US sanctions threaten Russian ties: Moscow press

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2006/August/theworld_August255.xml§ion=theworld&col=

MOSCOW - US sanctions against two leading Russian arms exporters mark a new low in chilly ties between the White House and the Kremlin and could scupper major potential trade deals with US firms, the Russian press said on Monday.

The United States on Friday announced sanctions on seven firms from Russia, India, North Korea, and Cuba for selling restricted items to Iran, which Washington fears is trying to make nuclear weapons.

Sanctions were imposed on Russian state export agency Rosoboronexport -- headed by a close friend of President Vladimir Putin -- and state-owned warplane maker Sukhoi, meaning they can no longer work with US firms.

“The imposition of sanctions against Rosoboronexport is practically a declaration of economic war against Russia,” the Izvestia newspaper, owned by state-controlled gas giant Gazprom, said in a front-page story.

“The Strategic Partnership between the US and Russia has Ended,” the Kommersant daily said in its front-page headline.

[acmavm]

1. So, bush** couldn't push Pootie around like he does Poodle?

bush** was way out of his league when he started to mess with ex-KGB. All the neocons were.

[Oversea Visitor]

2. At the rate he is going

US will be painted into a corner.

[Fleshdancer]

3. What the PNAC wants, the PNAC gets:

http://www.newamericancentury.org/russia-20050217.htm

February 17, 2005
MEMORANDUM TO: OPINION LEADERS

FROM: GARY SCHMITT

SUBJECT: Democracy in Russia

I would like to draw your attention to the following testimony of Bruce P. Jackson, President of the Project on Transitional Democracies and a director of the Project for the New American Century, before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In his testimony, Mr. Jackson details the "rapid deterioration of democracy in Russia over the past 24 months, the cause of this deterioration, and the significant dangers Russian policy now poses for the United States, its European allies and friends."

Examples of Moscow's dodgy behavior over the past month alone include: attempts to sell arms to Syria and Chavez's Venezuela, and pressuring Kyrgyzstan into saying no to NATO and American requests to deploy an AWACs surveillance aircraft.

...

and this is my favorite part:

President Putin's initial argument for "managed democracy" rested on his belief that the sometimes unpredictable quality of liberal democracy could weaken the security of the Russian state unless it were subject to a substantial degree of state control. Whether or not he actually believed this, he quickly advanced to a more militant conviction that independent political parties, NGO's and journalists, by questioning the wisdom of his policy towards Chechnya, were effectively allies of terrorism. It is a short walk from the authoritarian view that domestic freedom must be curtailed in wartime to the dictatorial conclusion that all opposition and dissent is treasonous. By 2004, President Putin had arrived at the dictatorial conclusion.

:rofl:

Sound familiar?

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

4. I am confused here....

... how in the heck is this going to affect anything? I severely doubt Bushco would allow either of those companies to bid or trade with the US, as they have their own campaign contributors, err..... i mean US firms to do business with.

It seems to be out of US jurisdiction (if it ever was) and is more shirt puffing.