A CURIOUS CAST OF CHARACTERS has made its way to Moscow in recent months. Since November of last year, leaders from Iran, Syria, and Venezuela have all paid visits. Each has sought military and economic assistance from the Russian Bear; none of them has been turned down. Russia's conspicuous choice of allies has become so noticeable that in a recent article the Moscow newspaper, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, has even called them an "axis of outcasts."
In many ways, Russia's relationships with these otherwise undesirables shaped the agenda for President Bush's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24. Russia's support for this "axis of outcasts" has already emboldened America's enemies and contributed to the instability of the Middle East and Latin America. It also raises serious questions about the direction of Russo-American relations and the efficacy of U.S. foreign policies.
Mom always said that the people you associate with says a lot about your character. Russia has decided to hang out at the pool hall and they got a tattoo to boot. Russia is going bad under Putin:
The State Department's annual report on human rights, published Monday, cited what it said were credible reports that Russian law enforcement officers engaged in torture, violence and other brutal or humiliating treatment, particularly in Russia's conflict against rebels in Chechnya.
The U.S. report also cited evidence of increased media restrictions, shortcomings in recent national elections, police corruption and political pressure on the judiciary.
We need to push back. If Moscow isn't going to act like a friend, we shouldn't treat them like a friend. We need to pull away from Putin and put our money on supporting democratic institutions within Russia. Putin had a chance. He could have made Russia our friend and ally. President Bush vouched for Putin and Putin has repaid this confidence and our sympathy for Beslan with petty actions to undermine us and support for thug regimes.
The company Russia keeps doesn't say a whole lot about Russia. Make them pay.
