America: The Punisher
Bush plans to cancel deal for civilian nuclear cooperation
Spectator Staff
Issue date: 9/8/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
In the 1980 Olympics the United States sent a message to the Soviet Union by winning a hockey game. Unfortunately hockey isn't as popular anymore and other ways of communicating messages have been adopted by the United States.
On Thursday the Associated Press issued a report stating senior administration officials believed President Bush was in talks to punish Russia for its invasion of Georgia in August. This punishment consists of canceling a once-celebrated deal for civilian nuclear cooperation between both countries.
Any action the United States takes against Russia needs to be seriously thought through and done with considerable amounts of care. But if an effort by the United States to punish Russia for its invasion of Georgia happens, it will make the United States hypocritical because of its invasion of Iraq. The decision to cancel the deal seems abrupt and comes across as a last hoorah for the Bush Administration.
Taking the wrong action, such as canceling the deal, could have negative ramifications. It may send the United States and Russia into yet another Cold War. Additionally, the U.S. would only be hurting its image even more than it already is with international countries. Breaking the civilian nuclear cooperation deal would only be a slap on the wrist for Russia.
If the United States does decide to initiate activity against Russia, it should at least communicate with its allies to collectively devise a plan. Having numerous countries cut ties with Russia and then rearranging the civilian nuclear cooperation policy would be a more effective way of handling the situation than creating another situation in which the United States stands alone. It could put the United States back in the good graces of countries around the world and maybe improve our image.
On Thursday the Associated Press issued a report stating senior administration officials believed President Bush was in talks to punish Russia for its invasion of Georgia in August. This punishment consists of canceling a once-celebrated deal for civilian nuclear cooperation between both countries.
Any action the United States takes against Russia needs to be seriously thought through and done with considerable amounts of care. But if an effort by the United States to punish Russia for its invasion of Georgia happens, it will make the United States hypocritical because of its invasion of Iraq. The decision to cancel the deal seems abrupt and comes across as a last hoorah for the Bush Administration.
Taking the wrong action, such as canceling the deal, could have negative ramifications. It may send the United States and Russia into yet another Cold War. Additionally, the U.S. would only be hurting its image even more than it already is with international countries. Breaking the civilian nuclear cooperation deal would only be a slap on the wrist for Russia.
If the United States does decide to initiate activity against Russia, it should at least communicate with its allies to collectively devise a plan. Having numerous countries cut ties with Russia and then rearranging the civilian nuclear cooperation policy would be a more effective way of handling the situation than creating another situation in which the United States stands alone. It could put the United States back in the good graces of countries around the world and maybe improve our image.
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