A RUSSIAN EXTRA IN THE U.S. COURT

U.S.-Russian relations over the past month have become increasingly similar to the "Ballet de la Merlaison," created by Louis XIII of France in the 17th century. In this unique ballet, the king authored the work and played the leading role. All the other roles in the ballet were considered extras, who eagerly danced to the tune of the king. As long as the king was still alive, this ballet was considered to be the work of a genius.

In the first act of the "Ballet de la Merlaison," President Dmitry Medvedev embraces Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal and takes a position on the Middle East crisis that runs counter to the United States. For internal political reasons, Medvedev must show Russians that he is not another weak Kremlin leader, like Mikhail Gorbachev or Boris Yeltsin, and that he can stand up to the West. Unfortunately, this is only a cheap imitation of butting heads with the United States. The following acts in the ballet clearly show his weaknesses and servility to the West.

The second act of the "Ballet de la Merlaison" begins with Russia caving into the U.S. request to vote for United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iran. In so doing, Russia loses its leverage not only in Iran, but also in the Caucasus and Central Asian regions, which are of tremendous strategic importance for Moscow. Having given in on Iran sanctions, Russia has forced itself into a corner. It will now have to toe the U.S. line on every question pertaining to Iran. Medvedev's decision on Iran reflects his ideological affinity for the ultraliberalism of Igor Yurgens, chairman of the management board of the Institute of Contemporary Development think tank, of which Medvedev is chairman of the board. Both Medvedev and Yurgens are driven by an obsequious desire to join the "civilized countries" and occupy an "honored position" at the same table with the United States and other Group of Eight countries.

In his zeal to perform on the same stage alongside the United States, Medvedev loses sight of the fact that he is giving away a part of Russia's sovereignty to Washington, Maxim Shevchenko, a journalist and head of the Center for Contemporary Strategic Studies, Religion and Politics in Moscow writes.