Council for a Livable World

Political action to reduce nuclear threats

  • Elections
    • Senate Candidates
    • House Candidates
    • Political Analysis
    • Who We’ve Helped Elect
  • Legislation
    • Key National Security Legislation
    • National Security Legislative Calendar
    • Legislative Achievements
  • Take Action
    • Avoiding Oppenheimer’s Nuclear Nightmare in Our Current Reality
    • Issues
    • Join Our Email List
    • Become a Member
  • About
    • Staff
    • Press
    • Newsletter
    • Boards & Experts
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Financials and Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Search
You are here: Home / Blog / Troubles in U.S.-Russian land

March 10, 2010

Troubles in U.S.-Russian land

Good  New York Times article today about the difficulties in the “reset” in U.S.-Russian relations.

People may have thought it just like getting back on a bicycle, but it isn’t.

There are too many grievances over the last 20 years – or is it 80 years – between the U.S. and Russia to make buddy-buddy easily again.

Most experts thought that the New START nuclear reductions treaty negotiations would go rapidly and smoothly.

Unfortunately, not so.

The most important deadline was the December 5, 2009 expiration of the START I agreement, and the two countries breezed past that three-month-old deadline.

The U.S. nurses grievances over Russian trade with Iran and Moscow’s harsh response in last year’s Russia vs. Georgia conflict. And their crackdown on dissidents.

The Russians nurse grievances about how we treated the former Soviet Union when it was down (before petro-dollars shot up) and our persistence in placing missile defense in former Soviet dependencies. And our tendency to tell them how to run their country.

Both countries could probably extend their list of grievances as long as their arms (either connected to their bodies or their weapons).

We have heard predictions that the New START agreement is 95% done and will be concluded in a matter of weeks.

But we have heard those predictions before.

The new treaty will be worth the wait and will be positive for American national security and yes, even for improved U.S.-Russian relations, but it has been a wait.

The Times article suggests: “The American officials said the answer might be persistence and patience,” and they are correct.

Persistence. Patience.  Say in over and over again.

Posted in: Blog

Recent Posts

  • Council: Front and Center: August 20, 2023 August 21, 2023
  • Research Analyst July 26, 2023
  • Council: Front and Center: July 23, 2023 July 23, 2023
  • U.S. destroys last of massive chemical weapons stockpile July 7, 2023
  • Statement on the Passing of Daniel Ellsberg June 18, 2023
Council for a Livable World logo

820 1st Street NE, Suite LL-180
Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: 202.543.4100

Elections

  • Meet The Candidates
  • Senate Candidates
  • House Candidates
  • Who We’ve Helped Elect

Legislation

  • Key National Security Legislation
  • National Security Legislative Calendar
  • Legislative Achievements

Take Action

  • Issues
  • Join Our Email List
  • Become a Member

About

  • History & Mission
  • Staff
  • Press
  • Newsletter
  • Boards & Experts
  • Jobs & Internships
  • Financials and Annual Reports
  • Contact Us
  • Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

© 2023 Council for a Livable World
Privacy Policy