Can the world trust Russia anymore?

napalm_victory

could we ever???

charles.young580

I don't know about the world, but i never have!

petey00petey

THEY WERE NEVER TRUSTED BEFORE

Speedfreak

One would have to be very naive to think that the Russian government leaders could ever be trusted. The same goes for North Korea, Iran, China, Myanmar, Venezuela, etc., etc..........

Rafael T

since when did the world every trust them?

Creative Thinker

NO!

toms1266

I didn't think they could be completely "trusted," but now I KNOW that they cannot be trusted.

S P

What poor sap would trust Russia to begin with?

Mr. Floppy

We can trust Putin to do the right thing about as much as we could trust our administration to do it.

Seth

I've never trusted that nut. While it was actually Dmitry Medvedev who ordered the invasion, you know Putin had his hands in.

Jim H

mr gates has it right.

brucec83

I agree with Gates. In other words: You can't trust any nation to do things that are not in their own interests. So people should understand that Russia will make its national security policy based on the interests and realities of Russia, not on the basis of those of the United States. The trick, is to find areas of common interest and to make compromises in areas where interests diverge.

Russia has compromised with the United States by not wiping Georgia off the map (which is in their power to do at any time). So there is still hope for the future, despite the mistrust a sneak attack instigated by an army trained and equipt by the United States has caused. I suspect that if they ever considered letting us give missiles to Poland before, they will think it insane to allow it now.

Even if the US did not actually plan the attack, its close relationship with Georgia obviously caused Georgia to grossly miscalculate their own ability, the ability of the Southern Osetian militia to resist, the willingness of Russia to respond to their attack and the ability of the Russian army to quickly mobilize and deploy.

I predict that after a decent interval, Russia will recognize Southern Osetia and Abkhazia as independant and eventually accept them into the Russian Federation. We will protest and they will listen to us as much as we have listened to them regarding Serbian Kosovo. I also predict that the US taxpayers will foot the bill for Georgian reconstruction and rearmament, which will set the stage for the next time.

yjpper

I don't trust Russia. I'm worried now about what they'll do in the future actually.

jim w

With so many "new" countries on Russia's borders, what country is next to be "taught a lesson" by the Russian bear? This morning a top Russian general stated that Poland might be next as Poland and Czechoslovakia accept missle defence systems, see:

http://news.yahoo.com/story//ap/20080815/ap_on_re_eu/russia_us_missile_defense_9

The only way the west protected itself during the cold war was MAD, Mutually Assured Destruction. Brut force is the only "diplomacy" Russia understands.

Too Old For Idol

Anymore?

Never could.

Visor

That's an interesting question :)
Could you trust a chronic liar with imperialistic ambitions?

Let's see check few things out.

1) May 2008, Russian MIG shoots down Georgian UAV. Russia in denial, although everyone knows no one in that region except Russia has MIG fighters and Russia controls airspace 100%.

2) Russia declares Georgians killed 2000 civilians and starts aggression against Georgia. Next day number of dead civilians is reduced to 1600, however news about mass genocide committed by Georgians against Ossetins continue and PM Putin orders President Medvedev to start investigation of genocide, how's that for Russian president anyway.
Strangely enough neither Russians, nor Osetins can produce a single photo, video or any other evidence of thousands of dead for 6 days by now.
Finally, HRW reports that numbers of casualties reported by Russians and Ossetins were grossly inflated and reports 44 dead including both, civilian and military! 273 treated for wounds.

3) Russia claims Tskhinvali is completely destroyed.
Few days later HRW reports that's not quite correct, only southern and central parts got hit, the rest of the town is pretty much intact. Again, no visible proof from Russians, you'd think it's simple, there are daily reports form the city by Russian media, yet nothing like total destruction they report is seen in those reports.
Also, neither Russia, nor Ossetia want to mention that there was prolonged fight between Georgian and Russian/Ossetin forces in the city where Russians used aviation heavily. In other words bombed the parts of the city where Georgian troops were concentrated. Obviously that did add to the damage of the city, but now who';s gonna count how much and who. Especially that Russians for some reason won't let international media in.

4) Russia denies occupying Georgian towns. Western reporters (forget about Georgian media) show Russian tanks and troops in Georgian towns.

5) Russia suddenly declares that they will leave Georgian town of Gori, which they denied entering for several days. No explanation how they ended up there.
Basically Russia says, we never entered Gori, Georgians claims are false, but we will leave Gori in two days. after we help civilian population and remove military equipment that can be used against Ossetins.

6) Russia claims that western reports of looting are false and they will punish looters severely. Videos below show different pic. Russian army removing used clothing from the base and anothre group of Russian soldiers removing "military equipment" from the bank they break in...

7) to Garish - According to many Russian sources S.O. was provoking war with Georgia long time. Starting Aug. 1st S.O. regularly were shelling and shooting Georgian forces while Russian peacekeepers did nothing. Even in that night when Georgians started an attack Ossetins were shelling 2 Georgian villages, which prompted that.

8) Almost forgot. From the very beginning Russia and Ossetia accused Georgians in ethnic cleansing. Now that they control 100% of of the region, S.O. president Kokoiti declared yesterday that they finished leveling Georgian villages and they won't let Georgian refugees back. Russian puppet president Medvedev declared they'll back any decision by S.O. Georgian homes were looted (admitted by Kokoiti himself) and burned down.
In my humble opinion this is an ethnic cleansing at its worst. Committed by Ossetins with Russian approval and support. And those are the guys accusing someone else in ethnic cleansing?

I personally think Georgia shoudn've attacked, it was clear Russian bear would get involved, but perhaps it's not that easy to sit in trenches for weeks while your're shot at.

So, yeah would you trust those Russians?

jeduardo91

Hey man, if you haven't noticed yet, there's nothing and no one in the world we can trust, only our own selves.

Curiously, really?

I don't think the world should trust the US!

PÉ™nny Proud

Russia didn't do anything wrong; Georgia (the USA ally) attacked first. Russia doesn't bother anybody, going in other countries and bombing democracy on people.

GARISH

This is the wrong question:
The right question is can Russia trust US anymore?
Georgian president (former US lawyer) said a lot about his peaceful intentions and that he will never use force against ossetians.
US supplied, sponsored and trained his army and they also promised that this weapon WILL not be used in aggression.
But August 7-8, at night, while people of S.Ossetia were asleep he started to bombard the capital of S.Ossetia with heavy artillery and missile fire (he made some statement about peace few hours ago and Russia have found the plans for the invasion). Then georgian forces and tanks entered the ruined town slauthering civilians.
US instructors and journalists took part in that genocide too.
So I'm sure US officials knew genocide is going to happen.
And Russia now have no trust in US or other of its allies words anymore.

Kalistrat

We can not trust CNN, Fox News and probably most of the Presidential political advisors anymore. That's for sure.

john h

You've got to be kidding? Georgia was the home for a host KGB activities and the Russian Mafia. It's Putin's old haunts and he prospered well. That alone should speak volumes about his character and trustworthiness. It should also explain why Georgia pulled its act of stupidity. Birds of a feather!

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