Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Why Putin went overboard in ingratiating Bush. He disliked Holbrooke worse than Bush. This is part of it but as for what deals are involved we can only watch. You are right, though, they are there.

Concerns have been voiced in Moscow that relations with the US could decline under the Democrats. Russian media have speculated that Kerry, if elected next month, might put extra pressure on Moscow - and even include Russia in a new "axis of evil", along with Iran and North Korea.

Indeed, Democrats have voiced stronger criticism of Russia. "We're concerned that Putin is getting a blank check," said Richard C Holbrooke, a former US ambassador to the United Nations who is advising Kerry. "We need good relations with Russia, but we ought to have some standards here," he said.

Richard Holbrooke's makes crystal clear his dislike of Serbs and sympathies for Muslims.
#msg-3667050

Russia and China have been marked as major prizes on the chess board and they know it. Thus the very real grievances of the Chechens, Uighurs, Muslims and such have taken a backseat to the Grand Game.

While deception is the norm it seems ‘balance’, the checking of another countries influence, is the fuel of the game.

-Am