From the UK Telegraph, via Free Republic:
Far from recovering its status as a great nation, or even extending its global influence like China or India, Russia is locked in long-term decline. We take no pleasure in pointing this out, for the achievements of the Russian people are exceptional: their literature is justifiably renowned and their stubborn heroism was indispensable to the defeat of Hitler. Yet this only adds to the tragic aspect of a country with so many grounds for national pride seeking to posture as a false superpower. By leading Mr Obama through the mirrored halls of the Kremlin, Mr Medvedev was consciously reviving the image of Cold War summitry when the leaders of the two superpowers met on roughly equal terms to decide the future of the world. “Such powerful states as Russia and America have special responsibility for everything that is happening on this planet,” the Russian president declared.
These vainglorious words came from a man who is not even master of his own house. Few doubt that Russia’s most powerful politician is Mr Medvedev’s old boss: Vladimir Putin, the prime minister, who may be planning to return as president at the next election in 2012. Mr Obama generously went along with the illusion of equality, but the gulf between America’s national power and Russian weakness is glaring. Despite all Mr Putin’s efforts, Russia’s total defence budget is still only 11 per cent of America’s. Meanwhile, the economy of the United States is 14 times bigger than Russia’s.
Not to worry, that gulf is sure to shrink. If Obama has his way, the decline of the United States’ power in the world will be swift. He’s happy to kick the constitution to the curb in order to negotiate treaties without the advice and consent of the Senate. He’s agreed to weaken our offensive capabilities while waffling on strategic defense. But hey, he’s going to give a major speech in Russia tomorrow. If he issues enough apologies on behalf of his country perhaps the Ruskies will re-set their position on missile defense. (And Iran, and Georgia……)
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