Source: Dale Herspring, 785-532-6839, falka@k-state.edu
http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/herspringbio.html
News release prepared by: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, 785-532-6415,
ebarcomb@k-state.edu
Thursday, June 7, 2007
K-STATE EXPERT ON PUTIN SAYS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT'S RESPONSE TO U.S. MISSILES, RADAR IN EUROPE NOT OUT OF CHARACTER
MANHATTAN -- Russian President Vladimir Putin's resistance to the United States' plans to place missiles in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic is not out of character, according to a Kansas State University expert on the Russian leader.
"He did respond more harshly than I would have expected," said Dale Herspring, university distinguished professor of political science at K-State. "One theory is this has a lot to do with the upcoming Russian election in March 2008. It may be that Putin is under pressure from other parts of the government."
Herspring is the author of "Putin's Russia: Past Imperfect, Future Uncertain" and numerous other books and articles about Russian politics. He said Putin's threat to identify new missile targets in Europe reflects his frustration with the United States "doing what it wants," including bringing weapons and radar to Russia's borders despite past acts of goodwill on the part of Russia.
"After 9-11, Putin was first to call the president," Herspring said. "Russia went out of the way to give us intelligence and help us get access to important air bases in Central Asia."
Herspring sees Vice President Dick Cheney as one of the major reasons for a breakdown between the U.S. and Russia, namely Cheney's comments praising the political system in Uzbekistan -- which Herspring said is a hundred years behind the times -- while telling others that Russia doesn't have a democracy. Putin also believes he has helped put Russia back on its feet and resents being lectured by President Bush on the nature of democracy, Herspring said.
"This kind of stuff really irritates the Russians," Herspring said. "The side conversations Putin and Bush will have at the G-8 summit are really crucial, as will be Putin's visit to the Bush family compound next month."
Herspring credits Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and President Bush with making the United States the more diplomatic of the two countries.
"I credit Bush for just taking the high road and refusing to let this turn into a Cold War," Herspring said. "Putin will say something nasty; Bush says we still want to work together. He said in Prague that we ask the Russians to work with us -- we're not interested in another Cold War."
Herspring said he anticipates Russia becoming a superpower again in the next 15 years. During the time Putin and Bush will have spent in office together, Herspring said relations between the two nations' leaders have been strong until very recently.
"One of the reasons for that good relationship is that Bush and Putin are alike in that they both are honest and straightforward," Herspring said. "In spite of the problems we've had with Russia, the two men seem to be able to talk things through. In diplomacy, that is invaluable."