Time to Reset Obama’s Reset Policy

By Ambassador Richard S. Williamson

Russia is yet another example of President Obama’s naïve leadership in foreign policy that has left American interests weakened and our values compromised.

 

President Obama’s much-touted reset policy with Russia has failed.  Instead of democratic reform, Vladimir Putin has led an authoritarian drift that is crowding civil society, repressing a free press, and denying free and fair elections to the Russian people. Meanwhile, on missile defense, Iran, Syria, and other issues, Russia is consistently taking positions in opposition to U.S. interests.

The latest chapter of this sorry story will play out in the March 4 presidential election. With a fractured opposition, control of most media outlets, overwhelming resources, little space for civil society, and curbs on opposition political parties, Putin undoubtedly will be elected president again. This will extend his 12-year rule for another 6 years.

Russia is yet another case of President Obama’s naïve leadership in foreign policy that has left American interests weakened and our values compromised.

Soviet-Era 2.0

Under Putin, direct election of governors has been eliminated. Moscow, controlled by Putin, appoints them now. Federal districts have been eliminated to squeeze out pro-Western democracy elements in the Duma.

Opposition parties were required to re-register for the Duma elections in December; none of the most vocal opposition groups were granted registration; all were barred from campaigning. These changes tilted the playing field in favor of Putin’s United Russia political party.

Read more: http://www.american.com/archive/2012/february/time-to-reset-obamas-reset-policy