Actually I think most of it is domestic US politics. Bush's stated foreign policy is "spreading democracy." Russia, a major ally, is supposedly "not democratic." Therefore, the Dems have to attack Russia in order to get to Bush, and the Bushies have to attack Russia in order to preempt them and appease pathologically anti-Russia lobbies like the Brzezinskies.
I really don't think the US has an anti-Russia policy in reality. The main beneficiaries of any real weakening of Russia's position would be China and the Taliban, which I can't see Washington wanting. Putin and Bush at least claim to be friends on some level, and I see no reason to disbelieve them.
--- Jim Devine <jdevine03 at gmail.com> wrote:
I think there are two crucial things to remember about the critique of Putin by the "Western" elites and official media organs:
2) it is standard for the US elite to have some criticisms of even their closest allies (here, Putin), as a way to pressure them to come even closer to full obedience.
please correct me if I am wrong.
JD
Nu, zayats, pogodi!
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