The U.S. and Russia

It was Otto von Bismarck who noted that shifts in foreign policy often occur as a result of actions of bureaucrats before any formal declarations from government. For this very reason executive level decisions are more profound.

What of the relationship between Washington and Moscow? We should not give excessive attention to the cross fire concerning political spies that George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin are engaged in.

Much more emblematic, though, is the determination of the new American administration to build a new missile defense shield; condemnation of Russian arms sales to Iran; and, fierce opposition to concessions from the International Monetary Fund to Russia, following the intention to reduce funds allocated to Russia for the dismantling of nuclear weapons.

U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald H. Rumsfeld, speaking in Germany on missile defense, did not mention Russia and left the room before his Russian colleague spoke. Russia is no longer a formidable superpower. Bush would like Putin to resign himself to this.

-- Il Giorno, Milan, Italy