybody. I'm sure that Obama has already tired of questions like "why bring an entire family on diplomatic trips" implying that Obama doesn't know the difference between diplomacy and a holiday or why do you bring an entire staff of servants including chefs to Russia as if you don't trust our food; were you thinking that we're not civilized and might poison you?" After each lecture Vladimir closes his eyes and pretends not to hear any of Barrack's feeble responses so the two leaders of superpowers certainly have managed to carve out meaningful and productive relationships.

So, no the Russian media has been spinning a neat little tale but in reality the Foreign Ministry was well aware and Sergei Lavrov may appear a little more polite, after all he is a diplomat, but in reality he and Mr. Putin are on the same page of their assessment of America's president and the current young and bumbling Ambassador forced upon them. So, if they can find occasion to bend Mr. Obama over the table and shove it up his backside, they will. And they just did. Again.

BTW, Voice of Russia is now reporting that Snowden did NOT check into the capsule hotel and his whereabouts are not being disclosed. They typically are trustworthy in breaking news. If that report is correct, then personally I'm betting that he found the Aeroflot/SkyTeam first class lounge to be more comfortable and the pastries, juices and alcohol choices, free of course, are excellent and all that a man really needs when each lounge chair has electrical outlets and Internet access.

The capsule units at SVO are basically a box with just enough room to sleep and outlets to recharge your traveling electronic gear. Photo below.

[Belvis]

personally I'm betting that he found the Aeroflot/SkyTeam first class lounge to be more comfortable and the pastries, juices and alcohol choices, free of course, are excellent and all that a man really needs

Does the first class lounge give all that a man really needs? Their service is incredible   
Mendy, thanks for info. I know that  russian media is biased though in this case it's a small game.

[Faux Pas]

If I were in any country preparing to fly to Moscow I'd need a working passport and a visa. Aeroflot checks those prior to boarding and again during the board process.  If I didn't have a passport and visa for a final destination I'd not be allowed on the plane. Period. Yes, it is true that in some cases a transit visa is not needed, but a person without a working passport is considered to be a "stateless" person and cannot travel to Russia except under very limited conditions which in most cases are Russian nationals who were stuck in one of the CIS states or Baltics after the breakup of the CCCP. Those are few and far between.

Passports these days are electronic documents and it only takes seconds for a border control agent to know if there is an issue with a passport.

I have since read that the Ecuadorian ambassador had previously (from Vietnam) issued something called a "refugee visa for asylum" to Snowden prior to his HK departure

[mendeleyev]

Does the first class lounge give all that a man really needs? Their service is incredible   

Ah, you bring up a good point as there are no personal television screens with a remote control so you have me on that one--without a TV and remote control a man doesn't really have everything he needs! (I'm sure there was nothing else you were thinking of.) 

[mendeleyev]

Update: Snowden was not on the scheduled flight to Cuba, raising speculation that he may fly to Iceland or remain in Russia.

Would Russia really send him back to the USA? Perhaps, for a price. Mr. Obama has again contradicted himself on missile defense saying recently that he would proceed so perhaps he can be persuaded to drop the idea, again.

There are a couple of other issues the Putin government might use to bargain: Syria and Arms reduction as both are issues where the USA and Russia have significant disagreements.

Or we could harken back to Cold War days and trade "spy for spy."

Meanwhile Putin's press secretary Peskov continues to say that Russia has no idea of Snowden's whereabouts.

[Gator]

.



Or we could harken back to Cold War days and trade "spy for spy."

The conflict in Syria reminds me of the Cold War.

[Muzh]

Putin: Snowden still at airport, won’t be extradited 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russia-denies-that-it-could-have-handed-snowden-to-us-authorities/2013/06/25/3767d7b8-dd7d-11e2-948c-d644453cf169_story.html?wpisrc=al_comboNP

[mendeleyev]

From todays www.MendeleyevJournal.com

On 25 June the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry and the USA Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) agreed to an ongoing exchange of experts during joint rescue operations in major disasters. The agreement was signed in Washington during the fourth meeting of the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission Working Group on Emergency Situations and seventeenth meeting of Joint U.S.-Russia Cooperation Committee on Emergency Situations.



The document provides for expert cooperation in disaster response operations and to study the latest practices. Both parties agreed for an exchange of experts through 2014 to include monitoring and forecasting of emergency situations, training of rescuers, development of mine-rescuing and provision of security at mass events.




During the meeting both countries expressed the desire to develop cooperation between the Russian Federation and the United States in the area of emergency prevention and response and agreed to assist in responding to all kinds of disasters.

The USA will help the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry develop expertise in areas of search and rescue, fire fighting, and disaster relief while the Russians will work with FEMA and Homeland Security on "crowd control" techniques and expertise.

The Mendeleyev Journal recognizes and appreciates international cooperation among all countries on issues such as disaster relief. The sharing of technology and expertise on fire fighting and search and rescue are admirable especially between two countries who have struggled to maintain a relationship in the midst of a continuing series of foreign policy missteps and misunderstandings.

We should point out that the techniques and troops Russia employs to deal with crowd control (translation: mass unrest and riots) are very different from the American system and frankly, to "learn" from Russia's Interior Ministry about "crowd control" is not only a mistake, but a loss of American rights and freedoms. The US Constitution forbids the deployment of foreign troops on US soil; the US Constitution also forbids the use of US troops in police actions against US citizens.

It didn't take long for the rumour mills to churn after the signing of the FEMA/МЧС documents. One online newspaper, the EU Times, claims that the Obama administration has requested 1,500 Russian riot troops be deployed to FEMA region 3 which includes the area around Washington DC, Virgina, and West Virginia for an upcoming disaster. The newspaper did not identify the nature of the alleged upcoming disaster.

[JohnDearGreen]

The dredging up the old story of a Super Bowl ring was timed to make Mr. Putin look bad after his refusal to agree with Washington's view on Syria. Especially when Robert Kraft had in Russia told the media that the ring was a gift and only upon a few days reflection back home, and perhaps some nagging from his late wife, did he decide that the ring had been "stolen." No matter what you think of the story, it is a very old story and an odd time to be hitting the news now. Thank you James Carville and Rahm Emanuel for dipping into the sewer to pull that one out again.

Putin Makes it Right With Patriots' Super Bowl Ring
http://www.bloomberg.com/video/putin-makes-it-right-with-patriots-super-bowl-ring-DXT~mE7RRhKjI4aiWEdIYw.html?cmpid=otbrn.video

[mendeleyev]

What Robert Kraft and media outlets like Bloomberg seem to conveniently forget is that the story Robert Kraft spun recently is far different from the press conference he gave in Russia years ago in 2005 via his comments back then as to it being a GIFT to a new and emerging Russian friend of the USA.

So he came home and his wife, since deceased, was incensed and badgered him to call President Bush to ask via diplomatic channels that the ring be returned. The WH reminded him that it had been a gift, advised him to take a chill pill and go back to sleep. For a long time all was seemingly forgotten.

Fast forward to 2013. President Obama has been rebuffed at every front by Putin on matters like Missile defense, Syria, Iran, etc. Suddenly out of nowhere there are multiple media outlets bringing up the story of a stolen ring. Mr. Krafty suddenly had a different memory of what transpired in 2005. How convenient as the US media went into overtime to portray the reputation of Mr. Putin as a thief.


From the Putin perspective:

The ring is not in Mr. Putin's possession. Like most presidential gifts it was donated to a Russian museum.

He doesn't wake every morning and drool over it amid thoughts of a Russian ball team winning an American distorted version of football championship in which overweight sissies pretending to be athletes take a break after every play.



Here is the serious part:

In Russian tradition the act of asking that a gift be returned is straight up a way to declare that "I so devalue our former friendship that I'm publicly humiliating you and demanding the return of a gift previously made in good faith." In Putin's Russian mindset, to return the ring would also be a rejection of the good faith efforts made in 2005 to normalize and upgrade international relations.

To return the original ring would then also seem to the world that he did steal it, which he didn't. The story about FSB men herding Putin away in a rush after stealing a ring is sophomoric.



Here is the really pathetic part:

On Sunday, June 16 the Patriots released the following press statement:

"It's a humorous, anecdotal story that Robert re-tells for laughs. He loves that his ring is at the Kremlin and, as he stated back in 2005, he continues to have great respect for Russia and the leadership of President Putin. In particular, he credits President Putin for modernizing the Russian economy."


Humorous? Really?

Personally I have other adjectives but humorous isn't one of them.

The odd thing about this story is first, the timing. Beyond incredulity.

Question: where are all those media outlets who latched onto the falsehood of Putin stealing a ring? And how many of those have had the integrity to go back and follow up the story with the Patriots statement of June 16?


Final thought: If the White House and State Department wanted to drive a nail in the "reset" coffin, with the help of willing media lackeys they've succeeded beyond their wildest expectations. Mr. Putin may have put on a game face as he orders a replacement made, and out of pride it will trump anything the wealthy Kraft has ever worn, but make no mistake that Mr. Putin has been thoroughly humiliated and embarrassed.

VP has a memory like a steel trap and this will never be forgotten.

[mendeleyev]

Guess now the only question left is whether he will accept the marriage offer from Russia's sexiest spy, Anna Chapman.



It also means that news anchors in the West can stop mispronouncing the name of Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport where Mr. Snowden has been camping out for the past few weeks. Snowden had been unable to fly to asylum elsewhere because of heavy-handed US pressure.

Russian President Vladimir Putin did insist that Russia's asylum offer was made on the condition that Snowden stop releasing documents harmful to the US. While accepting Russia's offer, Snowden curiously he also accepted offers from several Latin American countries.

The USA claims that Snowden's documents releases have harmed American national security. Bull hockey. The only security harmed has been President Obama's job security and under the circumstances, deservedly so.

Mendeleyev Journal prediction:
Snowden has stopped releasing documents for now but the moment he can fly to Latin America he will do so and then continue, although breaking free of Moscow may take awhile.

[mendeleyev]

From the Russia & India Report

Why Russia’s leaders don’t respect the US anymore

Konstantin Von Eggert, RIA Novosti

Apart from a brief period in the early 1990s, Russia’s rulers never really liked the United States. But they always respected America. Not anymore.  I cannot claim to understand the intricate domestic debate in the United States about “Obama-care.” One has to be American to figure out what the whole fuss is about on both sides. But that’s for Americans to judge.

However, in the field of foreign affairs one can evaluate Barack Obama’s policies without carrying a US passport. And there, he definitely looks like Jimmy Carter, probably the weakest post-war US president. Apart from two steps – focusing on the alarming rise of China and eliminating Osama bin Laden – Obama’s first four years were marked by a hasty retreat from Iraq, the collapse of the allied effort in Afghanistan (to be followed by an even hastier upcoming withdrawal in 2014), a confused reaction to the so-called Arab Spring, near total oblivion for the Trans-Atlantic relationship and caving in to the post-Soviet autocracies.

As a Russian I always thought that an engaged and strong American foreign policy is in Russia’s national interests, as the United States will be doing quite a few jobs the Russians themselves are unable or unwilling to do. Standing up to China, pacifying Afghanistan (now, alas, clearly a thing of the past) and fighting Islamist terror are prime examples here. The United States’ commitment to civil liberties always helped to keep autocrats all over the world on their toes.

Apart from a brief period in the early 1990s, Russia’s rulers never really liked the United States. But they always respected America. Not anymore. Tom Donilon, Obama’s national security advisor, is coming to Moscow to deliver a message to Vladimir Putin. In the wake of the expulsion of USAID from Russia, a wave of repressive legislative acts aimed at Russian civic society and, finally, the so-called “Anti-Magnitsky Law,” punishing Russian orphaned and sick children for the misdeeds of a few corrupt Russian civil servants, one would expect a frank exchange of views on the state of bilateral relations. But, if one believes the diplomatic rumour mill in Moscow, the message from the White House will seemingly be about a so-called “Reset-2” – an attempt to re-launch the relationship, after “Reset-1” largely failed to deliver.

It seems that the main goal of “Reset-2” will be START-4 – yet another nuclear arms reduction treaty. Obama has a touching 1960s and 1970s attachment to nuclear disarmament, which increasingly looks to me like an honest attempt to earn his undeserved 2009 Nobel Peace Prize postfactum.

Vladimir Putin will grant Obama’s wish (it is in Russia’s interests too to continue trimming its ageing nuclear arsenal). But not before extracting a price from the White House. Non-interference in Russia’s domestic affairs and accepting Russia’s dominant role in the post-Soviet space will probably be among his demands. I am absolutely certain they will be granted.

Moreover, Putin’s view of Russia and himself seems to be much clearer and firmer than that of Obama regarding the United States. He wants to stay in power for as long as he considers right. He doesn’t want anyone to interfere with the decisions he takes. And he wants Russia – his Russia – to be respected in the old-fashioned Cold War way.

Whether one agrees with Putin’s vision is a matter of taste and political conviction. But one cannot deny that when he sits down to talk with Western politicians, including the president of the United States, he knows very well what he wants to achieve. One may say this is because Putin has been running Russia for more than 13 years, and never faced a serious political or electoral challenge, while his counterparts have to struggle for re-election, fend off opposition challenges and juggle party politics and national interests. This is true.

Hardly anyone in the West dares to contradict Putin – and he takes this as yet more proof that his international stature is assured. He likes to play geopolitics and to converse with the international affairs’ realist-in-chief Henry Kissinger. And he doesn’t like to talk about values.

As long as foreign policy interaction remains a series of give-and-takes and does not involve any talk of the principles underpinning it, the Russian president will retain comfortable superiority not only over Tom Donilon, but over Tom Donilon’s boss, too.

[lordtiberius]

Hey Sir, is there any scuttle butt that 007 here is sweet?  You know our President likes to satisfy his inner Sha Nay Nay

[mendeleyev]

007. As in Bond, James Bond?

[lordtiberius]

Ryan Fogle

[mendeleyev]

Ah ha,

http://russianreport.wordpress.com/2013/05/14/russia-arrests-cia-agent-in-moscow/

PS...

The USA has just released one of those Russian/Ukrainian banking hackers that was in the news recently. She was the very, very pretty one and apparently the American government is feeling sorry because although she stole millions, apparently she really didn't mean to hurt anyone.

There is a back-door deal there somewhere. A trade of someone for someone could be going on.

[mendeleyev]

(Mendeleyev Journal)

Whistleblower Edward Snowden "has left the building" as the American expression goes. This is probably a good thing as frankly, it was tiring to hear Western news anchors butcher the name of Sheremetyevo (Шереметьево), one of Moscow's three main airports. As time marched on, news reporters had began to refer to it as "Moscow's international airport" or "the Moscow airport" or the "airport in Moscow."

Russia's Federal Migration Service issued Snowden with a certificate of asylum, giving him up to one year to enjoy getting to know a fascinating country and a great culture.



One could not help but chuckle at the Moscow Times list of "10 Tips for a Free Snowden" and when we're done chuckling we might add some of our own but for now, the MT has compiled a cool list including number 3 on the list: But one thing you probably haven't experienced yet is Russian female companionship — considered by some expats to be the country's most precious natural resource after oil.

The Moscow Times suggested that he take a pass on the tweeted marriage proposal from former sleeper spy Anna Chapman, on the grounds that "since she has spent so much time thinking she was a foreigner she doesn't count as a local anymore."

We also like number 5: If you can't afford a mini-sub ride or a flight with cranes, stop by the Moscow Zoo — a must-see for visitors anyway — and try to wrestle a tiger. Make sure a crowd is watching.

The FSB has offered Snowden round-the-clock protection. If they bill you for it, refuse to pay  it, Edward. Don't worry, they'll be close at hand everywhere you go, with our without your acceptance of the offer.

[lordtiberius]

Turns out Blond James Bond is a twenty something Colgate Frat Boy who loved the Daily Show.  Ryan "Richie Rich" Fogle, a St. Louis, Missouri, native, Fogle graduated in 2002 from $22,000-a-year high school Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2324952/Ryan-Fogle-CIA-spy-frat-boy-loved-Daily-Show-emerged-U-S-ambassador-summoned-Russian-foreign-office-embarrassing-arrest.html#ixzz2aqWTvZO4

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/05/ryan-fogle-boston-bombing-tsarnaevs-caucasus.html

No scuttle butt in the English speaking press of Mr. Fogle having membership cards to bathhouses