The Obama administration was very proud of itself for "resetting" U.S.-Russia relations at the outset of Barack Obama's presidency. But Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's recent hostile barbs, directed personally at U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over meddling in Russian affairs and encouraging opposition demonstrations, demonstrate that the eventful year of 2011 has not spared the relations between the two world powers. By the way, this constitutes yet another incentive for Iran to forge ahead with its nuclear program. Moscow has no interest in making life easy for Washington. This was apparent where Iran's nuclear program was concerned, it was apparent with Libya and with the "Arab Spring" in general. We also see it every time NATO mentions deploying a missile defense system on European soil - defense from Iran, not Russia, mind you. On every one of these issues, Moscow has disagreed with Washington. In Russia, a growing number of people have fallen into a nostalgic reverie of the glory days of Soviet rule (they are quick to forget the bad things over there). One indication of this is the fact that the Communist party won second place in the recent Russian parliamentary elections. Russians are longing for a Czar figure. Much to the chagrin of the West, Putin fits the bill. Washington, on the other hand, is pushing its democracy agenda to the hilt this year, promoting human rights in every possible spot on the globe, except of course in Saudi Arabia and among its allies in the Persian Gulf. It must be said that Clinton did fire the first salvo. By Monday she was expressing her concern over Russia's election results, citing the conclusions of a report by the OSCE, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which raised several questions concerning the election outcome. "The Russian people, like people everywhere, deserve the right to have their voices heard and their votes counted," Clinton said, referring to Russia as if it were Tunisia, Egypt, Syria or the former Soviet Union. In that moment, Clinton spoke with the supreme self-confidence of the world's sole superpower, but her timing was problematic. America is in decline vis-a-vis the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China). It needs Moscow's help to solve some pressing international issues, including Iran. But the recent exchange of barbs indicates relations between Russia and the West are as ambivalent as ever even though the Cold War is over.
Get the Israel Hayom newsletter sent to your mailbox!
Like our newsletter? 'Like' our Facebook page!
