Greece and Cyprus are “Trojan Horses”? Come on. There dissent within the EU, when it occurs, is in a quite transparent, obvious and hardly nefarious or hidden. They have a fairly acute security threat from Turkey. Security from this threat from the EU is growing but nascent at best. EU parties — including (especially) Germany — have sacrificed EU principles and tempered their responses to Turkey for their own interests.

I’ve fixed the title now, although I wonder how many visitors I’ll get from Google, seeking information on nimbe Russian bears?

“The Russian government has invested a massive amount of political capital in wooing those countries it thinks it can do business with..”

Shouldn’t that read “The Russian government has accepted massive financial captial without having to try to hard to woo foreign investors”?

Where the money goes, politicians follow. Me thinks Russian government getting too much credit. That’s not to say that the government has made Russia a very attractive place to invest in (flat tax etc.), but foreign investors in Russia bring profits home(!) keep companies alive through exports (as Germany, if I am correct, is now the world’s largest exporter) and provides business tax to the government, keeps people employed etc. etc.

http://www.ecfr.eu/content/entry/commentary_pr_russia_power_audit/

It relates to the title of this discussion:

EU blames its problems on Putin
http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@902.cGbLej1QtTF@.775edda5/0

Note that the author of the above thread is if anything the opposite of someone sympathetic to Russian concerns.

The ECFR report suggestively cheers for a more unified EU challenging Russia, which is perceived as being somewhat mischievous.

This runs complimentary with Soros’ views and that of the people he funds.

That’s funny, because the paper clearly states over and over again that it is from the European Council on Foreign Relations, just as Andy cites.

Now, if you want to say that the ECFR is a “newly formed think-tank” – then sure. It was formed in October 2007, so about 1 month ago. It’s stated goal is “The European Council on Foreign Relations was launched in October 2007 to promote a more integrated European foreign policy in support of shared European interests and values” and it is backed by the Soros Foundation Network, among others.

****

The above categories notwithstanding, is it possible for the Russian bear to express reasonable opposition to a given EU position and still have the EU confront it?

Just how effective are the EU checks and balances with itself?

On another point in the above post, it’s good to note how the Council on Foreign Relations will do reports like the referenced one on how Russia engages in “divide and conquer” tactics without taking into consideration that some other countries do the same in relation to their own respective interests.

Was it so much of a matter of Russia twisting or threatening to twist Germany’s hand to get approval for the building of a Russo-German pipeline route away from Poland? Were/are there not elements in Poland which legitimately concerned the Russians and Germans on whether Poland is a reliable transit route?

It comes from a newly formed think-tank. Its agenda is already obvious! Damage the rapprochement between the EU and Russia!

Through History it has become obvious that Russia needs Europe and Europe needs Russia. Moreover the scourge of Communism that separated us (Western Europe and USA) from them (Soviet and Eastern Europe) has been totally and irrevocably defeated! The animosity is stone dead!

The great problem now is between the Free West (Christian or atheistic) and Islam.