President Barack Obama and Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev sign a preliminary agreement to reduce the world's two largest nuclear stockpiles by as much as a third, to the lowest levels of any U.S.-Russia accord, before a joint news conference at the Kremlin in Moscow on Monday, July 6, 2009. (AP)
Last summer, it was all but proxy war between the United States and Russia. Russian troops in neighboring Georgia. Washington’s rhetoric on fire.
This summer, it’s Barack Obama in Moscow, talking about a new beginning in U.S.-Russia ties. He talked with Medvedev. Talked with Putin. He got the start of a nuclear arms deal. He got over-flight rights for the U.S. military to Afghanistan.
But as for a real restart, a reset — not so clear. There are tough issues here with a defiant, oil-rich Russia.
This hour, On Point: Zbigniew Brzezinski, and more, on Obama in Moscow and the push for a reset with Russia.
You can join the conversation. Tell us what you think — here on this page, on Twitter, and on Facebook.
-Tom Ashbrook
Guests:
From Moscow we’re joined by Karen Travers, White House reporter for ABC News. She’s been traveling with President Obama in Russia and covered his speech today and the arms agreement signed yesterday.
From Washington, we’re joined by Zbigniew Brzezinski, national security advisor under President Jimmy Carter, from 1977 to 1981, and now a professor of American foreign policy at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies and a trustee of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
And joining us from New York is Stephen Cohen, professor of Russian and Slavic Studies at New York University and a contributing editor to The Nation. His most recent book is “Soviet Fates and Lost Alternatives.”
Tags: foreign policy, Obama administration, Russia, U.S.-Russia
Stephen Cohen is awesome… thanks for having him on.
Can you ask your guests what the purpose of NATO is and if it is still relevant today or if it just causes more problems than it solves.
Thanks!
Posted by gabrielle, on July 7th, 2009 at 5:38 am UTCgabrielle
brooklyn
Why did we invade Iraq? The Euroka Moment!!!
It is official. We did not invade Iraq for Oil, or T.Boone Pickens is a liar!
T. Boone Pickens on CNBC this morning 7:37 AM EST
He was pushing for the idea that US should claims rights on Iraqi Oil Reserves. Since we have spent so much money and lives on invading Iraq, they should owe the US Government preferential access to the reserves.
He said, he repeatedly went to Bush Government (and to Obama Administration) with this idea and the idea did not get any “traction”. And George W. Bush personally has told him that we cannot do that because We Did Not Go There For Oil.
Can American People possibly understand what this means?
The whole nation claims that we invaded Iraq for Oil, and the Guy who actually decided for Invasion says that it is not for Oil, and we just say, “Ok, next subject”.
Please don’t wake up our journalists, or talking points.
Just Think About This!!!!
Posted by Lilya Lopekha, on July 7th, 2009 at 6:50 am UTCBrzezinski and Cohen are incredible and this should be a wonderful show. Zbig is one of the most brilliant strategic thinkers around.
Posted by Richard, on July 7th, 2009 at 7:22 am UTCObama’s major speech today was about America’s role in the world i.e. Cairo. But there were empty seats at the graduation ceremony and it was not on any of the main Russian TV channels. Why? Is this a sleight?
Posted by Brian, on July 7th, 2009 at 8:51 am UTCBrzezinski is not a credible expert since he keeps talking about the “imperial” history of Russia. He compares Germany to Russai? He is beyond bamboozled.
No such thing. Never happened. All wars of Imperial Russia were defensive ones – againt the Mongols, the Turks, The Persians, the French the Germans etc.
Russia never invaded anybody—just the other way around. Just about everybody has invaded Russia! He is (deliberately?) confusing the Bolshevik period with Imperial period. He has no credibility since he since he missed Russian History 101.
Posted by Eleni, on July 7th, 2009 at 9:29 am UTCOh, how rich! Asking Zbigniew Brzezinski advice on a strategy for attaining world peace. Since before the Carter administration, Brzezinski has been a key player behind the global scene for the manipulation of policy which has only promoted conflict. Ask Zbig about his endorsement of Chinese aid to Pol Pots’ Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, or his support for Islamic radicals against Russia in its Afghanistan war in 1979. Which side of Brzezinski’s mouth is he lying out of this time? Tom, consulting with Brzezinski on matters of peace is like getting advice from a sadist about the best cure for your pain!
Posted by Todd, on July 7th, 2009 at 9:42 am UTCWhat really happened with Georgia / Russia / USA
Bush Administration donated money to Georgia
Georgia spent most of that money to buy weapons from Israel
McCain’s compaign advisors visited Georgia
Georgia name the biggest street in Tiblisi after G.W. Bush
Georgia started an offensive against South Ossetia
Putin looked good and powerful
Russia responded with more military action
Presindent Saakashvili look good in their own policical scene.
Georgia hired hundreds of military personnel from Israel
McCain visited Georgia in Support
US Government gave over $1 Billion to Georgia
McCain looked good, poll ratings went up 8%
Georgian government passed our tax dollars to Israeli military contractors
It was a win win situation for everybody, except the US Taxpayers; but who cares. We are not that important.
Posted by Lilya Lopekha, on July 7th, 2009 at 9:44 am UTCI think that Cohen is a good guest providing the Russian point of view, but I do quibble with the details. His comment about the Northern Alliance being a Russian “leave behind” force is misleading to say the least! (Rashid Dostum is a former pro-Soviet commander, but others such as Ahmed Shah Massoud are definitely NOT Russian creations).
I also don’t think, despite all Cohen’s sales-pitching, that we are in a “new Cold War.” Russia wishes that we were, because that would automatically grant them superpower status, but we are not. Russia is a regional power that we have some strong disagreements with, but thats not the same thing as a world wide, decade long ideological conflict with mutually-assured nuclear destruction as a possible outcome. Russia’s societal problems are just too great to make it realistically a global superpower.
Cohen raises good points on NATO though. Why are we expanding it, exactly? It should only expand if Russia is offered membership as well.
Posted by Kochevnik, on July 7th, 2009 at 9:48 am UTCEleni – “All wars of Imperial Russia were defensive ones”
HA! Tell that to the Poles, Finns, Lithuanians, Chechens, Circassians, Turkmen, Kazakhs, Manchurians…
Posted by Kochevnik, on July 7th, 2009 at 9:50 am UTC“HA! Tell that to the Poles, Finns, Lithuanians, Chechens, Circassians, Turkmen, Kazakhs, Manchurians…”
The Afghans…
Cohen was and is brilliant as was Zbig. I liked hearing them both and it’s a fascinating time.
Thanks Tom, fascinating show.
Posted by Richard, on July 7th, 2009 at 9:58 am UTCObama, Zbig and Cohen should tell us if Putin and Medvedev want Palestine or Iran to negotiate first? Am very curious…
Posted by Bogs, on July 7th, 2009 at 9:58 am UTCThis is the first time I have listened to your program. What an excellent discussion of US-Russian relations. It has been a long time since I have heard anything so well thought out, and in such depth. I loved that you had Brzezinski and Cohen to bookend the program. I feel like I learned so much in this hour, and I have far more appreciation from where Russia is coming from, and what our role can be with them. Thank you.
Posted by MARY ANN ARSENAULT, on July 7th, 2009 at 10:01 am UTCThe machinations of NATO have nothing to do with Russia anymore, except inasmuch as the Russians have an emotional reaction to the historical function of NATO, and the Russians see that NATO bases on their border in some way threaten their security. Why should it? Actually, shouldn’t Russia JOIN NATO so that they can play their due part in matters that concern everyone, like Afghanistan?
Posted by Paul, on July 7th, 2009 at 10:08 am UTCgreat show tom,
enjoyed listening to Stephen Cohen point of view and him talking about georgia involvement last year.
Posted by Mike, on July 7th, 2009 at 11:58 am UTCThought Cohen was excellent. I never did believe
Posted by McLaughlin, Matt, on July 7th, 2009 at 2:16 pm UTCRR ended anything. When the Berlin Wall went up it put Soviet tanks out of sight and gave the West German currency a definite space to be traded. I am so sick and tired of America brow beating Russia on how to rule.
I’m looking forward to USA minding its own business, soon and burying its white horse in the back yard.
Cohen is right about the disregard the Clinton administration had toward the Russians – it was obvious even to casual observers: witness how Russia was treated during NATO’s Kosovo offensive.
The end of the Cold War was America’s first big moment blown to have forged a new international, multilateral consensus. The second huge missed opportunity was 9/11.
Now, years after celebrating how the Afghan freedom fighters were so invaluable in breaking the Soviet back, Russia is allowing the US to ship supplies to Afghanistan across its territory. How ironic.
Posted by Stan, on July 7th, 2009 at 3:03 pm UTCSorry for your loss Tom.
Posted by Joe B., on July 7th, 2009 at 7:10 pm UTCTom,
) shared a view that I have on Russian-American relationship. I am originally from Eastern Ukraine and my mother still lives there. I am so sick and tired of all these attacks on Russia including it’s “mistreatment” of Ukraine and supposed aggression in Georgia. Do Americans even know that the majority of Ukrainian population don’t want to be in NATO? Every poll in Ukraine confirms that joining NATO is not supported by the most of its people but only by the Ukrainian president and his supporters in Western Ukraine.
Posted by Natalia Dashkovskaya, on July 7th, 2009 at 8:12 pm UTCThank you for an excellent program tonight. I was very impressed to hear that at least somebody in America (thank you Mr.Cohen! I am going to order your book
I agree that America lost chance benefitting from being equal partners with Russia when she feasted on the glory of “winning the cold war” and desired to see Russia subservient. This is a clear case of “winning the battle but losing the war”.
I am also glad that you brought Mr.Brzezinski in – it made the program well balanced. Even though I think he perceives Russia as it is still in Stalin’s era.
Oh poor little booboo…Obama didn’t get treated as a savior in Russia so Tom Ashbrook has to have a guest who can keep Tom’s agenda (Ashbrook’s forever lasting hatred of George Bush) alive.
Stephen Cohen’s accusations that it was Bush policies on why Obama was “dissed” without reason’s on why NATO was expanded is just another attempt by this show, it’s host, and NPR to keep the burning hatred of George Bush stoked.
We all know that the “P” in NPR stands for Progressive… Why should 47% of american taxpayers be forced to pay for this liberal drool ?
Oh one more thing.
Why didn’t President Bush attend Michael Jackson’s funeral?..He must be a racist!!!!….Oh that’s right Bush is not the president anymore…
Obama must be a racist and hates black people for his blatant disrespect for the king of pop….and don’t tell me the Russian visit was planned way ahead of Jackson’s death is the reason for his not attending…. All the non-ageement agreements made could of been phoned in…what a maroon.
Brian Martin
Posted by Brian Martin, on July 7th, 2009 at 8:50 pm UTCSouthern Pines, NC
“Ageement”…so I’m a maroon at typing and putting apostrophe’s where they don’t belong…
Brian Martin
Posted by Brian Martin, on July 7th, 2009 at 9:09 pm UTCSouthern Pine’s, NC
Brian Martin failed to listen to much of what Cohen had to say- including his praise of Ronald Reagan and several indictments of the Clinton era policy.
Mr Martin. if you havent listened to the program in it’s entirety then perhaps you shouldnt try to comment- it doesnt make your veiwpoint seem credible.
George Bush has history to judge him- hatred of him is irrelevant. We are moving on – so should you.
Posted by James, on July 7th, 2009 at 9:42 pm UTCBrian Martin you sound delusional. Your rant is so misplaced and bizarre. How do you know if all of the 47% of Americans taxpayers don’t want have a minuscule percentage of their tax dollars going towards public radio.
Do you know them personally? Are they all your friends on Facebook or something.
The other thing I don’t like huge percentages of my tax dollars going towards the military, I think we spend to much on it, so what am I too do? Rant like a 8 year old spoiled brat like you do or act like an adult and write to my representatives to let them know my sentiments.
Posted by Putney Swope, on July 7th, 2009 at 11:24 pm UTCThanks to Kochevnik for his comments clarifying some details. We need more commentary like this.
Posted by M, on July 8th, 2009 at 9:13 am UTC[...] Obama in Russia – On Point with Tom Ashbrook Last summer, it was all but proxy war between the United States and Russia. Russian troops in neighboring Georgia. Washington’s rhetoric on fire. [...]
Posted by links for 2009-07-08 « Lasting Impression, on July 8th, 2009 at 11:25 am UTCMy response to James.
James…I did listen to all of Stephen Cohen’s remarks. I was referring to the things he said about George Bush’s policy causing the distrust of the United States by Russia which in turned caused the bland Obama visit. I did not mention anything he said about Reagan or Clinton. Maybe you should READ my whole statement and not ASSUME before commenting about it. Praising Reagan or indicting Clinton does not take away what was Cohen said about Bush.
And about moving on…It seems to me that the liberal agenda is still stuck on demonizing George Bush. If you would listen to Tom Ashbrook on his shows about politics. If he can’t draw an indictment of Bush from his guest’s or “callers”, he sounds so frustrated and irritated that they don’t agree with his hatred of Bush. But on the other hand when he does have guests who do (which is 90%, look where most of the shows guest come from…liberal media, liberal think tanks, etc.) Tom’s pure glee and excitement is so intense it is sickening.
I’ll move on when they do.
Brian Martin
Posted by Brian Martin, on July 8th, 2009 at 5:08 pm UTCSouthern Pines, NC
My response to Putney.
Putney… Just like a liberal. You can’t put down any fact’s to back your argument so you have to start off with the name calling and the belittling of people.
I didn’t say 47% of the taxpayers don’t want to…I asked why should they be forced to…
We need a strong military not a taxpayer supported liberal filled radio station. How would you like it if you found out any part of your taxes supported shows like Rush Limbaugh , Sean Hannity’s , or even Democracy Now radio programs…Not very much would you?
I would rather support a strong military with my tax money so as to protect your freedom of speech so you can continue with your so called adult behavior of calling me names.
Brian Martin
Posted by Brian Martin, on July 8th, 2009 at 5:10 pm UTCSouthern Pines, NC
Tom, whenever you have high profile guests like Zbigniew Brzezinski and Stephen Cohen discussing major issues, please let them have a face down. You do a diservice to your listeners and the guests when like with the above two subjects, you have, in this case Cohen, literally get away with murder and near defamantion of character while Brzezinski is not there live to defend his point and himself.
Posted by Norman Chapman, on July 8th, 2009 at 10:55 pm UTCDon’t give the old excuse about not “enough time,” to get around the matter. It rather looked like a deliberate construction on your part to give Cohen the last blow.
That last “dig” by Cohen about in effect saying Brzezinski was his College teacher and still suffering the effects of actually experiencing the brutality of the Soviet regime and thereby having his opinion colored by his experiences is as low as it could get.
Cohen is a wily actor. He goes on right-wing shows like the weekend one on WABC radio and drinks from their cup, then comes on your show and feigns objectivity.
He plays a game and you seem to a willing participant. I think he probably wants a job in the Obama administration, hence his criticism, but they’re on to him.
I initially thought Cohen’s formulation of the state of the relationship — second Cold War; ‘62-like proxy crisis in ‘08 Georgia — grandiose and overdramatic. I actually feared Cohen had been co-opted into the Georgia lobby itself, using such epic descriptors for the situation (how out of touch is that?). I could not have been more wrong. By the end of the program I was completely sold on Cohen’s view of the direness of the need for changes to the U.S. approach. U.S. policymakers have one American force to reckon with for the foreseeable future on Russia: Stephen A. Cohen.
Brian Martin: your point seems to be not that Bush didn’t cause major damage to the relationship, but that we should all just forget about it, move on, and not mention it. Well, sir, that’s just lame, that’s what that is.
Posted by Mike, on July 9th, 2009 at 1:28 am UTC