Bush Reflects On Russian Relations

U.S. President George Bush walks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at his summer residence in Sochi, Russia Saturday, April 5, 2008. Bush began a farewell call in Russia on Saturday as the White House abandoned hope of a major agreement on missile defense during weekend talks with Putin.(AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Presidential Press Service, Vladimir Rodionov)

From The Washington Post:

LIMA, Peru, Nov. 22 -- President Bush held his last meeting with a Russian leader on Saturday, saying he had worked to forge a "cordial relationship" with President Dmitry Medvedev and to be "respectful" when they disagreed.

Attending the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit here in Peru, Bush also won pledges to keep Pacific Rim markets open during the financial crisis and made modest gains in stalled negotiations over North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

The meeting between Bush and Medvedev came at a time of deepening tension between Washington and Moscow over the Georgia war, missile defense and other intractable conflicts. Their private session took place just hours after Bush issued a statement hailing the fifth anniversary of the Rose Revolution in Georgia, the nation Russia invaded in August.

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My Comment: Russian and U.S. relations have always been complicated .... and also very difficult. But when both countries had the same interests involved .... 9/11, Afghanistan, North Korea .... they proved to be very effective partners. For this .... bot President Bush and President Putin deserve credit.

The differences have also proven to be complicated and very difficult. But while both sides have always aired these differences in a negative and hostile manner, they also always got back to the table. This in itself is a big accomplishment.

In the end .... the relationship is better. There is going to be no war between both countries. And in many cases .... there is going to be a great deal cooperation.