Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The cornerstone of American nuclear non-proliferation is to not let nuclear weapons, material or knowledge fall into the wrong hands (Column: Go 'Captain Kirk' on Russia, Sept. 22). Destabilizing a country with 6,681 nuclear weapons (2005 count) seems to be an exact opposite of United States policy for more than 50 years.
Alienating a country with the eighth largest oil reserve and the largest natural gas reserves in the world is bad business practice and is completely ignorant. Russia is the world’s second largest exporter and producer of crude oil, and it is the world’s largest exporter and producer of natural gas. Russia also has sizable reserves of coal, uranium and other natural deposits. With limited domestic needs, Russia is the world’s largest net exporter of energy.
Russia’s international track record is no worse than that of the United States. In the last seven years, the United States has gone to war with at least two sovereign nations, states whose governments, while being openly hostile toward the U.S., had no direct involvement against it. In the Russian example, the conflict in Georgia began with Georgia’s military actions in Russian protected South Ossetia Aug. 8. Although Western and especially U.S. media portrayed Russia as the aggressor, it was Georgian forces that unleashed artillery and rocket barrages on innocent civilians. Russian troops came to protect their citizens and peacekeepers that have been stationed in South Ossetia for years. In the aftermath of the war, the Russian Federation supported the wishes of the Ossetian people: to be independent of the Georgian oppressors and reunite with North Ossetia. A similar strategy that the U.S. and United Nations employed to justify Kosovo’s independence despite Serbian objections.
We have given Russia a precedent for their seemingly brutal actions. However, the country acted within its national goals. We should re-engage Russia in dialogue. Angering a giant, no matter how big you are, is never a good idea. The U.S. and Russia have many similar goals and problems, both internally and externally. Instead of mutual retaliation for actions each nation considers hostile, there need to be summits, meetings and discussions. In the 21st century nuclear-armed nations have no room for disagreement — it is too dangerous for the entire world.
—Igor Avelichev is a senior from Overland Park.
Armstrong: Go 'Captain Kirk' on Russia
Lowell: Diplomatic approach to Iranian threat
U.S.can set example in it's approach to Iran's nuclear power
Letter: Russia is only taking examples from ...
Loving: International views of the presidential election
The US occupies a unique position in global politics giving foreign countries ...
Adams: Foreign aid vital to U.S. interests
When aid is boosted, so does the country's image abroad.
Editorial: U.S. should analyze Russia
Americans can get a good sense of where our democracy is headed ...
New leadership rethinks Model UN procedures
The KU Model United Nations team has made changes in hopes of ...
Keplar: Military intervention in Iran could happen
Iran's nuclear capabilities present a threat to both the U.S. and Israel.
Kenny: Gazans overlooked in current border conflict
America's support of Israel is under-reported during this crisis.
Former U.N. Ambassador greeted by student protests ...
Before John Bolton spoke at the Lied Center Wednesday night about international ...
Gress: Russians don't give up in their ...
Current opposition to Russia's ruling government is strong.
Film explores theories on Sept. 11, Iraq
A Lawrence nonprofit group is showing the film at 7 tonight in ...
Loving: Don't blame big oil companies for ...
Gas prices rise because of events around the world, not because oil ...
Adams: China should be seen as a ...
Let's Talk Foreign Policy takes a look at negative stereotypes of China.
Bennett: Freeing Libya and the world is ...
Congrats on your "freedom," Libyans, but Obama's war on Libya was unconstitutional ...
Debaters look for a repeat national title
Three teams from KU compete at the National Debate Tournament
Al-Qaida leader bin Laden dead, body in ...
President Barack Obama confirms Osama bin Laden is dead in national address ...
Lowell: Two steps forward, one step back
Allowing off-shore drilling is a political compromise, but keep big picture in ...
Lowell: How are borders drawn on the ...
The World Wide Web is redefining international threats to security.
Political instability may lead to high oil ...
Oil prices hike in Libya and affect gas prices at home.
Record gas prices prompt gas strike
The proposed stike will take place on June 17, 18, but some ...
McCroy: Scotland's independence
If a group decides they want to break away from a mother ...
Lowell: War on Terror won at American ...
Cutting dependence on foreign oil is first step to success.
Sandal: Drone missions counter-productive in war on ...
Bombing Pakistan with unmanned drones exacerbates poverty, which leads to extremism.
Get Involved: The International Film & Food ...
Because lectures are boring.
Bush’s reasons for Iraq war all excuses
Point: Humanitarian crisis in Syria
The U.S. should not intervene in Syria.
White: All signs point to apocalypse
Struggling economics and political instability inspires one columnist to spread word.
Letter to Editor: Climate change is real
The issue is a matter of humanity, and some countries feel its ...
Wheeler: The wrath of Kaun
Senior center Sasha Kaun is one of the best students-athletes to attend ...
Energy solutions for U.S. economy include drilling
Brinker: Supporting Libya's new leader
Encouraging U.S. interests is a tricky deal.
Department receives $5 million grant
Geology at the University given money to research storing CO2 underground.
Oil magnate to present energy plan at ...
Pickens plan would use natural gas, solar, and wind to end foreign ...
Gress: North Korea has more bark than ...
With new regimes in North Korea comes new foreign policies. Although North ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Letter: Is Russia really the problem?
Dmitry Medvedev said, "The world has changed and it occurred to me that August 8 has become for Russia as September 11, 2001 for the United States." It was a strange and surprising comment, as many people believed Russia already had its own 9/11 - the Chechen terrorist hostage crisis in North Ossetia that ended with the Beslan school tragedy of September 1, 2004, in which more than 300 people were killed, about half of them children. IF RUSSIA feels free to compare these two events, then it follows that it considers South Ossetia to be Russian soil. And here we get to the heart of the matter: Long before this military engagement between Russia and Georgia - throughout 12 years of tension and 12 months of provocational Russian overflights and cross-border incidents - Russia had already considered South Ossetia its own. Russia's assumption in this battle was that a region which the rest of the world considers sovereign Georgian territory was actually Russian territory. When Russia not only invaded and then occupied Georgia, but held its occupying positions despite the called-for withdrawal of the French-brokered cease-fire, and also acted as protector for South Ossetian marauders who looted and burned Georgian villages in South Ossetia, murdering those who didn't hide or flee. Russia had closed off access to Western media from the devastation of Georgian villages in South Ossetia for which its army provided cover.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID