Confronting Russia

Any person who even thinks about any sort of armed conflict with Russia or China needs to immediately check himself into a mental institution and undergo electric shock therapy in order to wake up from his delusional state.The EU has a lot more in common with Russia than it has disagreements.Friends should always agree to disagree and not talk about employing violence which is a lose-lose scenario for both sides.Stop this unilateral madness because the world is too complex for imposed solutions by any one side.The Russian bear has come out of hibernation and is ready to roar if you do not respect its power and the Chinese dragon's fire can reach every corner of the Earth so let's stop the madness before the eagle gets ita wings severely clipped.

Why does B92 keep posting this discredited politician's blogs? Apparently, Montgomery has nothing else to do but be the mouthpiece for western propaganda. Or maybe he gets paid to do it. Rather than posting blogs from officials in the Serbian government, B92 trots out this guy. Then B92 gets upset when I accuse them of being a front for western propaganda and edits or refuses to post my comments.

Mr. Montgomery,

Once again you only see the situation in terms of what is good for the United States and not what is best for the World as a whole.

The Nuclear genie was let out of the box when we turned a blind eye to India and Pakistan having it. Pakistan is completely undemocratic and extremely unstable. However, since it had the bomb, despite being one of only two countries in the World that recognized the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the US treated them with “kid’s gloves” and as an “ally” instead of just bombing the bejesus out of them after 9/11. Since they are now part of the Nuclear Club, they get different treatment in the World Community. It’s OK with the US that they’re a military dictatorship, we support that because its in our interest and allows for greater control. Israel more or less openly admits to having the bomb, yet we do nothing about that and ignore the concerns of the neighboring countries.

Is it any wonder that countries like North Korea and Iran would seek the bomb? It’s like a “Get Out Of Jail Free Card”. It’s an indication that you are a country that can not be attacked anymore. Would it not be better to adjust our inconsistent policies at this point and create guidelines and rules for those countries that possess the Bomb? The Bomb is 60 year old technology, its time we face the reality that it’s impossible to stop countries from acquiring that type of technology. The important thing at this stage in the game is keeping the Bomb out of private hands, countries that possess it can only enforce the continuation of the status quo, they can not implement change with it.

As far as Iran goes, let’s review the history just a bit.

The Shaw of Iran was Pro-Western, so he was a “good guy”, despite the fact that he was a brutal undemocratic dictator who worked hand in hand with the CIA to commit vast crimes against humanity simply to keep him in power. Of course when the people themselves rose up and got rid of this petty tyrant, the US administration demonized them and isolated Iran for decades. We even supported a long and bloody war against them. Yes, they violated our rights and committed crimes during the hostage crisis and I condemn those actions, but I don’t see how that’s any worse then the crimes we committed against them BEFORE they did that. To me, it’s no wonder they dislike the US and our international policies.

The reality of the matter is a US apology towards Iran for our crimes against them under the Shaw is long over due and would do much to improve relations between our two countries. Maybe they would apologize for the hostages in return? That was decades ago, its time to move on and build bridges.

The reality is that without Iran’s true support in quelling the violence in Iraq, that country will never be at peace. Iran is the natural regional leader in position to make a very real effort to bring stability to Iraq and has strong ties to the majority Shia population. Iran and Al Qaeda have contradictory ideologies and we should be building on those differences, not driving them together.

The Revolutionary Guards supplying IED’s for attacking US troops is not terrorism. Military forces are legitimate targets in war. I don’t see much of a difference between the US supplying weapons to Iraq to attack Iran, and Iran supplying weapons to Iraq to attack the US. The Iraq War was not sanctioned under the UN, and the reasons given for starting it were blatant lies. The Iraqi War is basically illegal, and while I do not support Iran’s obstruction of our efforts there, they could hardly be condemned as against international law or as terrorist acts. The citizens of Iraq have every right to fight what they view as an occupying force, the US enshrines this right for its own population in the 2nd Amendment, the Right to Bear Arms. Ironically, Iraq was the MOST liberal and western country in the Middle East before the end of the Cold War. Iraq’s political system at the time was far more democratic and Western than Kuwait or Saudi Arabia, which are strict Monarchies. The political systems of both are appalling. Kuwait for example is a welfare state for those lucky enough to have Kuwaiti citizenship. They aren’t required to work, and get money from the royal family simply for being born into the right family. Palestinian refugees, many of which have lived there for generations yet remain citizens of no country, enjoy no similar luxuries and perform all the menial tasks in that society. It’s a downright Medieval way of life. Too many Americans are unaware of the great differences between Middle Eastern Countries

The contradictions in Iraq are endless. We supported Saddam when he was committing genocide against the Kurdish people. Yet, despite being the most stable region of Iraq, we oppose the Kurds having their own homeland. Unlike Kosovo, where only 2,000 people died before NATO started their bombing campaign. Kurds have a population of somewhere around 30 million people and have been actively fighting for a land to call their own for hundreds and hundreds of years. Longer than Montenegro fought the Turks.

Our Middle East policy is outrageous and simply wrong and until we change it, there will never be peace in the region. Which of course greatly increases the profits of the military industrial complex and the Oil Barons. Despite being a region of great power and influence in world events the Middle East has NO say whatsoever on the UNSC. European and Western countries make up 4 out of the 5 permanent members. Its time to give the Middle East as a whole one seat in the UNSC with full veto rights. That would go very far indeed in bringing the Middle Eastern governments into the fold of countries interested in maintaining the status quo.

As far as Russia goes, yes, Stalin was a monster of Epic proportions. The Cold War, in the beginning, was certainly justified. NOT because they were Godless Communists, but because Stalin slaughtered 10’s of millions of his own people. China at this point in time is most certainly a positive influence in the world, yet Mao was nearly as bad as Stalin in his day.

When the Cold War ended, the Russians expected to be welcomed into the Western Community, to be treated as the European country that they are. Instead of real and substantial support, they got a hard lesson in the abuses of capitalism and democracy. Criminals became the new upper class, and state industries were sold for a song. The entire time Yelstin sat back and in a drunken stupor allowed the country’s influence and importance in the world to diminish rapidly. Putin put an end to all that and completely turned Russia around, back into a true world power with its own independent interests in the world. Did Putin curtail some freedoms in the country? Most certainly. Did Russia need that in order to rebuild itself, yes of course. The Russian people support strong leaders like Putin, and his popularity among Russians is incredibly strong the world over. It may not be American democracy, but it works for Russia at this time and it’s far better than China, our good buddy.

The inherent problem in the world today is the difference between how the US and how the rest of the world views the political situation. The US believes that because it “won” the Cold War, it has the moral right to dictate policy to the rest of the world. The “New World Order” where the US is the “Sole Global Super Power”. The US ignores the UN when it doesn’t agree with them, calling it “irrelevant”, vetoing resolutions well over 200 times since 1984. Yet, when other countries do not submit to UN Resolutions as the US interprets them, they bomb first, and ask questions later. The problem with the US is they support democracy at the country level, but not on a global scale. The US refuses to allow their troops to be subjected to international war crime tribunals, yet strongly condemns any other country that even thinks of doing so. The US must submit to the same requirements that they impose on all other countries in the world.

I personally believe that both Iraq and Serbia were used as early examples to the regions of the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, what happens to those countries that do not submit completely to this “New World Order”. In order to consolidate power in those regions, an example needed to be made. Yugoslavia and the Non-Aligned Movement had to be destroyed in order to make way for the EU in Eastern Europe. Iraq served as the perfect example for the Middle East as well. The World’s 4th largest army and control of 25% of the world’s oil.

Somehow, the West, the US in particular, seems appalled at the idea that Russia would be interested in maintaining an influence in Serbia, a centuries old ally who shares an ethnic and religious history with them. It is natural, even desirable, for Serbia to maintain close ties to Russia. It is good for the future of Europe as a whole, and the EU should roll out the Welcome Mat to Russia, which after all is a European Country with a shared history much more so than Turkey, another EU candidate.

Russia is just being smart. While they can not compete with the US in areas of their traditional influence, they can of course support the majority of the World who disagree with American policy. Someone needs to stand up for the “little guy” in world events. While I can understand why this might frustrate some of the aspirations of those in power in the US, it is in fact healthy for the World as a whole. No single country should be able to wield as much power as the US currently does. Especially when that country has completely its own interests and agenda at heart.

I am a Serbian American, but my mother’s side fought in the American Revolution, and I believe strongly in what America was founded on. I believe that up until the post WWII period, America was a force of great moral guidance for the rest of the World. I believe we always minded our own business, for the most part, unless great problems threatened the very stability of the world itself, and only then at great cost, did we act and do what was needed regardless of the sacrifice. We were once a great country and a great influence for good in the World.

Yes, we needed to stand up as the main rival to Stalin’s almost limitless power after WWII. We had to take a global position of leadership against that scourge that threatened the world’s population. However, we must only take such action reluctantly, only when all other options have failed, and we have no other recourse. Much like Putin’s strong actions in Russia. These sorts of things must be kept to a minimum. We must support a global balance of power between all countries, so the interests of all are truly taken into account. Instead we are doing as much as we can to create situations and instability that we must take drastic action to “fix”. Our economy and way of life now depend on conflict and struggle for control. World Peace would be disastrous for us and our way of life.

Of course, there is another way, a way of peace that would work.

Modern wars in “civilized” capitalist countries are fought economically.

Right now we use force and the military to control the actions of other countries and their governments.

In a truly global society, culture is the most powerful influence we can wield, and at the same time, it is the most powerful weapon the US possesses. Our creativity and our appeal are what we do best. Our movies, our music, our commercialism are the most known and seen in the world. Our diverse population of exclusively immigrants make our culture the one truely global culture in the world. Only we have citizens with ties all around the world with members of every country and every ethnicity, and have absorbed a little bit of the culture and the best minds from everyone.

Democracy can only take root in a society that understands and wants what that is. Democracy, in order to work, must involve the informed participation of the hearts and minds of its people. It can not be introduced at the point of a gun.

In order to understand Iran or Russia or their interests, we must understand our own population from those countries and listen to them. We must adapt a message that appeals to their people as a whole, and that would work for them. We must introduce them to our way of life and what it means to us, that is democracy’s most powerful tool. As capitalist countries, our first motivation must be to influence their culture with our movies and products. Beam satellite TV and movies into their bedrooms, smuggle Coca-Cola and Big Macs into their countries. Make their culture a part of our culture and embrace all things good in their society. Export our ideas as a commodity and a force for change.

Only then can we justify our position as “Global Super Power”…

Dear Mr. Ambassador, nobody is pushing you -- you are pushing Serbia into Russia's embrace. You are treating democratic Serbia worse than you treated the Milosevic regime -- you neither called for the abolishment of the RS nor for forced partition of Serbia while that man was in power. You have truly betrayed your pro-Western allies in the Democratic and Liberal Parties in Serbia.

If the US recognizes unilateral independence of Kosovo and unilaterally abolishes Republika Srpska, Serbia will have to invite Russians to establish military bases in Serbia. This will not happen because of the "irrational Orthodox Slavic feelings" but simply because Serbia has nowhere else to turn now. The US State Department has successfully turned almost all major EU states against Serbia. Serbia's choice will be either to really become a Russian client state or to face endless partitions and collective punishments.

I fail to see how the establishment of Russian military bases in Serbia serves the interests of the US or improves European security. But if you are so confident that it will all be just a "very small risk," than go ahead.

We need to once again put a number of things into perspective irregardless of our own feelings and emotions (which sadly Montgomery falls for in this article).

First, Russia is clearly not a democracy. But at the same time, it is not a dictatorship. There is the element of some parliamentary government, and elections are periodically held. Moreover, Putin is stepping down from power in 2008, knowing full well he could run again and count on over half of Russian popular support. Still, it is becoming increasingly clear that Putin is the the one pulling the strings in Russia and will continue to be a formidable leader in the years ahead.

Second, Russia under Yeltsin was never "democratic" as the West oftentimes says. Russia under Yeltsin was a corrupt land of robber barons and cutthroat venture capitalists who took advantage of Yeltsin's "shock therapy" solution of turning the country capitalist overnight. No surprise that former Communist party bosses and regional governors became business owners and real estate magnates. Russia was crime ridden, and devoid of any sense of collective mission. Whatever we want to say about Russia now, the fact remains that Putin is overwhelmingly popular - more popular than almost every democratically elected leader in the West. More than Merkl, more than Brown, and certainly more than Bush. Russians look at Putin's authority today, compare it to the lack of law under Yeltsin, and give him passing grades. We in the West love to look at democracy with halcyon-tinted glasses, and always chide those states that seem to deliberately curtail democracy. Right now, Russians are placing security and law over civil rights. It may change over time, but whatever Putin is doing in Russia now, it seems to have a positive effect.

Third, an attack on Iran would be just what Russia would want. Iran, like Serbia, is being forced into Russia's Great Power camp because of beligerences from the West. A missle attack or an all out assault would not only strengthen Russia's international power by simply being the counter-power to Washington, but also in that Russia would become the major benefactor in reconstruction aid in either capital investments or natural resources.

Fourth, there still seems to be this idea that the West, no matter what it does, and no matter who leads it, will always be morally correct. From Serbia, to Iran, to the Caucases, to the Middle East, there is sense of self-imposed righteousness that clouds our geopolitical perceptions of the world. Putin is seen as the great global villian who is trying to thrwart honest and innocent efforts of the United States at every corner. Now believe me, Putin is not someone I'd want running my country, nor would I ever want to be stopped by Russian police on the road for speeding. But by casting Putin as the new Tsar, and overemphasizing the lack of political rights in Russia to mean the decline of democracy on Russian streets, we are once again misreading international politics, and will once again strengthen the hand of our so-called opponents by doing the very actions that cause them to gain legitimacy.

More bluster and propoganda from Montgomery that does not in one bit resemble reality.
What arrogance, to say that 'we can only be pushed so far' by Russia. Russia is upholding international law, and the US is trying to break it once again. Is this what you mean by getting 'pushed' Mr. Montgomery?
I believe that Montgomery and others of his ilk still the 90's and that Russia is weak and still governed by a drunken lackie. They need to get their head out of the sand and realize that it's not a unipolar world any more, and they can't go threatening and bombing anyone who disagrees with them any more. I live in Canada and our dollar is today worth $1.07 US! I never thought I would see that day. Perhaps if the US keeps on their current path of illegal bombings, enormous deficits, being reviled all over the world, us Canadians will soon be getting work done south of the border for 'cheap US labour'. My oh my, how the mighty have fallen.

Like JohnBoy, I have to question why B92, a Serbian site, cannot get someone associated with the Serbian government to write something? Instead we have to listen to an irrelevant former American diplomat lecture us with his propaganda. What kind of a site is this?

This commentary lays bare the American government's ideas about democracy.

Countries that do what the American Government tells them to do are "democratic" and the ones that don't are "dictatorships".

Least we forget, Putin was elected and enjoys about a 70% approval rating.

Compare that to the United States where Bush didn't even get as many votes as his opponent in 2000, and where Bush only has about a 30% approval rating.

Tell me which is more democratic? A country where the majority of people vote for a leader that they like, or the United States?

I am an American, and I'm sick to death of listening to the Government preach to other countries about "democracy". We don't even have democracy here for God's sake.

I don't understand how Eastern Europe is any of our damn business.

Who the hell is William Montgomery to accuse the Serbs of "overplaying their hand" in their own damn country?

Nothing substantial. What's the West gonna do? Escalate the situation? Good luck with that...
Serbia/Srpska and Russia haven't "overplayed their hand" at all, their are plenty of options open to us. All in all, this article was pretty funny, especially the part about punishing Russian "misbehaviour". Maybe in the 90s - too bad we're in 2007. Incidentally, a lot of Westerners seem to think of Serbia as Russia's outpost in the Balkans. If that's true, it won't be changed by their anti-Serbian policy, which is what pushes Serbia into Russia's embrace.

EA,

You can post your cries for independence everyday, still please tell us how you will solve 1244, how you will pursuade Serbia to let Kosovo go and how you will deal with international law.

Couldn't have said it better myself, Djordje!

"Moreover, unlike in Iran, where the downsides to unilateral Western actions are daunting, to say the least, the comparative risk in the Balkans is very small. If the West wants to stand up to Russia, this region is probably the place where it will happen."

West standing up to Russia? Really? Seems like it is Russia that is standing up to the previously arrogant West!

“...we have permitted Russia to block action in the UN Security Council”.

Mr. Montgomery,
Do you honestly believe that this is an accurate statement and if so please share with us how you came to this conclusion? Is this fact or arrogance?

The Kosovo independence issue never went to the UNSC because Russia could veto it not because the US permitted them to do so.
The US chose the cowardly way out by not bringing it to a vote.

Just simply tell the truth Mr. Montgomery.

Mr. Montgomery,

You write: "It is entirely possible that this is all simply "saber rattling" with the hope it will encourage Iran to slow down or stop actions, which we view as threatening our security. But despite all the downsides of any military action, it would be foolish to discount it entirely by this Administration."

My humble comments in brief:
1. Day by day the USA reminds more the Roman Empire.
2. As the Empire got weaker and as it rotted inside Caesar saw everywhere threats to Roma's security.
3. We have come to the point in history where threatening with military force have become an everyday element of the US politics.
4. All this is very sad.

" There is a strong belief that the Serbian positions on both these issues have been hardened by Russia's role."
That is why these "negotiations" and future negotiations are a waste of time. It is time to make Kosova INDEPENDENT!

This article is laughable. It reminds me a lecture of the patron to little kids about a bad little kid in thier group. So naive and simplisticly propagandistic - I can't believe this comes from an intelligent man, and not from some army captian preaching their soldiers to hate the enemy. That's exactly what Russia has to stand up to - if US believes they can speak to ANYONE with such commanding arrogant tone - it is really sad and scary. Yes, clearly the goal of US foreign policy is obvious - to make every nation a subject to its greedy will.

Bad Gorilla,

Until 2003 Texas, and 12 other States, had Sodomy Laws on the books. According to your own definition of Democracy, the US wasn’t democratic until 4 years ago.

I still remember Rumsfeld publicly announcing that those who don’t support the war are aiding and abetting the terrorists. I remember Hollywood making a public announcement that they were going to support the government. I shudder in horror at the torture, the wire tapping, the erosions of our freedoms and our civil rights here in the US. All by a man who lost the popular vote, who won the presidency merely because of an out dated feature of our “democratic” system designed by our Founding Fathers to limit the power of the “Great Unwashed”.

I remember Nixon and Water Gate. I remember Vietnam. I remember McCarthyism, Japanese internment camps and the Sedition Act. I remember segregation, the KKK, slavery and the genocide of the American Indian.

If you think American Democracy has no room for improvement, then I fear for the future for our Country. We still have much work to do and we started 200 years ago when only wealthy land owning white males enjoyed the freedom we all take for granted.

You condemn Russia for its undemocratic ways, yet you seem to ignore Russia’s past. Millions of peasants starved under the Tsar and were brutally repressed. Stalin enslaved enormous amounts of its citizens, deporting as much as 25% of Leningrad in a matter of months. The Russians are a proud strong people even if their lives are difficult at times.

The entire country just nearly imploded. I feel Putin’s “repression” is extremely mild for Russia traditionally, nor do I find it completely unreasonable in such a time they recently experienced. The people genuinely love him. He has true democratic support, so really what’s the problem? Russia is way better then the majority of countries in the world. I find it childish to argue over who has the bigger better democracy, the US isn’t that far above Russia when compared to some Northern European countries, and both are far superior than a lot of places in the world.

The real issue here is World Democracy. Somehow, Russia’s and Iran’s concerns are moot when compared to what the US demands. It’s not like the US is always reasonable in its demands and reactions. France disagreed with the war in Iraq, and what happened? Instead of respecting them as a fellow democratic country and respecting world democracy and their concerns, we renamed our French Fries to Freedom Fries and other silly insulting things. That kind of behavior is simply embarrassing.

The reality is Russia is a European Country with a European sphere of influence. Russia in the EU would be a positive thing for the world. It would bring real balance to the EU and make it a force truly capable as a reasonable counter to the power of the US.

Luciano

Confronting Russia isn't that hard. We did it in the cold war, and it was because of weapons that can destroy the world. Oil isn't a more powerful weapon. If you think America is going to back down to Russia over Oil you are mistaken. He is right, you have overplayed. Keep threatening so much and we will take it seriously.

Matthew I couldn't have said it better myself, maybe with the exception of exporting coca-cola and Mc Donalds, the world can do without those...

U.S won the Cold War.Is that so important ? What is important in any confrontation is a real hot war with Russia.The U.S cannot and would not ever dream of doing that.Remember Russia voluntarily pulled out of Eastern Europe and not by conquest or defeat at war.
Secondly, I don't know if the West expects Russia to subsidize the gas indefinitely for ex-Soviet States for under $100 while Western Europe pays almost $300 at market prices.This translate into billions a year and is by factors more than what the U.S and the West give out to poor countries for economic development.Wouldn't any of us get his or her gas disconnected if he or she defaults payment. Remember Russia cannot be father X'mas all the time.

B92,

I don't expect you to post this, but do not delay in stopping to be a propaganda vehicle for the west and soros. How much do they pay you to be an enemy of the serb nation?

Also, ban every Albanian that wants Kosovo to be independent, plain and simple.

This website is becoming increasingly irrelevant for the Serb people (most of whom oppose independence).

Enjoy your 15 minutes of infamy before the Radicals come into power, shut your down, and expose you for what you really are--an enemy of Serbia!

I repeat anyone who is allowed to spell Kosovo with an "A" or who expresses the wish for the dismemberment of Serbia is an enemy of Serbia, but a friend to the Albanians.

Allen thx for understanding.

Mr. Montgomery, the Cold War as you know it is long gone. For God's sake, grow up and start thinking about Russia as your friend, not your enemy. While you are wasting everyone's time with your biased pamphlets, you have a guy running your own country (not for the first time, though)against the will of more than 80% of your own population. Is that, perhaps, success of democracy!? Is the democracy really the optimal solution for organizing a society. With due respect, the answer is clear to everyone, except you.

Does Mr Gunter Weber also support the right of Turks in Germany to one day have independance if they want it?
Bosko

Sorry, but dictatorships are never “healthy”.

And USA can commit many bad things in the international arena, but at least USA, differently from China and Russia, is a real democracy. USA would have supported dictatorships, but it also supported real democratic movements and countries also. Have you ever heard about Russian or Chinese support for democratic movements or democratic countries? The answer is NO.

For being democratic, USA has the accountability and influence of its public opinion, a thing that simply doesn’t happen in Russia or China because their media are mostly state-owned and tightly censored.

Democracy presumes freedom of opinion, separation between church and state, freedom to criticize the president, freedom to live wherever you want to, sexual freedom, money freedom, freedom of religion (including freedom to be an atheist and freedom to convert from one religion to another), freedom of association, and cultural freedom.

All these freedoms scare traditional patriarchy-family-and-religion-based societies scared to death. These societies may want Western Mercedes-Benz and money, but they don’t want Gay Marchs on their streets or free criticism of priests and bishops.

It’s time to Serbia to choose. Or it turns to be a real democratic country like Germany, UK and France, or it turns to be the old authoritarian Slavic-Orthodox-Militarist society in a manner similar of Putin’s Russia.

What side you’ll choose?

Lams in sheep's clothing is how American diplomats should properly be described - always bleating and leading and being led to the slaughter when all they were doing was innocently following a bell! Montgomery's specialty is reinventing reasons for old wars, cold and hot - I can hear the tinkling of the bell even here - and to think that Russia wants to influence and dominate - is that fair play? Is that cricket? Hold on now : don't they know all this depleted uranium belongs to US!

We, my wife and I, lived for 2 years In Kosovo.
Our impression was that even the simple people wanted independence, not only autonomy, due to their bad experience with Serbia.
The Kosovo people deserve to be independent.

Matthew,

You seriously need to comment more often here. It's always a pleasure to read your well balanced and incredibly intelligent thoughts.

Dear Mr Ambassador – your articles are most welcome especially reporting on the plight of some of the world governments who hide under pretences that they represent the will of the people and abuse every singe human right of the very people they were suppose to represent.

Whilst your comments often generate heated debate, its refreshing to know and read about unscrupulous government, but knowing the plight on their own country certainly leaves little to anyone’s imagination as to what their aim in the world political ‘battle’ is.

Given the way Putinski and his co has been acting and treating their own people, I think is only fair to say that in not such a distant future we are going to see another Burma or Pakistan (G Musharaf).

I am Russian, support 'Orange' ways & have been to Serbia last year.

Really makes me sick to see how people really expose that other countries are the means to feel the superpower of the U.S.

So we will always have Seselj and Lavrov as our faces, turbofolk as our sound etc.etc. The only misconception is that you will also have unsatisfying leadership and Bush won't need William Montgomery as he has Rumsfeld. And we don't want turbofolk and cetniki, Bush being your own matter.

(Mike, Mattew,)

Even though I consider the abovementioned comments on Russia largely relevant, still the core root of facts on modern Russia is European Court of Human Rights. My friend works for Memorial, a human rights protection movement, so i know a lot worse stories that are being filed for ECHR now, you'll hear about that in years (the proceedings are slow). And Yeltsin was mess, but you could expose those facts under Yeltsin, you had parties and press, and now you have Putin Plan, which is "restoring order, consolidating resources, and sustainable development", so that corruption, deaths and torture in the army, in prisons etc., well, the official propaganda is that we had overcome this.

So Lavrov uses Serbia just as Mr. Montgomery bosses do.

"I fail to see how the establishment of Russian military bases in Serbia serves the interests of the US or improves European security."

Wouldn`t be so bad for us.We would havethen some NATO-bases at our southern border. And they are good customers!

“I remember Nixon and Water Gate. I remember Vietnam. I remember McCarthyism, Japanese internment camps and the Sedition Act. I remember segregation, the KKK, slavery and the genocide of the American Indian.

If you think American Democracy has no room for improvement, then I fear for the future for our Country. We still have much work to do and we started 200 years ago when only wealthy land owning white males enjoyed the freedom we all take for granted.

You condemn Russia for its undemocratic ways, yet you seem to ignore Russia’s past. Millions of peasants starved under the Tsar and were brutally repressed. Stalin enslaved enormous amounts of its citizens, deporting as much as 25% of Leningrad in a matter of months. The Russians are a proud strong people even if their lives are difficult at times.

The entire country just nearly imploded. I feel Putin’s “repression” is extremely mild for Russia traditionally, nor do I find it completely unreasonable in such a time they recently experienced. The people genuinely love him.”

Well… I would never say that democracy in the United States had or has problems, but this is far away from saying that USA is a dictatorship like Russia, Iran or China.

USA, as India, as France, as Sweden, as Germany, as UK, as South Africa and Brazil are democracies, with their respective problems, but still democracies, where people are generally not killed or jailed for criticizing the government or the army or the prevalent church. Where people can generally freely choose and then criticize the elected ones. Where the press is privately-owned and can express different opinions in different newspapers articles.

USA mistreated its indians and its blacks, but the country acknowledges their past mistakes and repent. Meanwhile, Russia are still proud of barbarities like the invasion of Baltic states.

Democracy is about freedom to choose and freedom to expres your views. USA, in general, has it. Russia has not.

Democracies are not perfect, but, as UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill said long time ago, it’s a really bad way of government — if you don’t consider all other ways.

Nothing much appears to have changed in the world. There has been animosity between the Russian Empire and the West for a century. Envy, suspicion, and resentment from Russia has fueled this confrontation for decades. A brief, chaotic interlude when Russia collapsed economically and former Communist robber barons raped the country did nothing to end this animosity. Russia need only look to itself for the failure to establish judicial and regulatory institutions that could have eased the transition to a new free economy and democracy. But introspection and self improvement seminars are not how the "Russian Bear" has ever operated. Confrontation, threats, and intimidation have been the tried and true techniques of the Russians since the Communist Revolution. It is nothing new and the West...minus the muddle headed We-Are-The-World group hug therapists...know how to deal with it. You confront the old-new Bully with a united front of opposition to their hegemonic goals. It is unpleasant and tiresome but it is the language the bully understands. The bully, despite temporary alliances, cares only for itself...and that has always been the bully's weakness. As always, resolute strength in the face of an aggressor will triumph. Too bad we all have to go through this again.

" There is a strong belief that the Serbian positions on both these issues have been hardened by Russia's role."
That is why these "negotiations" and future negotiations are a waste of time. It is time to make Kosova INDEPENDENT!

Luciano

Confronting Russia isn't that hard. We did it in the cold war, and it was because of weapons that can destroy the world. Oil isn't a more powerful weapon. If you think America is going to back down to Russia over Oil you are mistaken. He is right, you have overplayed. Keep threatening so much and we will take it seriously.

Sorry, but dictatorships are never “healthy”.

And USA can commit many bad things in the international arena, but at least USA, differently from China and Russia, is a real democracy. USA would have supported dictatorships, but it also supported real democratic movements and countries also. Have you ever heard about Russian or Chinese support for democratic movements or democratic countries? The answer is NO.

For being democratic, USA has the accountability and influence of its public opinion, a thing that simply doesn’t happen in Russia or China because their media are mostly state-owned and tightly censored.

Democracy presumes freedom of opinion, separation between church and state, freedom to criticize the president, freedom to live wherever you want to, sexual freedom, money freedom, freedom of religion (including freedom to be an atheist and freedom to convert from one religion to another), freedom of association, and cultural freedom.

All these freedoms scare traditional patriarchy-family-and-religion-based societies scared to death. These societies may want Western Mercedes-Benz and money, but they don’t want Gay Marchs on their streets or free criticism of priests and bishops.

It’s time to Serbia to choose. Or it turns to be a real democratic country like Germany, UK and France, or it turns to be the old authoritarian Slavic-Orthodox-Militarist society in a manner similar of Putin’s Russia.

What side you’ll choose?

Any person who even thinks about any sort of armed conflict with Russia or China needs to immediately check himself into a mental institution and undergo electric shock therapy in order to wake up from his delusional state.The EU has a lot more in common with Russia than it has disagreements.Friends should always agree to disagree and not talk about employing violence which is a lose-lose scenario for both sides.Stop this unilateral madness because the world is too complex for imposed solutions by any one side.The Russian bear has come out of hibernation and is ready to roar if you do not respect its power and the Chinese dragon's fire can reach every corner of the Earth so let's stop the madness before the eagle gets ita wings severely clipped.

Why does B92 keep posting this discredited politician's blogs? Apparently, Montgomery has nothing else to do but be the mouthpiece for western propaganda. Or maybe he gets paid to do it. Rather than posting blogs from officials in the Serbian government, B92 trots out this guy. Then B92 gets upset when I accuse them of being a front for western propaganda and edits or refuses to post my comments.

B92,

I don't expect you to post this, but do not delay in stopping to be a propaganda vehicle for the west and soros. How much do they pay you to be an enemy of the serb nation?

Also, ban every Albanian that wants Kosovo to be independent, plain and simple.

This website is becoming increasingly irrelevant for the Serb people (most of whom oppose independence).

Enjoy your 15 minutes of infamy before the Radicals come into power, shut your down, and expose you for what you really are--an enemy of Serbia!

I repeat anyone who is allowed to spell Kosovo with an "A" or who expresses the wish for the dismemberment of Serbia is an enemy of Serbia, but a friend to the Albanians.

“I remember Nixon and Water Gate. I remember Vietnam. I remember McCarthyism, Japanese internment camps and the Sedition Act. I remember segregation, the KKK, slavery and the genocide of the American Indian.

If you think American Democracy has no room for improvement, then I fear for the future for our Country. We still have much work to do and we started 200 years ago when only wealthy land owning white males enjoyed the freedom we all take for granted.

You condemn Russia for its undemocratic ways, yet you seem to ignore Russia’s past. Millions of peasants starved under the Tsar and were brutally repressed. Stalin enslaved enormous amounts of its citizens, deporting as much as 25% of Leningrad in a matter of months. The Russians are a proud strong people even if their lives are difficult at times.

The entire country just nearly imploded. I feel Putin’s “repression” is extremely mild for Russia traditionally, nor do I find it completely unreasonable in such a time they recently experienced. The people genuinely love him.”

Well… I would never say that democracy in the United States had or has problems, but this is far away from saying that USA is a dictatorship like Russia, Iran or China.

USA, as India, as France, as Sweden, as Germany, as UK, as South Africa and Brazil are democracies, with their respective problems, but still democracies, where people are generally not killed or jailed for criticizing the government or the army or the prevalent church. Where people can generally freely choose and then criticize the elected ones. Where the press is privately-owned and can express different opinions in different newspapers articles.

USA mistreated its indians and its blacks, but the country acknowledges their past mistakes and repent. Meanwhile, Russia are still proud of barbarities like the invasion of Baltic states.

Democracy is about freedom to choose and freedom to expres your views. USA, in general, has it. Russia has not.

Democracies are not perfect, but, as UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill said long time ago, it’s a really bad way of government — if you don’t consider all other ways.

Nothing substantial. What's the West gonna do? Escalate the situation? Good luck with that...
Serbia/Srpska and Russia haven't "overplayed their hand" at all, their are plenty of options open to us. All in all, this article was pretty funny, especially the part about punishing Russian "misbehaviour". Maybe in the 90s - too bad we're in 2007. Incidentally, a lot of Westerners seem to think of Serbia as Russia's outpost in the Balkans. If that's true, it won't be changed by their anti-Serbian policy, which is what pushes Serbia into Russia's embrace.

Dear Mr. Ambassador, nobody is pushing you -- you are pushing Serbia into Russia's embrace. You are treating democratic Serbia worse than you treated the Milosevic regime -- you neither called for the abolishment of the RS nor for forced partition of Serbia while that man was in power. You have truly betrayed your pro-Western allies in the Democratic and Liberal Parties in Serbia.

If the US recognizes unilateral independence of Kosovo and unilaterally abolishes Republika Srpska, Serbia will have to invite Russians to establish military bases in Serbia. This will not happen because of the "irrational Orthodox Slavic feelings" but simply because Serbia has nowhere else to turn now. The US State Department has successfully turned almost all major EU states against Serbia. Serbia's choice will be either to really become a Russian client state or to face endless partitions and collective punishments.

I fail to see how the establishment of Russian military bases in Serbia serves the interests of the US or improves European security. But if you are so confident that it will all be just a "very small risk," than go ahead.

EA,

You can post your cries for independence everyday, still please tell us how you will solve 1244, how you will pursuade Serbia to let Kosovo go and how you will deal with international law.

Couldn't have said it better myself, Djordje!

"I fail to see how the establishment of Russian military bases in Serbia serves the interests of the US or improves European security."

Wouldn`t be so bad for us.We would havethen some NATO-bases at our southern border. And they are good customers!

Dear Mr Ambassador – your articles are most welcome especially reporting on the plight of some of the world governments who hide under pretences that they represent the will of the people and abuse every singe human right of the very people they were suppose to represent.

Whilst your comments often generate heated debate, its refreshing to know and read about unscrupulous government, but knowing the plight on their own country certainly leaves little to anyone’s imagination as to what their aim in the world political ‘battle’ is.

Given the way Putinski and his co has been acting and treating their own people, I think is only fair to say that in not such a distant future we are going to see another Burma or Pakistan (G Musharaf).

Nothing much appears to have changed in the world. There has been animosity between the Russian Empire and the West for a century. Envy, suspicion, and resentment from Russia has fueled this confrontation for decades. A brief, chaotic interlude when Russia collapsed economically and former Communist robber barons raped the country did nothing to end this animosity. Russia need only look to itself for the failure to establish judicial and regulatory institutions that could have eased the transition to a new free economy and democracy. But introspection and self improvement seminars are not how the "Russian Bear" has ever operated. Confrontation, threats, and intimidation have been the tried and true techniques of the Russians since the Communist Revolution. It is nothing new and the West...minus the muddle headed We-Are-The-World group hug therapists...know how to deal with it. You confront the old-new Bully with a united front of opposition to their hegemonic goals. It is unpleasant and tiresome but it is the language the bully understands. The bully, despite temporary alliances, cares only for itself...and that has always been the bully's weakness. As always, resolute strength in the face of an aggressor will triumph. Too bad we all have to go through this again.

We, my wife and I, lived for 2 years In Kosovo.
Our impression was that even the simple people wanted independence, not only autonomy, due to their bad experience with Serbia.
The Kosovo people deserve to be independent.

We need to once again put a number of things into perspective irregardless of our own feelings and emotions (which sadly Montgomery falls for in this article).

First, Russia is clearly not a democracy. But at the same time, it is not a dictatorship. There is the element of some parliamentary government, and elections are periodically held. Moreover, Putin is stepping down from power in 2008, knowing full well he could run again and count on over half of Russian popular support. Still, it is becoming increasingly clear that Putin is the the one pulling the strings in Russia and will continue to be a formidable leader in the years ahead.

Second, Russia under Yeltsin was never "democratic" as the West oftentimes says. Russia under Yeltsin was a corrupt land of robber barons and cutthroat venture capitalists who took advantage of Yeltsin's "shock therapy" solution of turning the country capitalist overnight. No surprise that former Communist party bosses and regional governors became business owners and real estate magnates. Russia was crime ridden, and devoid of any sense of collective mission. Whatever we want to say about Russia now, the fact remains that Putin is overwhelmingly popular - more popular than almost every democratically elected leader in the West. More than Merkl, more than Brown, and certainly more than Bush. Russians look at Putin's authority today, compare it to the lack of law under Yeltsin, and give him passing grades. We in the West love to look at democracy with halcyon-tinted glasses, and always chide those states that seem to deliberately curtail democracy. Right now, Russians are placing security and law over civil rights. It may change over time, but whatever Putin is doing in Russia now, it seems to have a positive effect.

Third, an attack on Iran would be just what Russia would want. Iran, like Serbia, is being forced into Russia's Great Power camp because of beligerences from the West. A missle attack or an all out assault would not only strengthen Russia's international power by simply being the counter-power to Washington, but also in that Russia would become the major benefactor in reconstruction aid in either capital investments or natural resources.

Fourth, there still seems to be this idea that the West, no matter what it does, and no matter who leads it, will always be morally correct. From Serbia, to Iran, to the Caucases, to the Middle East, there is sense of self-imposed righteousness that clouds our geopolitical perceptions of the world. Putin is seen as the great global villian who is trying to thrwart honest and innocent efforts of the United States at every corner. Now believe me, Putin is not someone I'd want running my country, nor would I ever want to be stopped by Russian police on the road for speeding. But by casting Putin as the new Tsar, and overemphasizing the lack of political rights in Russia to mean the decline of democracy on Russian streets, we are once again misreading international politics, and will once again strengthen the hand of our so-called opponents by doing the very actions that cause them to gain legitimacy.

Mr. Montgomery,

Once again you only see the situation in terms of what is good for the United States and not what is best for the World as a whole.

The Nuclear genie was let out of the box when we turned a blind eye to India and Pakistan having it. Pakistan is completely undemocratic and extremely unstable. However, since it had the bomb, despite being one of only two countries in the World that recognized the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the US treated them with “kid’s gloves” and as an “ally” instead of just bombing the bejesus out of them after 9/11. Since they are now part of the Nuclear Club, they get different treatment in the World Community. It’s OK with the US that they’re a military dictatorship, we support that because its in our interest and allows for greater control. Israel more or less openly admits to having the bomb, yet we do nothing about that and ignore the concerns of the neighboring countries.

Is it any wonder that countries like North Korea and Iran would seek the bomb? It’s like a “Get Out Of Jail Free Card”. It’s an indication that you are a country that can not be attacked anymore. Would it not be better to adjust our inconsistent policies at this point and create guidelines and rules for those countries that possess the Bomb? The Bomb is 60 year old technology, its time we face the reality that it’s impossible to stop countries from acquiring that type of technology. The important thing at this stage in the game is keeping the Bomb out of private hands, countries that possess it can only enforce the continuation of the status quo, they can not implement change with it.

As far as Iran goes, let’s review the history just a bit.

The Shaw of Iran was Pro-Western, so he was a “good guy”, despite the fact that he was a brutal undemocratic dictator who worked hand in hand with the CIA to commit vast crimes against humanity simply to keep him in power. Of course when the people themselves rose up and got rid of this petty tyrant, the US administration demonized them and isolated Iran for decades. We even supported a long and bloody war against them. Yes, they violated our rights and committed crimes during the hostage crisis and I condemn those actions, but I don’t see how that’s any worse then the crimes we committed against them BEFORE they did that. To me, it’s no wonder they dislike the US and our international policies.

The reality of the matter is a US apology towards Iran for our crimes against them under the Shaw is long over due and would do much to improve relations between our two countries. Maybe they would apologize for the hostages in return? That was decades ago, its time to move on and build bridges.

The reality is that without Iran’s true support in quelling the violence in Iraq, that country will never be at peace. Iran is the natural regional leader in position to make a very real effort to bring stability to Iraq and has strong ties to the majority Shia population. Iran and Al Qaeda have contradictory ideologies and we should be building on those differences, not driving them together.

The Revolutionary Guards supplying IED’s for attacking US troops is not terrorism. Military forces are legitimate targets in war. I don’t see much of a difference between the US supplying weapons to Iraq to attack Iran, and Iran supplying weapons to Iraq to attack the US. The Iraq War was not sanctioned under the UN, and the reasons given for starting it were blatant lies. The Iraqi War is basically illegal, and while I do not support Iran’s obstruction of our efforts there, they could hardly be condemned as against international law or as terrorist acts. The citizens of Iraq have every right to fight what they view as an occupying force, the US enshrines this right for its own population in the 2nd Amendment, the Right to Bear Arms. Ironically, Iraq was the MOST liberal and western country in the Middle East before the end of the Cold War. Iraq’s political system at the time was far more democratic and Western than Kuwait or Saudi Arabia, which are strict Monarchies. The political systems of both are appalling. Kuwait for example is a welfare state for those lucky enough to have Kuwaiti citizenship. They aren’t required to work, and get money from the royal family simply for being born into the right family. Palestinian refugees, many of which have lived there for generations yet remain citizens of no country, enjoy no similar luxuries and perform all the menial tasks in that society. It’s a downright Medieval way of life. Too many Americans are unaware of the great differences between Middle Eastern Countries

The contradictions in Iraq are endless. We supported Saddam when he was committing genocide against the Kurdish people. Yet, despite being the most stable region of Iraq, we oppose the Kurds having their own homeland. Unlike Kosovo, where only 2,000 people died before NATO started their bombing campaign. Kurds have a population of somewhere around 30 million people and have been actively fighting for a land to call their own for hundreds and hundreds of years. Longer than Montenegro fought the Turks.

Our Middle East policy is outrageous and simply wrong and until we change it, there will never be peace in the region. Which of course greatly increases the profits of the military industrial complex and the Oil Barons. Despite being a region of great power and influence in world events the Middle East has NO say whatsoever on the UNSC. European and Western countries make up 4 out of the 5 permanent members. Its time to give the Middle East as a whole one seat in the UNSC with full veto rights. That would go very far indeed in bringing the Middle Eastern governments into the fold of countries interested in maintaining the status quo.

As far as Russia goes, yes, Stalin was a monster of Epic proportions. The Cold War, in the beginning, was certainly justified. NOT because they were Godless Communists, but because Stalin slaughtered 10’s of millions of his own people. China at this point in time is most certainly a positive influence in the world, yet Mao was nearly as bad as Stalin in his day.

When the Cold War ended, the Russians expected to be welcomed into the Western Community, to be treated as the European country that they are. Instead of real and substantial support, they got a hard lesson in the abuses of capitalism and democracy. Criminals became the new upper class, and state industries were sold for a song. The entire time Yelstin sat back and in a drunken stupor allowed the country’s influence and importance in the world to diminish rapidly. Putin put an end to all that and completely turned Russia around, back into a true world power with its own independent interests in the world. Did Putin curtail some freedoms in the country? Most certainly. Did Russia need that in order to rebuild itself, yes of course. The Russian people support strong leaders like Putin, and his popularity among Russians is incredibly strong the world over. It may not be American democracy, but it works for Russia at this time and it’s far better than China, our good buddy.

The inherent problem in the world today is the difference between how the US and how the rest of the world views the political situation. The US believes that because it “won” the Cold War, it has the moral right to dictate policy to the rest of the world. The “New World Order” where the US is the “Sole Global Super Power”. The US ignores the UN when it doesn’t agree with them, calling it “irrelevant”, vetoing resolutions well over 200 times since 1984. Yet, when other countries do not submit to UN Resolutions as the US interprets them, they bomb first, and ask questions later. The problem with the US is they support democracy at the country level, but not on a global scale. The US refuses to allow their troops to be subjected to international war crime tribunals, yet strongly condemns any other country that even thinks of doing so. The US must submit to the same requirements that they impose on all other countries in the world.

I personally believe that both Iraq and Serbia were used as early examples to the regions of the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, what happens to those countries that do not submit completely to this “New World Order”. In order to consolidate power in those regions, an example needed to be made. Yugoslavia and the Non-Aligned Movement had to be destroyed in order to make way for the EU in Eastern Europe. Iraq served as the perfect example for the Middle East as well. The World’s 4th largest army and control of 25% of the world’s oil.

Somehow, the West, the US in particular, seems appalled at the idea that Russia would be interested in maintaining an influence in Serbia, a centuries old ally who shares an ethnic and religious history with them. It is natural, even desirable, for Serbia to maintain close ties to Russia. It is good for the future of Europe as a whole, and the EU should roll out the Welcome Mat to Russia, which after all is a European Country with a shared history much more so than Turkey, another EU candidate.

Russia is just being smart. While they can not compete with the US in areas of their traditional influence, they can of course support the majority of the World who disagree with American policy. Someone needs to stand up for the “little guy” in world events. While I can understand why this might frustrate some of the aspirations of those in power in the US, it is in fact healthy for the World as a whole. No single country should be able to wield as much power as the US currently does. Especially when that country has completely its own interests and agenda at heart.

I am a Serbian American, but my mother’s side fought in the American Revolution, and I believe strongly in what America was founded on. I believe that up until the post WWII period, America was a force of great moral guidance for the rest of the World. I believe we always minded our own business, for the most part, unless great problems threatened the very stability of the world itself, and only then at great cost, did we act and do what was needed regardless of the sacrifice. We were once a great country and a great influence for good in the World.

Yes, we needed to stand up as the main rival to Stalin’s almost limitless power after WWII. We had to take a global position of leadership against that scourge that threatened the world’s population. However, we must only take such action reluctantly, only when all other options have failed, and we have no other recourse. Much like Putin’s strong actions in Russia. These sorts of things must be kept to a minimum. We must support a global balance of power between all countries, so the interests of all are truly taken into account. Instead we are doing as much as we can to create situations and instability that we must take drastic action to “fix”. Our economy and way of life now depend on conflict and struggle for control. World Peace would be disastrous for us and our way of life.

Of course, there is another way, a way of peace that would work.

Modern wars in “civilized” capitalist countries are fought economically.

Right now we use force and the military to control the actions of other countries and their governments.

In a truly global society, culture is the most powerful influence we can wield, and at the same time, it is the most powerful weapon the US possesses. Our creativity and our appeal are what we do best. Our movies, our music, our commercialism are the most known and seen in the world. Our diverse population of exclusively immigrants make our culture the one truely global culture in the world. Only we have citizens with ties all around the world with members of every country and every ethnicity, and have absorbed a little bit of the culture and the best minds from everyone.

Democracy can only take root in a society that understands and wants what that is. Democracy, in order to work, must involve the informed participation of the hearts and minds of its people. It can not be introduced at the point of a gun.

In order to understand Iran or Russia or their interests, we must understand our own population from those countries and listen to them. We must adapt a message that appeals to their people as a whole, and that would work for them. We must introduce them to our way of life and what it means to us, that is democracy’s most powerful tool. As capitalist countries, our first motivation must be to influence their culture with our movies and products. Beam satellite TV and movies into their bedrooms, smuggle Coca-Cola and Big Macs into their countries. Make their culture a part of our culture and embrace all things good in their society. Export our ideas as a commodity and a force for change.

Only then can we justify our position as “Global Super Power”…

Matthew I couldn't have said it better myself, maybe with the exception of exporting coca-cola and Mc Donalds, the world can do without those...

Like JohnBoy, I have to question why B92, a Serbian site, cannot get someone associated with the Serbian government to write something? Instead we have to listen to an irrelevant former American diplomat lecture us with his propaganda. What kind of a site is this?

Mr. Montgomery,

You write: "It is entirely possible that this is all simply "saber rattling" with the hope it will encourage Iran to slow down or stop actions, which we view as threatening our security. But despite all the downsides of any military action, it would be foolish to discount it entirely by this Administration."

My humble comments in brief:
1. Day by day the USA reminds more the Roman Empire.
2. As the Empire got weaker and as it rotted inside Caesar saw everywhere threats to Roma's security.
3. We have come to the point in history where threatening with military force have become an everyday element of the US politics.
4. All this is very sad.

I am Russian, support 'Orange' ways & have been to Serbia last year.

Really makes me sick to see how people really expose that other countries are the means to feel the superpower of the U.S.

So we will always have Seselj and Lavrov as our faces, turbofolk as our sound etc.etc. The only misconception is that you will also have unsatisfying leadership and Bush won't need William Montgomery as he has Rumsfeld. And we don't want turbofolk and cetniki, Bush being your own matter.

(Mike, Mattew,)

Even though I consider the abovementioned comments on Russia largely relevant, still the core root of facts on modern Russia is European Court of Human Rights. My friend works for Memorial, a human rights protection movement, so i know a lot worse stories that are being filed for ECHR now, you'll hear about that in years (the proceedings are slow). And Yeltsin was mess, but you could expose those facts under Yeltsin, you had parties and press, and now you have Putin Plan, which is "restoring order, consolidating resources, and sustainable development", so that corruption, deaths and torture in the army, in prisons etc., well, the official propaganda is that we had overcome this.

So Lavrov uses Serbia just as Mr. Montgomery bosses do.

Does Mr Gunter Weber also support the right of Turks in Germany to one day have independance if they want it?
Bosko

Matthew,

You seriously need to comment more often here. It's always a pleasure to read your well balanced and incredibly intelligent thoughts.

U.S won the Cold War.Is that so important ? What is important in any confrontation is a real hot war with Russia.The U.S cannot and would not ever dream of doing that.Remember Russia voluntarily pulled out of Eastern Europe and not by conquest or defeat at war.
Secondly, I don't know if the West expects Russia to subsidize the gas indefinitely for ex-Soviet States for under $100 while Western Europe pays almost $300 at market prices.This translate into billions a year and is by factors more than what the U.S and the West give out to poor countries for economic development.Wouldn't any of us get his or her gas disconnected if he or she defaults payment. Remember Russia cannot be father X'mas all the time.

More bluster and propoganda from Montgomery that does not in one bit resemble reality.
What arrogance, to say that 'we can only be pushed so far' by Russia. Russia is upholding international law, and the US is trying to break it once again. Is this what you mean by getting 'pushed' Mr. Montgomery?
I believe that Montgomery and others of his ilk still the 90's and that Russia is weak and still governed by a drunken lackie. They need to get their head out of the sand and realize that it's not a unipolar world any more, and they can't go threatening and bombing anyone who disagrees with them any more. I live in Canada and our dollar is today worth $1.07 US! I never thought I would see that day. Perhaps if the US keeps on their current path of illegal bombings, enormous deficits, being reviled all over the world, us Canadians will soon be getting work done south of the border for 'cheap US labour'. My oh my, how the mighty have fallen.

"Moreover, unlike in Iran, where the downsides to unilateral Western actions are daunting, to say the least, the comparative risk in the Balkans is very small. If the West wants to stand up to Russia, this region is probably the place where it will happen."

West standing up to Russia? Really? Seems like it is Russia that is standing up to the previously arrogant West!

This commentary lays bare the American government's ideas about democracy.

Countries that do what the American Government tells them to do are "democratic" and the ones that don't are "dictatorships".

Least we forget, Putin was elected and enjoys about a 70% approval rating.

Compare that to the United States where Bush didn't even get as many votes as his opponent in 2000, and where Bush only has about a 30% approval rating.

Tell me which is more democratic? A country where the majority of people vote for a leader that they like, or the United States?

I am an American, and I'm sick to death of listening to the Government preach to other countries about "democracy". We don't even have democracy here for God's sake.

I don't understand how Eastern Europe is any of our damn business.

Who the hell is William Montgomery to accuse the Serbs of "overplaying their hand" in their own damn country?

This article is laughable. It reminds me a lecture of the patron to little kids about a bad little kid in thier group. So naive and simplisticly propagandistic - I can't believe this comes from an intelligent man, and not from some army captian preaching their soldiers to hate the enemy. That's exactly what Russia has to stand up to - if US believes they can speak to ANYONE with such commanding arrogant tone - it is really sad and scary. Yes, clearly the goal of US foreign policy is obvious - to make every nation a subject to its greedy will.

Allen thx for understanding.

Bad Gorilla,

Until 2003 Texas, and 12 other States, had Sodomy Laws on the books. According to your own definition of Democracy, the US wasn’t democratic until 4 years ago.

I still remember Rumsfeld publicly announcing that those who don’t support the war are aiding and abetting the terrorists. I remember Hollywood making a public announcement that they were going to support the government. I shudder in horror at the torture, the wire tapping, the erosions of our freedoms and our civil rights here in the US. All by a man who lost the popular vote, who won the presidency merely because of an out dated feature of our “democratic” system designed by our Founding Fathers to limit the power of the “Great Unwashed”.

I remember Nixon and Water Gate. I remember Vietnam. I remember McCarthyism, Japanese internment camps and the Sedition Act. I remember segregation, the KKK, slavery and the genocide of the American Indian.

If you think American Democracy has no room for improvement, then I fear for the future for our Country. We still have much work to do and we started 200 years ago when only wealthy land owning white males enjoyed the freedom we all take for granted.

You condemn Russia for its undemocratic ways, yet you seem to ignore Russia’s past. Millions of peasants starved under the Tsar and were brutally repressed. Stalin enslaved enormous amounts of its citizens, deporting as much as 25% of Leningrad in a matter of months. The Russians are a proud strong people even if their lives are difficult at times.

The entire country just nearly imploded. I feel Putin’s “repression” is extremely mild for Russia traditionally, nor do I find it completely unreasonable in such a time they recently experienced. The people genuinely love him. He has true democratic support, so really what’s the problem? Russia is way better then the majority of countries in the world. I find it childish to argue over who has the bigger better democracy, the US isn’t that far above Russia when compared to some Northern European countries, and both are far superior than a lot of places in the world.

The real issue here is World Democracy. Somehow, Russia’s and Iran’s concerns are moot when compared to what the US demands. It’s not like the US is always reasonable in its demands and reactions. France disagreed with the war in Iraq, and what happened? Instead of respecting them as a fellow democratic country and respecting world democracy and their concerns, we renamed our French Fries to Freedom Fries and other silly insulting things. That kind of behavior is simply embarrassing.

The reality is Russia is a European Country with a European sphere of influence. Russia in the EU would be a positive thing for the world. It would bring real balance to the EU and make it a force truly capable as a reasonable counter to the power of the US.

Mr. Montgomery, the Cold War as you know it is long gone. For God's sake, grow up and start thinking about Russia as your friend, not your enemy. While you are wasting everyone's time with your biased pamphlets, you have a guy running your own country (not for the first time, though)against the will of more than 80% of your own population. Is that, perhaps, success of democracy!? Is the democracy really the optimal solution for organizing a society. With due respect, the answer is clear to everyone, except you.

“...we have permitted Russia to block action in the UN Security Council”.

Mr. Montgomery,
Do you honestly believe that this is an accurate statement and if so please share with us how you came to this conclusion? Is this fact or arrogance?

The Kosovo independence issue never went to the UNSC because Russia could veto it not because the US permitted them to do so.
The US chose the cowardly way out by not bringing it to a vote.

Just simply tell the truth Mr. Montgomery.

Lams in sheep's clothing is how American diplomats should properly be described - always bleating and leading and being led to the slaughter when all they were doing was innocently following a bell! Montgomery's specialty is reinventing reasons for old wars, cold and hot - I can hear the tinkling of the bell even here - and to think that Russia wants to influence and dominate - is that fair play? Is that cricket? Hold on now : don't they know all this depleted uranium belongs to US!