Is Russia Just A Regional Power?

Obama: Russia Is 'A Regional Power,' Not Top Geopolitical Foe -- NBC

President Barack Obama says that Russia is a "regional power," rather than the top geopolitical enemy of the United States.

Asked whether he had reassessed former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's assertion that Russia is "America's number one geopolitical foe," Obama called Russia a "regional power that is threatening some of its immediate neighbors -- not out of strength but out of weakness."

"Russia's actions are a problem," he said at a joint press conference at the Hague with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. "They don’t pose the number one national security threat to the United States. I continue to be much more concerned when it comes to our security with the prospect of a nuclear weapon going off in Manhattan."

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More News On President Obama's Remarks That Russia Is Just A Regional Power

Obama Says Russia Is ‘Regional Power,’ Not America’s Top Geopolitical Foe -- ABC News
Obama still disputes Romney’s claim that Russia top ‘geopolitical foe’ -- FOX News
Obama Dismisses Russia as a ‘Regional Power’ that Invades Other Countries ‘Out of Weakness’ -- PJ Media
Obama dismisses Romney, minimizes Russia -- Daily Caller

My Comment: It is interesting to see the differences in coverage on President Obama's comment that Russia is just a regional power. In the U.S. .... the press coverage is essentially stressing the President's point and his dismissal of Mitt Romney's assertion that Russia is a geopolitical threat. In the Far East .... the coverage is more of .... who is then the threat ... China? In Russia .... no coverage. Eastern Europe .... duh!!! .... they have always seen Russia as a top geopolitical foe. And Western Europe .... they worry more about the 35% natural gas imports that come from Russia than whether or not Russia is a geopolitical threat.

What's my take .... this is all amateur hour. Russia is a regional superpower .... but many in Russia will probably agree with President Obama .... they do not see themselves as a geopolitical foe to the U.S. .... if anything .... the wish among many Russians is to emigrate to Florida or California for a shot at a better life .... not a mindset to have if you regard your destination as a "threat".