Decoding Russia: A Six-Step Plan

Red Square

From The New York Times:

MOSCOW — Barack Obama’s last visit to Russia, as a senator in 2005, did not end so well. He was detained by the security services at an airport near Siberia for three hours, locked in a lounge, his passport confiscated, like a scene from a John le Carré novel.

The Russians later called it a “misunderstanding.”

Those tend to happen a lot around here.

Now Mr. Obama is coming back, due in Moscow on Monday for his first Russian-American summit, taking his place in a long line of Americans who have tried to figure Russia out.

The United States and Russia (or its Soviet predecessor) have circled each other warily for decades. And often enough at these meetings, the Americans have been frustrated, mumbling “I don’t get these people” all the way home.

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My Comment: When it comes to Russia and The New York Times, I have always been skeptical on what they were reporting on. But this time .... I am pleasantly surprised to find myself in agreement with this article. It does not give a complete picture, but it is a start for someone who wants to understand a small part of Russia.

Just two more points .... yes, Russians are interested in knowing what Americans perceive in them. But .... I can say the same about the U.S. Many Americans think that the news around the world revolves around them .... I always keep on telling them that IT DOES NOT!

Second .... I know what Senator Barack Obama must have felt like when Russian authorities detained him for 3 hours. I had the same experience in 1992. I had wanted to go to St. Petersburg from Moscow, but this would mean a change in my visa. I went to the office that was responsible for these changes, and they were surprised to see a Canadian speaking fluent Russian. Passport taken .... questions were then being asked politely .... but forcefully. Fortunately, my uncle was a big wheel in the governemnt .... and I received my "permission slip" to go. Misunderstandings and apologies were exchanged. Sigh .... I guess this must be a routine that they do for every foreigner.