Russians Find
Little of Interest in U.S. Campaign
The Global Beat Syndicate
By Alexander Belkin
November 1, 2000
MOSCOW -- When asked what Russians
think of U.S. presidential campaign, three possibilities
come to mind:
1) Bush's legs;
2) Nothing;
3) Who cares.
As for the first option, it's not that
Russians have an unnatural attraction to the Republican
candidate's extremities. Rather, it's an indication that
many Russians still remember the food aid provided by
the United States during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
That assistance included massive
shipments of frozen chicken legs. They were inexpensive
and available almost everywhere. Many of those
struggling though the last days of the Soviet Union and
the first days of Russian democracy saw those chicken
limbs almost as manna from heaven and appreciatively
referred to them as "nozhki Busha" -- Bush's
legs -- after then President George Bush.
Many here deluded themselves into
thinking that "Bush's legs" were just the
first installment on more substantial U.S. support for
Russia's efforts to break away from its totalitarian
past and join the community of democratic states.
But after a decade of failed attempts
to comprehend the post-Soviet economic system, it's
clear that the United States today suffers from
"Russia fatigue." As a result, the Russian
people's hopes for improved relations have faded,
leaving them frustrated and disappointed, especially
with the current administration in Washington.
Not that such frustration is anything
to worry about. With the end of the Cold War, there's no
reason to fear "mutually assured destruction"
any longer -- just as there's no reason to any longer
expect large scale, unfettered assistance from the
United States.
Besides, just as in the United States,
the general public in Russia is preoccupied with
domestic issues and shows very little interest in
foreign policy. That is why most know of and care little
about the election of a new president in the United
States.
Russian politicians seem to share this
attitude, with two notable exceptions:
The first is the dispute between Texas
Gov. George W. Bush and former Prime Minister Viktor
Chernomyrdin over the alleged disappearance of billions
in IMF loans. Bush's accusations have naturally turned
Chernomyrdin, still an active politician and a member of
State Duma, into a most active opponent of the
Republican candidate.
The other instance was the recent call
by a group in the State Duma who expressed their concern
about the fate of democracy in the United States and
suggested that the Duma should pass a law enabling
Russian parliamentarians to send a non-partisan group of
observers to monitor the elections.
All joking aside, it is clear that
Russian political elites are taking a professional and
pragmatic approach to the U.S. election.
The United States continues to be
Russia's top foreign-policy priority, given its
economic, technological and military predominance in the
world. Leaders in Moscow listen attentively to the
"Russian-policy" statements of the major
candidates.
Right now, Russian foreign policy
experts do not see much of a difference between Bush's
or Vice President Al Gore's attitudes to Russia.
Republican criticism of Clinton administration relations
with Russia is viewed primarily as a tool in the
presidential race.
If a Russian foreign-policy analyst
were to offer the eventual winner advice for how to
proceed with relations with Russia, they might suggest
something similar to the Hippocratic oath taken by
physicians: "First, do no harm." In other
words, if the next administration does not know how to
help -- or doesn't want to provide the type of help
requested by the Kremlin -- then as least don't
interfere with efforts by others to provide such
assistance.
The Global Beat Syndicate
By Alexander Belkin
Alexander Belkin is an Executive Vice Director of the
Council for Foreign and Defense Policy in Moscow. The
views expressed here are solely the author's and do
not represent those of the Council.
November 1, 2000
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