Community | July 07, 2009 | 36 comments

Obama: U.S., Russia ‘not destined’ to be rivals

Image
current89
MOSCOW - President Barack Obama, working to drastically reshape U.S. relations with a skeptical Russia, said Tuesday the two countries are not "destined to be antagonists."

"The pursuit of power is no longer a zero-sum game," Obama said, speaking in the Russian capital to graduates of the New Economic School but also hoping to reach the whole nation. "Progress must be shared."

Obama used his speech to further define his view of the United States' place in the world and, specifically, to argue that his country shares compelling interests with Russia.

"Let me be clear: America wants a strong, peaceful and prosperous Russia," he declared.

His upbeat comments at the New Economic School came on the second day of his summit in Russia, where polls show people are wary of the United States and taking a skeptical measure of Obama himself. Earlier Tuesday, Obama held private breakfast talks with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at Putin's country home outside Moscow. The atmosphere seemed cordial, and both voiced hope for improved relations between Washington and Moscow.

Source: MSNBC
  1. groups:
    Community,   Current Tonight,   US Politics,   President Obama
  2. tags:
    News US Politics Diplomacy Russia 2 more
  3.     
    |

36 comments // Obama: U.S., Russia ‘not destined’ to be rivals

  • ras_menelik
  • Valence
  • neocongo
  • JohnA
    • 0
      JohnA [removed]  
    • neocongo:

      I get that, but the Putin/Medvedev thing is even more obvious, if you can believe that. There were some who believed George was really in charge, although I don't know how after watching even one of his speeches. No one believes Medvedev is in charge.

    • 3 years ago
  • AlbeeYap
    • 0
      AlbeeYap  
    • neocongo:

      JohnA ... The story comments are mainly most of your posts! if you have a major problem with Obama, intern in the White House and make your way to become President. inspire millions like how he did. you're rants are not going anywhere with Current bloggers.

    • 3 years ago
  • JohnA
    • 0
      JohnA [removed]  
    • Just think about how insulting this is, what a low opinion Putin has of Obama. Obama doesn't even get to meet with Putin in public, who everyone with half a brain knows is still running the show, he has to take photo-ops with Putin's hand-maiden Medvedev for the evening news. What a joke.

    • 3 years ago
  • mcj89
    • 0
      mcj89  
    • JohnA:

      JohnA,
      I think that you really should just stop commenting on this thread. You are only making an ass of yourself. If you disagree with Obama's policies, fine. But your articulation of your opinion is not only insulting in its hate-infused wording, but also makes you look uninformed and just plain ignorant.
      Making over-generalized and over-personalized statements about foreign policy does no good. Although it is within the nature of foreign policy that one must speak in general terms due to a need to reference a broad context, that does not mean that you can simplify US foreign policy to our President being a "buffon" and making himself look like a "joke."

    • 3 years ago
  • Eleganza
  • neocongo
    • 0
      neocongo  
    • Bush reignites the cold war, and you lot think Obama is a communist for trying to stop it. You are traitors to this country, and the success of your propaganda will lead to the downfall of the United States. The lack of success of your propaganda, as evidenced by Obama's near landslide victory, and consistently strong polling numbers, is far more likely.

      By all means, carry on with your antics; its a nothing new to see here, blast from the past.

    • 3 years ago
  • JohnA
  • neocongo
  • Eleganza
    • 0
      Eleganza  
    • neocongo:

      John where do you get from the statement that "we are not perfect", that this is a terrible place to live...do you have difficulty with reading comprehension? No insult intended, I'm just trying to understand how you arrive at some of the conclusions you draw.

    • 3 years ago
  • JohnA
    • 0
      JohnA [removed]  
    • neocongo:

      Read the entire text of his speech yourselves. Read his speech to the Muslim world in Cairo. Read his own damn inauguration speech, or his campaign speech in Berlin. You think I'm making this up, read his words for yourself. I am sick and tired of this blowhard going around apolgizing to people who hate us. What a buffoon he looks like, and how stupid does he make us look by doing it.

    • 3 years ago
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  
    • neocongo:

      @JohnA

      I think im starting to see where you are coming from... you still cling to that post 9-11 mentality that if you arent a flag waving "patriot" who believes the US can do no wrong, then you are an enemy of the state. Luckily most people have realized the stupidity of that concept and elected Obama... the lesser of 2 evils.

    • 3 years ago
  • Mike_Johnston
    • 0
      Mike_Johnston  
    • World gvt is pretty inevitable eventually. Keeping ourselves divided by race, culture, religion and closed national boundaries is what causes a lot of the problems in the world

    • 3 years ago
  • nursediesel
    • 0
      nursediesel  
    • Mike, everyone has their opinion. And yes, Obama pointing out we aren't perfect is refreshing but not very leader/diplomat in it's inclusion to countries that don't need more reasons to hate us.
      There are other ways to endear ourselves without decreasing our viability.
      A president doesn't sell his country short! Then again he has President Carter to look to as a role model.

    • 3 years ago
  • Highr0ller
  • motoian84
    • 0
      motoian84  
    • let me get this straight...Power is not for the individual country, but to be shared?

      Does anyone know what one-world government means?

    • 3 years ago
  • Mike_Johnston
    • 0
      Mike_Johnston  
    • Obama haters are funny.

      Nothing he said was untrue or innacurate.

      I have no prblem with the Russian people. They aren't. Communists anymore really any more than the Chinese are. Come to think of it I never had a problem with Chinese people either.

      Saying America isn't perfect is just stating the obvious. No one is. Wouldn't it be nice to have one more enemy turned ally in the world?

      And what's up with hating on Muslims? Saying Muslims killed Americans on such a genaric way is ridiculous. You may as well go one step further with that twisted logic and say that, since there are so many black Muslims in the world that it is blacks who killed all those good Americans.
      From that perspective I can see why white supremicist
      groups are recruiting at Obama hater tea parties. Maybe if you go go to a couple meetings you will find yourself liking their message, never know...

    • 3 years ago
  • JohnA
    • 0
      JohnA [removed]  
    • Mike_Johnston:

      You have no problem with the Russian people. Who do you think keeps Putin in power? Putin is KGB for Christ's sake, are you really that naive? He'd turn dime on us in a second, you can't trust him to live up to any treaty unless it suits him. Wow, people on this board have no idea. You must be very young, because if you could remember 9/11 and the Palistinians dancing in the streets in joy, you wouldn't be wondering about Muslims.

    • 3 years ago
  • JohnA
    • 0
      JohnA [removed]  
    • Ask yourselves this, would Hillary go to foreign countries and grovel and beg for forgiveness? Would Hillary apologize to the Russians and tell them what a terrible place America is? Would Hillary tell the Muslims how sorry America is for making them attack us? Think about it.

    • 3 years ago
  • Eleganza
    • 0
      Eleganza  
    • So when our elected president states some truths for a change you find that embarrassing?..That we seek a peaceful approach rather than a belligerent , arrogant posture..to you that is a disgrace?
      You stated in another post that you work 60 hours a week just to make ends meet...if your approach in your personal life is anything like your apparent desire for our nations approach to the world no wonder you are broke. Your white is right attitude is on full display and I have to tell you that dog just doesn't hunt anymore.

    • 3 years ago
  • JohnA
    • 0
      JohnA [removed]  
    • Eleganza:

      There you go, make it a racist thing, last refuge of an Obama worshipper. What truths, that America is a horrible terrible mean place to be shunned and hated? Well, if you feel that way, there are plenty of flights out every hour, just grab one of them

    • 3 years ago
  • Eleganza
    • 0
      Eleganza  
    • Eleganza:

      ." Oh yeah, let's not forget to play the race card, even to people who could care less.
      Actually you injected race into this with your original post.
      As far as catching a flight put, no, I prefer to stay here and correct the mistakes of the past bring about positive changes for my kids future.
      Real strength comes with a component of humility...not bluster.

    • 3 years ago
  • JohnA
    • 0
      JohnA [removed]  
    • Eleganza:

      Wrong, I called out Mr. Obama for injecting race into every situation as has become his habit. I hope the best for your children, I really do. Once we move this dark time in our history, I believe the American dream will live again. But it won't unless we fight against the tyrants who try to stomp it out. Unless we oppose the likes of Barack Obama, Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, all that hate our nation and seek it's destruction in our own midsts, then hope is lost.

    • 3 years ago
  • neocongo
    • 0
      neocongo  
    • I'm so used to a president for whom every country is axis of evil this, evil empire that, that I am shaken to my core having a president now who successfully negotiates with other countries while simultaneously treating them respectfully.

      "If your enemy is hungry, feed him" Romans 12:20

      "Love your enemies, do good to them" Luke 6:35

      It's almost like we have a president who is acting by his faith, without constantly reminding us of it.

    • 3 years ago
  • JohnA
    • 0
      JohnA [removed]  
    • neocongo:

      How successful he is has yet to be seen, as is what he considers a success. What he has faith in is yet to be seen too, for that matter. You can be respectful without groveling to your sworn enemies. You think Hillary would beg the Muslims and the Russians for forgiveness? She knows what Putin is.

    • 3 years ago
  • nursediesel
    • 0
      nursediesel  
    • Yeah, USA is corrupt and progressive or else I wouldn't be President today!
      We'll get rid of our nukes, we don't want to intimidate you. We want to be friends and work with you for the betterment of all of our peoples.
      You are correct that he says he's for democracy but clearly backs dictators and fascist leaders.
      And the Islamic agenda, don't get me started.

    • 3 years ago
  • Kylsport
  • JohnA
  • JohnA
    • 0
      JohnA [removed]  
    • He actually said in a speech to the Russians "By no means is America perfect." What a prick! It's pretty obvious we're not perfect Barack, we elected you!

      He also said "We're partnering with Muslim communities around the world". Maybe you are asshole, but I'm not, I remember how many Americans they killed, not that it matters to you.

      "If our democracy did not advance those rights, then I, as a person of African ancestry, wouldn't be able to address you as an American citizen, much less a President. Because at the time of our founding, I had no rights — people who looked like me." Oh yeah, let's not forget to play the race card, even to people who could care less.

      "America supports now the restoration of the democratically elected President of Honduras, even though he has strongly opposed American policies." And even though he has opposed the Honduran constitution and his own people's wishes.

      What an embarassament to our country, our leader going to a foreign country and speak like that. I hope everyone is paying attention to this.

    • 3 years ago
  • current89
    • 0
      current89  
    • JohnA:

      Seeing as most of the world likes Obama, and seeing as how most Americans like Obama. I don't have anything to be embarrassed about. Also, I'm not about to use some crappy argument that involves blaming a whole group of people/religion on the acts of a few. I believe, that's what they call a logical fallacy.

    • 3 years ago
  • JohnA
    • 0
      JohnA [removed]  
    • JohnA:

      Seeing as you and the media are so in love with Obama that he can do know wrong, you can't see what a laughing stock we are becoming in the world. I'd laugh myself if it wasn't so sad.

    • 3 years ago
  • current89
    • 0
      current89  
    • JohnA:

      Yeah obviously you dodged my points. You can't stand the fact that a majority of the world likes our President, Barack Hussein Obama. In addition, you've shown that you have some bigoted opinions regarding anyone who isn't a white christian.

      As to your claim about me thinking he can do no wrong. The following are just some of his policies i disagree with.

      1. Illegal immigration.
      2. increased faith based funding.
      3. Rate of USTroop withdrawal in Iraq.

      Grow up and learn to debate in a proper manner.

    • 3 years ago
  • JohnA
  • mcj89
    • 0
      mcj89  
    • JohnA:

      "What an embarassament to our country, our leader going to a foreign country and speak like that. I hope everyone is paying attention to this."

      People like you are the embarrassment to our country. Not a president who is able to stand in front of powerful political leaders and say "we have a problem. Now, what can we do to fix it?" who can say "we, the United States, know that the problems we are facing today cannot be solved through silence nor can they be solved solely by our own domestic officials." and most importantly, any person (especially such a powerful person) who can stand up in front of others and say "i need help fixing this. i want Your help. I want Your input." is a person who is not only mature but who is also intelligent enough to know that to be a political ruler requires one to be a cooperative partner.

    • 3 years ago
more from Community:

top videos