About.com/EU-Digest: Is the United States Poking the Bear? - by Keith Porter

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Is the United States Poking the Bear? - by Keith Porter

"At my house, when one of the kids deliberately does something known to antagonize another family member, we say they are "poking the bear." Today, with U.S.-Russian relations at a state of high tension over the Georgia conflict, the United States might have just poked the bear. "An agreement to place American anti-missile interceptors in Poland was announced yesterday even though the Russian are strongly opposed to the deal. According to the BBC, "The US says the system will protect itself and Europe against long range missile attacks by 'rogue states'." On the other hand, "Moscow has said the project would upset the military balance in Europe and warned it would have no choice but to point its own missiles at the installations." So maybe the timing of this agreement announcement is coincidental. The deal with Poland has been in the works for some time. But it could also easily be a U.S. attempt to make sure the Russians know America still has friends in the region.

Note EU-Digest: It is amazing to see how the EU is "asleep at the wheel" letting themselves be taken into an extremely dangerous political situation as to their relationship with the Russians and Americans. The US presence in Europe which used to be based on mutual respect, has now in a sense become a liability. The fact remains that Georgia started the conflict and Russia reacted, not only based on the invasion, but also because it feels threatened by the encroachment of its territory by NATO, and the potential of the US endangering its position as an energy supplier to Western Europe. Just imagine the reaction of the US if a foreign entity would place anti missile-interceptors in Mexico or Canada, or if the Mexicans went into Southern Texas and reclaimed parts of it based on ethnic minorities being discriminated against and in the process blocked US Oil exports ? Would the US accept it? Of course not.

Consequently Europe must also not accept to become a casualty of either the US or Russian geopolitical strategies, but develop its own independent policies, most importantly one on energy. Nicolas Sarkozy's intervention as EU president in Georgia was shrewd and clever and deserves kudos. His "six-point plan" for South Ossetia is no road map to lasting peace in the Caucasus. But the manner of his negotiation hints at what might be possible if Europe spoke to Russia and the US with one voice. Russia needs access to European energy markets and the US needs support in the Middle East. A united EU front on that score would give the EU leverage over Washington and the Kremlin. As the biggest single market in the world, Europe has considerable "soft" power. Exercising it as a unified group is the most intelligent way to oppose Russia bullying its former satellites and US imperialistic tendencies.