'Russophobia'

[exotix]

Today

Russia Accuses Obama of 'Russophobia' Over Donald Trump Critique

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016...itique-n648066

MOSCOW — Vladimir Putin's government accused Barack Obama of "Russophobia" on Wednesday after he criticized Donald Trump for cozying up to Moscow.

Obama said Tuesday that Trump sees Putin as a "role model" — someone who "invades smaller countries, jails his opponents, controls the press and drives his economy into a long recession."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Obama's remarks as "electoral-style rhetoric," Russia's state-run news agency TASS reported.

"Sadly, we see the continuation of this blatant Russophobia.

All we can do is express our regrets in this regard," Peskov said, according to TASS.
"Let's put it this way: Such statements will hardly help the shy and very fragile attempts at building at least some mutual trust [between the U.S. and Russia]."

Peskov also noted that Obama does not use the same "rhetoric" when meeting Russian officials.

During his campaign, Trump has spoken favorably about the Russian president, a leader whose relationship with the White House has deteriorated in recent years over several foreign policy flash-points.



Videos Inside

[Mister D]

That US policy is profoundly "Russophobic" is obvious. Now you can argue that iss largely a Cold War legacy and that's fine. I think that is part true but "Russophobia" is a fact.

OTOH, I hate such terms. It's not like US planners have an uncontrollable reaction to the presence of Russians or the sight of Russia on a map. There is no such thing as Russophobia, xenophobia or homophobia. These are polemical terms signifying only their user's disgust with a particular attitude.

[Ethereal]

Democrats are intent on reigniting the Cold War and endangering the entire human race in the process, just so they can distract the American people from their own corruption and incompetence.

[Mister D]

Democrats are intent on reigniting the Cold War and endangering the entire human race in the process, just so they can distract the American people from their own corruption and incompetence.

I wouldn't single out the Democrats. Containing Russia has been a long term US policy. It wouldn't matter who is in office. It also wouldn't matter if a candidate campaigned on "friendship". Like Obama, that candidate will quickly learn who the boss is.

[exotix]

That US policy is profoundly "Russophobic" is obvious. Now you can argue that iss largely a Cold War legacy and that's fine. I think that is part true but "Russophobia" is a fact.

OTOH, I hate such terms. It's not like US planners have an uncontrollable reaction to the presence of Russians or the sight of Russia on a map. There is no such thing as Russophobia, xenophobia or homophobia. These are polemical terms signifying only their user's disgust with a particular attitude.

Democrats are intent on reigniting the Cold War and endangering the entire human race in the process, just so they can distract the American people from their own corruption and incompetence.

I wouldn't single out the Democrats. Containing Russia has been a long term US policy. It wouldn't matter who is in office. It also wouldn't matter if a candidate campaigned on "friendship". Like Obama, that candidate will quickly learn who the boss is.

I actually didn't think root'n for Poot'n would be so prevalent out of the gate ... LOL

[Ethereal]

I wouldn't single out the Democrats. Containing Russia has been a long term US policy. It wouldn't matter who is in office. It also wouldn't matter if a candidate campaigned on "friendship". Like Obama, that candidate will quickly learn who the boss is.

Fair point.

Neocon Republicans are totally on board with that as well.

But the Democrats are really running with it, and it's because they are desperate for a distraction.

[Mister D]

Fair point.

Neocon Republicans are totally on board with that as well.

But the Democrats are really running with it, and it's because they are desperate for a distraction.

Well, I think you're right that they are putting increased emphasis on it in short term. It does seem to be part of their election strategy. It's a distraction as well as a way of getting Hillary her foreign policy bona fides.

[Ethereal]

Well, I think you're right that they are putting increased emphasis on it in short term. It does seem to be part of their election strategy. It's a distraction as well as a way of getting Hillary her foreign policy bona fides.

One of Obama's biggest failures as President has been the deterioration of US-Russian relations.

More than any other issue, that has the potential for world-ending ramifications.

[waltky]

Granny don't trust dem commie Russkies...

... `cause dey's sneaky...

... an' dey lie like a rug.

[exploited]

The Russian government deserves to be contained, at least if you think that the American one does. The primary reason why these countries don't get along so well is because they are very similar in most ways, but their national instinct runs opposite of one another.

The Russian national mythology is authoritarian. The American national mythology is libertarian.

Both are pragmatic. Both are expansionist. Both have a heavily puritanical streak based on both religion and the need to fight wars they didn't want to fight. Both are large, with extensive natural resources. Both have large portions of the population that are pretty certain they are the best in the world. Both are fantastic at science, philosophy and literature (America leaning novelists, Russia leaning poetry). Both are very ideological. Both are composed of "immigrant" populations (i.e. families of those who were forced to become Russian/American to succeed).

I could go on. The point is that Russia and America fight because they are brothers. They've yet to nuke one another for that same reason.