The Cold War is over, it effectively ended during the second term of Ronald Reagan. Russia never, even during the days of Boris Yeltsin, became an all-out "ally" of the United States. The issue with the Strategic Defense Initiative has always been something that has caused friction between the US and Soviet Union/Russia. For the later stage Soviet Union, the prospect of an overly expensive missile defense system was never something they could easily counter due to their poor economic performance (the percentage of GDP that went to defense was much higher). It was a sort of unmovable object in negotiations between President Reagan and Premier Gorbachev. Both leaders of the time were willing to proceed with mammoth reductions in their respective nuclear arsenals, but at Reykjavik in Iceland, Gorbachev demanded that the US give up it's missile shield as part of any deal (he refusing an offer by the US to export the program to the USSR). Reagan, feeling that SDI potential defense against nuclear weapons, and doubtlessly aware of the economic pressure imposed by the mammoth program did not give in. Reagan and Gorbachev later came to significant, although less expansive, arms reductions agreements.
Questions were raised whether the United States would abrogate a portion of Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty as to begin the initial phase of the missile defense system. The programs developments required a decision towards the end of the Clinton administration, but as if often the case the leaving President left the decision up to the incoming administration. President George W. Bush, unsurprisingly since it was within the party platform, formally withdrew the signature from the detente-era ABM treaty.
Boris Yeltsin resigned on the 31st of December 1999, giving way to Vladimir Putin. Giving retrospect, it's seems likely he would have named a different successor (Yeltsin, along with Gorbachev would later criticize Putin's methods). Relations between the United States and Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union have essentially been one of competitors. For a time early in the Putin regime it appeared relations between Russia and the West generally might actually improve. Russia gained observer seat on NATO. However, Vladimir Putin clearly is not the bumbling democrat that his predecessor was. Where Yeltsin denounced the Communists, Putin has been toying with the idea of bringing the Stalin cult back (an idea considered and rejected by Brezhnev).
The George W. Bush Vladimir Putin relationship is a curious one. I wouldn't be a mistake to say that Bush misjudged Putin. He would be the latest in a long line of Western leaders to assume, based on a brief conversation, that they understood "the man." Bush was perhaps at a notable disadvantage in handling a man who not only an agent, but the head of the Secret Police. His own informal personal style, more adept in relations with a leader like Tony Blair, probably don't match up as well against someone well trained in manipulation.
Putin has been pressing the nationalist buttons hard, as every authoritarian leader needs too. Putin has the advantage of both being popular in his country, and having reduced the level of the popular dissent due to his own policies. George W. Bush, needless to say, does not have that advantage. Still, recently, Putin had to mollify his threats to this, that, or the other thing in the U.S. preceded on it's missile defense plan. This may be the result of a certain pragmatism.
In regards to the missile shield, I think it is a good idea to pursue offers by the Russians for placement of satellites for the shield in areas of their influence although very cautiously. The message must continued to be sent the missile shield is not designed as a threat to the Russians. Offers should continue to be made to export the shield as is practically possible (I remember reading recently a high ranking member of the Russian military expressed an interest in this, which is shift from outright refusal).
Last edited by jimservo on 26 Jul 2007, 10:56 pm, edited 2 times in total.
26 Jul 2007, 8:19 pm
