OBAMA IN MOSCOW -- John Adams should make it an opera

Culled from the day's headlines -- three paragraphs from one of the President's addresses in Russia:

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE NEW ECONOMIC SCHOOL GRADUATION

President Barack Hussein Obama
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
July 7, 2009
Gostinny Dvor
Moscow, Russia
12:13 P.M. (Local)

Yet unfortunately, there is sometimes a sense that old assumptions must prevail, old ways of thinking; a conception of power that is rooted in the past rather than in the future. There is the 20th century view that the United States and Russia are destined to be antagonists, and that a strong Russia or a strong America can only assert themselves in opposition to one another. And there is a 19th century view that we are destined to vie for spheres of influence, and that great powers must forge competing blocs to balance one another.

These assumptions are wrong. In 2009, a great power does not show strength by dominating or demonizing other countries. The days when empires could treat sovereign states as pieces on a chess board are over. As I said in Cairo, given our independence, any world order that -- given our interdependence, any world order that tries to elevate one nation or one group of people over another will inevitably fail. The pursuit of power is no longer a zero-sum game -- progress must be shared.

That's why I have called for a "reset" in relations between the United States and Russia. This must be more than a fresh start between the Kremlin and the White House -- though that is important and I've had excellent discussions with both your President and your Prime Minister. It must be a sustained effort among the American and Russian people to identify mutual interests, and expand dialogue and cooperation that can pave the way to progress.


RIGHT ASCENSION COMMENTARY

I do not know how Our President can say this stuff with a straight face. The United States has demonized, meddled and interfered with its neighbors for decades -- in Mexico, in Cuba, in Central America, recently in Iraq, which is actually closer to Russia than to the USA. Years ago, the USA sent troops into the Soviet Union to take sides in the War Between the Reds and the Whites. Our example through history remains quite clear: If any government has a right to medal in Georgia, Ukraine, Iran and Iraq, it is Russia since it is closer.