Should the west be more "friendly" to Russia?

[Pfundner]

How do you think the west, and especially the US, should treat Russia? As an enemy, or a possible ally in the future?

Germany was once our bitterest enemy, now they are part of the EU and Nato, and generally considered a political ally of the west. Could the same happen with russia?

[Panzerbear]

define "the West" and define "ally". because many Western countries have actually quite radically different relationships with Russia.

[Pfundner]

ok well lets say the UK, america, France and Germany, Spain, Italy.

Maybe ally is too strong a word, but i mean similar to the relationship the above countries have with eachother

[Heinz Guderian]

I think we should be nice to them cos they can get pretty scary sometimes. We have enough enemies in the world right now (maybe not their dictatorial heads of state, but the people certainly). Where are you from to consider Germany as once your bitterest enemy?

[Pfundner]

Where are you from to consider Germany as once your bitterest enemy?

The UK- world war 2 ring a bell?
Im half austrian though so i have germanic ties (guess from my name?), i like germany and i supported them at euro 08

We have enough enemies in the world right now

Yeah i agree

[Heinz Guderian]

The UK- world war 2 ring a bell?
Im half austrian though so i have germanic ties (guess from my name?), i like germany and i supported them at euro 08

I like Austrians. The main difference was that the Allies destroyed Germany and its legislatative and executive systems and rebuilt in using the plans of Morgenthau and Marshall amongst others. This is not really possible with Russia. You dont invade and occupy Russia especially from the East. The Mongols were an exception to this rule. You especially dont invade and then divert your best mobile forces south without capturing Moscow first.

Moscow is the target. The oil fields can wait. Our supply lines wont survive for long. We have a massive front. Why are we building Jagdpanzers? We are wasting resources.

[Каие]

You dont invade and occupy Russia

Enough said I think, anyone who genuinely thinks it's possible to destroy Russia, is simply purposefully ignoring History. If Napoleon and Guderian couldn't, we sure as hell can't.

So I think we should all stop with the dick waving, especially since any dick waving will end in about 20 years when Oil is confirmed to be running out and that so obvious reality finally hits people in the face.

[Da Skinna]

Enough said I think, anyone who genuinely thinks it's possible to destroy Russia, is simply purposefully ignoring History. If Napoleon and Guderian couldn't, we sure as hell can't.

So I think we should all stop with the dick waving, especially since any dick waving will end in about 20 years when Oil is confirmed to be running out and that so obvious reality finally hits people in the face.

In 20 years some of our dicks won't be able to wave no more too.

[Thorn777]

Yes, Russia has a long road ahead from becomming a real democracy etc, but the west can not expect sudden changes like it does right now. Russia allready is in the G8, and the relations with the EU where very good untill recently. One can only hope the US stops its bias, dragging its allies with them.

[Martin N]

Russia knows how sneaky we are, We plant an anti missile defence shield on there border pretending its for iran/iraq, there not too happy about it, i think there is just too much hate between us all, Besides russia would of fallen apart if it wasnt for the loans it received of the west on the soviets collapse, i believe we are the stage where we are as friendly as can be, but there i still hate, like the cold and korean war.

So who knows, But its quite obvious russia is doing to iran, what it did to north korea, Building up there army to attack the usa, most probably iran will attack iraq like north korea attacked south korea, its possible But the relationship has been a good one so far between us, growing ever worse with the georgian conflict, the propaganda attack that we launched on russia was bad during that period.

[morteduzionism]

i think there is just too much hate between us all,

But what is it based on?

[Principe Alessandro]

Why more friendly?
And Russia is more friendly with us?
I prefer the reciprocity, if Russia will become more democratic and lesser imperialistic is possible but with this Russia isn't possible.
They use the gas as a political weapon against democratic governement like the Ukrainian, they invaded a foreign country, they support the indipendence of transinistria, has supported the criminal of war Slobodan Milosevic.

I'm not a proamerican supporter, the USA aren't better but to see the Russians as liberators is a madness

[Kanaric]

I think the question should be: Should Russia be more friendly to the west and former soviet republics?

With Russians on this forum, for a few years now, saying that their bordering nations like Estonia are Nazis and welcoming war with their neighbors and NATO I think that this poll is asking the wrong question.

Russia could have, by now, been friendly to the US and former SSRs joining nato and could have tried to join themselves. However with their current government and his wishing that USSR never broke up its more up to them and not the west.

[Thorn777]

I think the question should be: Should Russia be more friendly to the west and former soviet republics?

With Russians on this forum, for a few years now, saying that their bordering nations like Estonia are Nazis and welcoming war with their neighbors and NATO I think that this poll is asking the wrong question.

Russia could have, by now, been friendly to the US and former SSRs joining nato and could have tried to join themselves. However with their current government and his wishing that USSR never broke up its more up to them and not the west.

two-way street

[Panzerbear]

I think the question should be: Should Russia be more friendly to the west and former soviet republics?

again, you are completely disregarding the fact that the world is not all white or black.

Russia has quite good relations, diplomatic and economic ties with many former Soviet republics and Western countries.

some other countries would rather have Russia as an enemy, they consistently act in Russophobic manner and get the corresponding treatment in return.

With Russians on this forum, for a few years now, saying that their bordering nations like Estonia are Nazis

Estonians are nationalists. they are not even denying it . I can certainly understand that, because they have very small population, very weak militaries and very paranoid mentality. they consider everything Russian as a grave threat to their own existance, so this is their natural knee-jerk reaction.

Russia could have, by now, been friendly to the US and former SSRs joining nato and could have tried to join themselves.

you seem to have problems with short-term memory. what the do you think Russia was doing during all 1990s??? dont you turn away now and forget how instead of open friendship and cooperation you were dancing on our grave.

Yeah, it's all the US's fault. Russia invades one of the new Democracies (Georgia) so we install a missile defense system in another one.

I am sorry, but I cant just let you post this uneducated garbage unanswered and unpunished.

US carried out plans of setting up missile defense system VERY LONG before 2008. educate yourself on this subject.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_missile_defense

seconds, Georgia is just as a democracy as Zimbabwe. it has a washington-installed puppet regime, that has absolutely no regard to fundamental human rights and freedoms, that also supressed its oppositions either by killing them or by forcing them into political exile abroad. oh, did I mention that Saakashvili order use of airforce and heavy artillery against his own civilians?

How does the peaceful Russia respond? They install short range missile attack systems along their border.

they did? when? please enlighten me. if you actually paid attention to what was said by president Medvedev, you would immediately realize that Eskander missiles could be placed in Kaliningrad if Americans do proceed with the construction of missile defense elements in Eastern Europe.

your anti-Russian rants are just as absurd as your belief in US actions being always just and rational.

If Russia wants better relations, then they also need to cut back on their constant aggression to Democracies.

constant agression to democracies? LOL. quite a vivid imagination...

[danzig]

I agree with kanaric, better question is should Russia be more friendly towards the west. Western relations with Russia has to depend more on Russia action then anything the "west" does.

[Boer]

The problem with that question is who is "Russia?" Do we have to be friendly with Putin? Can we be friends with the Russian people with out accepting/supporting their government's aspiration?

This is a common problem in our foreign relations. We ignore and blockade a country's population because they have a handful of leaders we don't like. We need to try and find a way to be friends with people, not governments. If I knew how to do that I'd be president of the world, not a college student.

[sephodwyrm]

The West should be more friendly. To EVERYONE.

[Strattios]

Yeah, it's all the US's fault. Russia invades one of the new Democracies (Georgia) so we install a missile defense system in another one. How does the peaceful Russia respond? They install short range missile attack systems along their border. If Russia wants better relations, then they also need to cut back on their constant aggression to Democracies.

[Martin N]

How is threatening to attack our missile system aggression ? we shouldent have put it there in first place, we didnt like it when we had nukes in cuba, so they didnt like it when we setup a missile defence system on THERE border, if we put it there to defend against iran or someone, why not set it up in greece or italy, no we set it up right next to russia, it was obvious who it was for

Also russia did not invade georgia, It sent an army to attack the georgian army who invaded ossetia
Russia was rightfully defending its citizens, as i believe ossetia does have russians there, it would be say if mexico attacked hawaii or something, america would defend its citizens there, Russia would not attack its own people, (except if your names stalin) ED- Also wanna add here, that from the pressure of the usa and europe (who we know gave weapons and trained the georgian army) Russia withdrew from ossetia after the war stopped, idealy when you invade somewhere you usually take over the area.