But but but....this is not the American way...first we need to bluster a little about human rights then we need to clear it with the israelis and chinese then the rightwingnut talking heads will need to spew some pax america crap. Let it all begin.

Didn't shrub look into the eyes of vlad and declare this was a man he could do business with? Hopefully this president will get past the eye batting thing and start some serious negotiations.

The "broad agreement" was Russia requesting that the US never, ever send Hillary there again.

Wow, now that's Presidential.  Strike while the iron is hot and don't wait for the naysayers to get in the way.  Those who say the president hasn't done anything obviously are not paying attention.  What a difference an election can make!

Say it with me, neocons.  It's pronounced dip-LO-muh-see.

It's AMERICA that has been responsible for the tensions with Russia

IN GOD'S NAME, WHY EXPAND NATO to Georgia ?
Or the Ukraine or Romania ?

Would we go to war for Georgia ?
How about Romania ?
Even Pat Buchanan realizes that putting our fate in the hands of some 'Strong Man' in Georgia is MADNESS
That BOZO decided to challenge Russia ?
Smart Dude, huh ?
Look where it got him
More important, look where it got his people


Abolish Star Wars in Europe
Star Wars is a money pit, meant to bring employment to Red States
SCREW THEM !!
Star Wars is over budget AND it DOESN'T WORK !!

We're also engaged in economic warfare against Russia (and Iran)
We've arrogated ourselves into a position of routing gas pipe around Iran and Russia !?!
Pretty cute !!

All brought to you by Bush/Cheney and the War Criminals

OMG! This has never happened in American History!

We have never had talks with another country like this!

Obama is the Master!

(Somebody has been living in a hole for way too long it seems. We have always had these types of discussions as long as I can remember. Funny what a small memory so many actually have.)

Entertaining to see the Obamanized responses though!

Somebody has been living in a hole for way too long it seems. We have always had these types of discussions as long as I can remember. Funny what a small memory so many actually have.
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By all means, at what point in the Bush Administration did he sit down to really hammer out differences with another country?  He invaded other countries, cut off contact with other countries, threatened other countries, created an imaginary "Axis of Evil" and put other countries in it, but when did he conduct any ACTUAL diplomacy?  Don't worry, I'll wait...

Brian Crooks, Naperville Il:   Welcome to FR.  I enjoy your comments.

Dip-LO-muh-see is such a fine word.  It's got to be refressing for the Russians to be able to talk our President who can put a noun and verb together to make a coherent sentence.  

This is change we can believe in.  It took 8 years to get into this mess...and it will take longer than 100 days to find our way out.  Movement (inertia) starts slow, but with persistence, things will get a lot better.

I hope that there can be some talking about the issues and get the lower ranking people to start some kind of discussion.  We need to improve relations with Russia so that they might listen to us and restrict sales of many things (weapons systems, nuclear parts etc) to Iran and other questionable countries.  It would also help to continue the work of securing loose nuclear material and combatting the spread of terrorist groups.

President Obama is turning the page on international relations. Something that almost everyone agrees on.

The world is too interpendent to rattle the sabre. That time is past. If you have any doubts Neocons, note that the GOPer establisment is thumbs down on both Dubya and Darth at this point.

Moving on down the line!

Would we go to war for Georgia ?

No we stood by while they were massacred. Just like Hungary in 1966. Finally some common sense in Foreign policy. Deal when you can and fight when you must - like in Afganistan - and accept as friends as many as you can - and only as enemies those that insist on that status.

Besides, fighting is expensive (human and material) to all sides and can help economically criple even a big and strong country (hint: Iraq war whose every motive was proven false).

President Obama has struck the perfect tone with his diplomatic overtures and it will pay off, as we are seeing with Russia. Baby steps. I don't expect anything huge but slowly, but surely, we are getting there.

I think the Bush/Cheney team really did think that harsh, bully-type policies would protect the U.S. but how wrong they were. The scary thing is that it appears Cheney is waiting for another attack on Ameican soil to "prove his legacy" so he can say "I told you so." This gives new meaning to the idea of hoping Pres.Obama fails and into evil territory. Very scary stuff.
Proud member of RepublicansforObama.org

All brought to you by Bush/Cheney and the War Criminals
MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, March 31, 2009 12:21 PM)

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Why dont you go somewhere and STFU! with all of your Huff Post pasted articles. This is the very reason this damn country stays divided. Its people like you that is the problem along with your other compadres in here. I come in here and all you see is one side (Liberal). What a waste...

"This will require joint efforts. The exchange of letters between myself and President Obama this year showed mutual readiness to build mature bilateral relations in a pragmatic and businesslike manner. For that we have a "road map" -- the Strategic Framework Declaration our countries signed in Sochi in 2008. It is essential that the positive ideas in that declaration be brought to life. We are ready for that."
-Dmitry Medved oped.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/30/AR2009033002443.html

Ed Crane show me the last time this happened since the end of the cold war.

boy you guys don't get it.  the russians are play bho like a harp.  they only care about what is good for mother russia.  they will not stop dealing with iran, syria, north korea but they will stand next to bho and smile and say what great friends we are.  we can work together on global issues(small ones) ones really nobody cares about.  but they will not give an inch on major issues.  they are slowing returning to the stalin days.  open your eyes and take a real good look.  no partitainship, just facts. bho better be real careful with dealing with these snakes.  he could be setting himself up a big fall.  

Yes, you are right, we have always had discussions like this with foreign countries.  The difference is that under Bush, it was primarily photo-op time with little substantive action later.  He did some things but waited until the last couple years to even try.  There are too many Bush-blown diplomatic opportunities to list; we've been living in a hole all right but it was a hole dug by Bush/Cheney.  Is this a breakthrough in relations?  No, but it is a place to start to repair the damage done during the last eight years.  To answer the probable view that my "democratic" lean is showing, I would have said the same thing had Bush been a democrat.  

(Somebody has been living in a hole for way too long it seems. We have always had these types of discussions as long as I can remember. Funny what a small memory so many actually have.)

Ed Crane, Middlebury, IN (Sent Tuesday, March 31, 2009 12:22 PM)
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I'm going to actually agree with you on this point.  The thing of it is, though, that for the past 8 years these types of discussions have gone pretty much like, "Do as we say or face the consequences."

http://jawillie.blog.com

Ah ha ha hah!!!  For all you delusioned haters and nay sayers - we're seeing progress before Obama's feet even hit foreign soil!!  I bet that just eats your lunch, doesn't it.  Good riddance President GW Albatross and hello President Obama!!  

Gee Ed Crane, Middlebury, IN,

The last idiot you guys elected had shoes thrown at him overseas.........yeah, that was one upstanding guy to be proud of.

See what happen when you ask for the resignation of the largest automobile CEO in the world. Who's next on the list of greedy B@@###$$D. Even, the chips start falling internationally. Maybe Prez Obama will ask for Pres. Medvedev resignation before he is fired.

Go Obama change is coming. Don't listen to the neocons. They have no answer only criticism.

Hey Ed Crane,

You are correct that it's completely normal to have these types of discussions.  However, our previous president was 'living in a hole' as you say and didn't really see diplomacy as part of a constructive foreign policy.

Forgive some of us if we're enthusiastic about a president who gets it.

This is the very reason this damn country stays divided. Its people like you that is the problem along with your other compadres in here. I come in here and all you see is one side (Liberal). What a waste...
Gregg, Georgia
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Soooooo, it's only okay if you read thoughts that are EXACTLY like yours????? Hmmmmm, maybe THAT'S what keeping the country divided. Naw, couldn't be. Limpbaugh is calling you.......run.

Ah, true diplomacy at last. We haven't seen that out of Washington in almost a decade.

Raytheon is actually building the grater part of the "Star Wars" missle defense system.  It's offical name is "The ExoAtmospheric Kill Vehicle."

The completed cost per unit is expected to be in the neighborhood of $100,000,000.  

I was at Raytheon 4 years with my boss who was selling them a precision measuring machine and was was told by an engineer working on the project that 100 million bucks to save Los Angeles was not a great price to pay.  We both looked at him and then the 3 of us busted a gut laughing.  Guess what?  The system didn't work then and still doesn't work now and I challange anyone to say otherwise.  Makes a good bargaining chip with the Russians and Iranians though.

boy you guys don't get it.  the russians are play bho like a harp.  they only care about what is good for mother russia.  they will not stop dealing with iran, syria, north korea but they will stand next to bho and smile and say what great friends we are.  we can work together on global issues(small ones) ones really nobody cares about.  but they will not give an inch on major issues.  they are slowing returning to the stalin days.  open your eyes and take a real good look.  no partitainship, just facts. bho better be real careful with dealing with these snakes.  he could be setting himself up a big fall.  
fire them all la quinta ca. (Sent Tuesday, March 31, 2009 12:49 PM)

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The same has been said about our country for decades overseas...Here's a question.  When's the last time you traveled to russia, or any of these other countries you label as "snakes".

Power ultimately corrupts those not kept in check on any continent.  You keep it in check with ongoing dialog and understanding of ones culture.  And you can't judge a whole nation by you hear, and see...you have to encounter.  

As Americans, 90% of it's citizens can give a flying leap about what's going on outside it's borders unless it involves american troops or a direct threat.  Everyone else thinks global...alot of our citizens think "national" which is why we are also getting trounced in the marketplace.

Theodore Roosevelt reminded us to talk softly but carry a big stick. The world is well aware of our big stick but havn't seen much of the soft talking until now. People don't like to be talked down to nor bullied. Treat others as equals and with respect and it is amazing what can be accomplished. An old proverb says that you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. That has proven true over and over again. The vinegar times are over now let's try some honey and see how many flies come to our side.

What a truely great country is. We can go from a president who is corrupt and stupid as a stone, to a new President that is calm cool and intelligent. This transition was done by the general population of the country. The vote. We must always be on guard. There are always people who would steal your money, your country and your soul.

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