“Obama’s Pretty Words Will Stay on Paper, but Ugly Things Lie Ahead”
Published in KM
(Russia) on 20 June 2012
by Anatoly Wasserman (link to original)
(Russia) on 20 June 2012
by Anatoly Wasserman (link to original)
Translated from
by Molly Brean.
Edited by Becca Prashner.
Judging by the first reports of the meeting between the presidents of the Russian Federation and the United States of America, us Russians made out better than the Americans
Judging by the first reports of the meeting between the presidents of the Russian Federation and the United States of America, us Russians made out better than the Americans. In particular, American rhetoric regarding Iran has softened and has begun to recognize that the Middle Eastern country has the right to develop nuclear weapons for peaceful purposes. In addition, President Obama is already beginning to fall back on vague language in talking about the American missile defense, which, truth be told, should be re-named “anti-missile assault” because it enables the initial act of aggression by eliminating any concerns about retaliation.
Our Entry to the World Trade Organization Will Only Hurt Us If We Cannot Regain What We Lost
While Putin thanked Obama for America’s assistance in securing Russia’s entry into the World Trade Organization, I firmly believe that the move is not only unnecessary, but also harmful for the Russian Federation at this time. Moreover, the Americans opened discourse on this subject by gushing about how Russia’s involvement will bring them many new jobs, but no one elaborated on how this would help us.
The World Trade Organization is constructed according to a system that both encourages the development of pre-existing sectors and prevents the development of new sectors in national economies. The more developed the country, the more diverse its economy and the more beneficial membership in the World Trade Organization will be to it. For countries that want to create new economic sectors, the World Trade Organization only impedes growth. Just as a newborn child initially requires delicate and vigilant care, a growing economy needs defense and protection from competitors abroad. However, the rules of the World Trade Organization prohibit any barriers from international competition, even if that protection could produce countless benefits in the long run.
For a quarter of a century, we abided by liberal economic regulations and consequently lost a considerable portion of our economy, and now we have to develop many of these lost and vitally important sectors practically from scratch. Thus, our membership in the World Trade Organization at the present time will only hurt us if we are not allowed to regain what we have lost. This whole situation brings to mind a saying from one of history’s greatest, if not unscrupulous, diplomats. In the words of 19th-century French Foreign Minister Talleyrand, “language was given to man in order to conceal thought.” Indeed, we have a lot to speculate when it comes to what’s hidden within both Putin and Obama’s pretty, nice-sounding words.
It’s Highly Unlikely That the Americans Will Lighten Pressure on Iran
I think that it’s highly unlikely that the Americans will lighten pressure on Iran, as the country is yet to support international efforts to stop the terrorist government coup in Syria. After all, that’s what’s happening now in Syria - classic terrorism in its purest form - and I call it a government coup without reservations. However, I fear that the pretty words will stay on paper and that truly ugly things lie ahead as the situation plays out in real life with American forces and resources at work.
As for Russia, I very much hope that long before the end of the delay in our negotiations on the World Trade Organization, the structure of the global economy will change so that the organization will once and for all lose meaning and that we will not suffer too greatly from our brief entry into the international economic body. All in all, it seems to me that this meeting changes nothing material or important in Russian-American relations. The two countries remain on the same level of political rhetoric as before, and I suppose that we should be happy that Putin and Obama, as is expected of them, exchanged words but did not engage in tête-à-tête. However, had they done so, I think the odds would have been stacked in our favor.
Judging by the first reports of the meeting between the presidents of the Russian Federation and the United States of America, us Russians made out better than the Americans. In particular, American rhetoric regarding Iran has softened and has begun to recognize that the Middle Eastern country has the right to develop nuclear weapons for peaceful purposes. In addition, President Obama is already beginning to fall back on vague language in talking about the American missile defense, which, truth be told, should be re-named “anti-missile assault” because it enables the initial act of aggression by eliminating any concerns about retaliation.
Our Entry to the World Trade Organization Will Only Hurt Us If We Cannot Regain What We Lost
While Putin thanked Obama for America’s assistance in securing Russia’s entry into the World Trade Organization, I firmly believe that the move is not only unnecessary, but also harmful for the Russian Federation at this time. Moreover, the Americans opened discourse on this subject by gushing about how Russia’s involvement will bring them many new jobs, but no one elaborated on how this would help us.
The World Trade Organization is constructed according to a system that both encourages the development of pre-existing sectors and prevents the development of new sectors in national economies. The more developed the country, the more diverse its economy and the more beneficial membership in the World Trade Organization will be to it. For countries that want to create new economic sectors, the World Trade Organization only impedes growth. Just as a newborn child initially requires delicate and vigilant care, a growing economy needs defense and protection from competitors abroad. However, the rules of the World Trade Organization prohibit any barriers from international competition, even if that protection could produce countless benefits in the long run.
For a quarter of a century, we abided by liberal economic regulations and consequently lost a considerable portion of our economy, and now we have to develop many of these lost and vitally important sectors practically from scratch. Thus, our membership in the World Trade Organization at the present time will only hurt us if we are not allowed to regain what we have lost. This whole situation brings to mind a saying from one of history’s greatest, if not unscrupulous, diplomats. In the words of 19th-century French Foreign Minister Talleyrand, “language was given to man in order to conceal thought.” Indeed, we have a lot to speculate when it comes to what’s hidden within both Putin and Obama’s pretty, nice-sounding words.
It’s Highly Unlikely That the Americans Will Lighten Pressure on Iran
I think that it’s highly unlikely that the Americans will lighten pressure on Iran, as the country is yet to support international efforts to stop the terrorist government coup in Syria. After all, that’s what’s happening now in Syria - classic terrorism in its purest form - and I call it a government coup without reservations. However, I fear that the pretty words will stay on paper and that truly ugly things lie ahead as the situation plays out in real life with American forces and resources at work.
As for Russia, I very much hope that long before the end of the delay in our negotiations on the World Trade Organization, the structure of the global economy will change so that the organization will once and for all lose meaning and that we will not suffer too greatly from our brief entry into the international economic body. All in all, it seems to me that this meeting changes nothing material or important in Russian-American relations. The two countries remain on the same level of political rhetoric as before, and I suppose that we should be happy that Putin and Obama, as is expected of them, exchanged words but did not engage in tête-à-tête. However, had they done so, I think the odds would have been stacked in our favor.