President Barack Obama meets with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at his dacha outside Moscow, Russia, July 7, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Are US And Russia In New Cold War? -- Andre de Nesnera, Voice of America
WASHINGTON — Relations between the United States and Russia have hit a low point since Moscow annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. Many analysts are wondering whether the two sides are returning to a new Cold War.
The “first” Cold War lasted roughly from the end of World War Two in 1945 to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Charles Kupchan with Georgetown University, said the Cold War was a rivalry between a Western bloc led by the United States and an Eastern bloc led by the Soviet Union.
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My Comment: I lived through the Cold War .... today's differences are nowhere near what it was like then .... not even close. But we are in an era where relations are clearly strained.
2 comments:
Jeez, that picture speaks volumes. I think you're onto something about Putin's personal dislike of other leaders.
On the flip side .... there are leaders that he absolutely adores. Silvio Berlusconi is one of those leaders. There are two stories that I have never forgotten about him and his friendship with Berlusconi. Putin has a reputation for always being late .... but he is always on time if not early for Berlusconi. The U.S. Ambassador had to once wait two hours to meet Putin, and when he finally got to meet him an aide came in and told Putin that Berlusconi was on the phone .... Putin took the call and the U.S. Ambassador could hear that it was Berlusconi. After about a minute Putin then told him that he had to leave because this was an important call involving a private matter. The U.S. Ambassador left and after a few hours realized that he was never going to be called back. The other time involved George Clooney (of all people). Berlusconi was giving a tour of his massive home in Italy to Clooney .... but as Clooney remarked .... Berlusconi told him (and showed him) what was his most prized possession .... a massive bed that was given to him as a gift from Putin (you just cannot make this stuff up). My take for the close friendship is that Berlusconi is also Putin's main man outside of Russia who has helped in making Putin a billionaire .... mainly through Russia - Italy gas agreements .... but that is another story.
The other leader that Putin is close to is Merkel of Germany. Putin himself has remarked that theirs is a love-hate relationship .... but over the years he has learn to respect her .... and he does take her counsel. I suspect that he is listening to her on the Ukraine crisis.
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