What is Wrong with Germany

The Russian elections are over with no surprises.  Everything proceeded as planned.  Russia will now concentrate on further intimidation of its former colonies - a natural geopolitical reality which is in its interests.  Despite the fact that even if Russia permitted a free media and truly competitive elections which allows for opposition candidates that have not been hand-picked by the Kremlin, Putin would have won. But not by much.

But it is telling that the energy ties-that- bind running from Moscow to Berlin are firm and colours the question of Germany's dependability as a Western ally and member of NATO.  The majority of European countries were silent about the elections and the results.  Putin received few congratulatory phone calls from any European country, with France remaining significantly quiet.

But, Angela Merkel immediately called Putin to congratulate him and amazingly offered a "strategic partnership".  The Foreign Minister of Poland, Radoslaw Sikorski, provided the proper response by calling the elections undemocratic. Poland has seen the results of a strategic partnership between Moscow and Berlin before.

German ties with Russia are understandable given the prostrate energy position of Berlin.  At the same time, coupled with German positions on Libya, it's attitude toward Greece and the southern tier of EU member states and its positioning to control the EU at the expense of everyone else, Germany must be looked on differently and its foreign policy with suspicion.

Putin at 10

Image by World Economic Forum via Flickr

First, yes. I know. Long, long dry spell between posts.  As usual, my day job has tripped me up.  Live with it.

Probably few have noticed but Vladimir Putin has now been in power for over 10 years.  Plucked from nowhere by a failing Boris Yeltsin, he succeeded in restructuring Russia - sometimes not in a good way - with the massive support and approval of the Russian people.  He crushed the nascent free media. He crushed the oligarchs - at lease those who refused to tow the line.

The devastating heat wave and fires during the past month have dented his popularity - but there are few countries in the world who don't blame their leaders  for events beyond their control. Like the weather.  But, then, people are not particularly smart in general and like easy answers.  Most of the time it is the response to disasters that usually kill the politician.  This phenomenon has taken aim at the Russian Prime Minister where calls for his resignation have surfaced this week.  Ain't gonna happen.

Putin will be remembered for consolidating the state and not indulging in revolutionary fervour. As a result, changes that started and faltered under the Yeltsin years have taken place merely because Putin said "do it".

Last May when I was in Moscow to review progress on the consolidation of a certain number of government agencies - something my colleagues and I advocated in 1995 - the progress that had been made when Putin had said "do it" three years ago was astounding.  He also cleared out the old - aged and backward vodka swilling - guard in government, replacing it with very bright and very young professionals. 

I saw a report recently that while visiting Nizhny Novgorod - the fourth largest city in the country - he promised those standing amid smoldering ruins that once had been their homes that all would be rebuild before November. Indeed, work had already begun. All because Putin said "do it".

From a human rights, civil society and media freedom perspective, I don't particularly like him.  But, more leaders should be able to get things done with similar determination.

Blogging from Paris

Image via Wikipedia

Actually, I'm not. I'm on a blogging break. But, some news items caught my attention.

The first is the Russian Akula class subs patrolling in international waters off the coast of the United States. This, it appears, have the right wingers in the US all atwitter (pun intended). They need to take a pill and go home for a mental health break. First - these boats are old tech. Second - these boats are manned by crews who have not had this type of long distance experience in a decade. Third - these boats are loud (therefore easily tracked). Fourth - the Pentagon doesn't care. This all is news? Guess it's August.

Another bit of news is the Clinton effort that successfully freed two American journalists from North Korean clutches. Good. And, right wingers, it was a success. Not a failure. Not a concession to North Korea. End of story. Go back to your holes under the rocks.

Third. Putin and Erdogan are meeting in Moscow. Putin will have been in power for a decade. He also invited Berlisconi. How important is this meeting, exactly?

On a sad note, Sam the Koala, a survivor of a bush fire (not the ex president) in Australia, died in surgery. RIP

Also, former Senator Edward's mistress is in Federal Court for some reason. Could not open the web site because my connection is not so great and it, truthfully, bores me (but not prudish Americans).

Finally, Paris is hot. It is over 35 (for the centigrade challenged, that's hot). But, the wine and cheese is still great. The city is still beautiful. And their health care system is so superior to the one in the US, it is not measurable.

Back from Versailles today and off shopping tomorrow.

A bientot.

Chess with Russia

According to UNIAN (via AFP in Moscow - no link) Russia cancelled scheduled talks with Ukraine in light of the agreement reached by Ukraine with the EU to upgrade its gas distribution system. President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin - in a now familiar double-team announcement, basically told the EU that Ukraine and its gas (which flows to Europe) is their responsibility. Putin ill-disguised threat of 'reviewing' Russia's relationship with the EU unless they are included in discussing this turn of events is also now becoming very familiar. Of course, the South Stream pipeline project has nothing to do with this and Russia also respects the independence of its neighbors.


What remains to be seen is whether the EU actually can fund the rehabilitation of the pipelines and, more importantly, whether the Germans and French are willing to provide this type of development aid in the face of Russian threats. Russia has a window of opportunity really flex its energy muscle - and events like this clearly upset the Kremlin. If the EU doesn't follow through and Vice President Biden's rejection of spheres of influence is ignored by the 'reset button' - Ukraine can look forward to a lot less maneuvering room with its resurgent neighbor.


I'm off to Moscow at the end of May and will get some additional views on the on-going issues between Russia's near-abroad and Russia. By that time, of course, President Yuschenko will be in the process of being impeached.