Community | September 01, 2008 | 8 comments

Interview: Russians Have Crossed a Red Line

source: http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,575599,00.html

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What should the West do about Russia. Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told SPIEGEL that the West needs to work together -- and look for ways to isolate Russia internationally.

SPIEGEL: Madame Secretary, Russian troops are still in Georgia. Moscow has recognized the independence of the Georgian provinces South Ossetia and Abkhazia and promised them military assistance if necessary. Are we at the beginning of a new Cold War?

Albright: Well, we can't be at the beginning of a new Cold War. That would be a huge step backwards. On the other hand, we can't afford to stay on the sidelines in this complicated situation. With the invasion of a sovereign country, the Russians have crossed the red line. What is troubling is that Russia is behaving in a way that reminds us of the Russian empire in the 19th century -- that is unacceptable in the 21st century.

SPIEGEL: If you were still US Secretary of State, what would you tell the Russians?

Albright: First of all, I would have gone to Moscow, unlike the current Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. It is very important to be direct. I would tell them: That is not acceptable behavior -- but also reassure them not to worry about security threats at their borders. I would tell them that they simply misjudged the situation. That has to be corrected.

SPIEGEL: Who would you have delivered your message to? Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin or Russian President Dmitry Medvedev?

Albright: Putin, whatever he calls himself, is in charge. There were many questions about the fact that he had given up the presidency. It is now very clear that he is still calling the shots and has created a Russia that in many ways is not compatible with the 21st century. We want to be able to have a cooperative relationship but the Russians currently make it much more complicated.

(interview continued at link)
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8 comments // Interview: Russians Have Crossed a Red Line

  • Robroy1
    • 0
      Robroy1  

    • Russia does not care what the world thinks right now. It is defending itself from the likes of Bush and Co. who crossed the red line years ago. I should not even respond to such a statement but I feel I need to because I once had respect for Fullbright not much but a little. Russia will just withold oil and gas from eastern and western europe and then Russia will get whatever it wants. It has the oil and the brains, guts and power to protect it and thier country from America's expansionism
      and greed for thier oil. Between Bush and Co. the Big Oil Co.'s and the Corporations this world is one great big mess and I don't see it changing while this madman is at the helm of America.

    • 3 years ago
  • WhiteNoise
    • 0
      WhiteNoise  

    • may I be a little more precise ...

      that old murderous harlot !

      "We Think the Price Is Worth It"
      Media uncurious about Iraq policy's effects- there or here

      Lesley Stahl on U.S. sanctions against Iraq: We have heard that a half million children have died. I mean, that's more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it?

      Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: I think this is a very hard choice, but the price--we think the price is worth it.

      --60 Minutes (5/12/96)
      http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1084

    • 3 years ago
  • WhiteNoise
    • 0
      WhiteNoise  

    • "If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear." - George Orwell

      SUCH AS...

      If the Nuremberg laws were applied, then every post-war American president would have been hanged." - Noam Chomsky

      OR...

      "It makes no difference who you vote for - the two parties are really one party representing four percent of the people" - Gore Vidal

    • 3 years ago
  • isnamthere
  • Emil_G
    • 0
      Emil_G  

    • That OLD BITCH has also said that Siberia should be "divided up" because it is "unfair" that Russia has all that land.

    • 3 years ago
  • RainbowMan
  • AntiFacistCanuck
    • 0
      AntiFacistCanuck  

    • Oh yes not-so-bright is the mouthpiece to roar! Just how many more dead children does she want on her conscience?

      "With the invasion of a sovereign country, the Russians have crossed the red line." so now they are in company with the USA a rogue state that no longer upholds the rule of law.

      Just one more opportunity to keep her mouth shut that the old bitch missed.

    • 3 years ago
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