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Rebecca Heinrichs on the anti-American messages in Russia and what they mean for the US
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Return to Rebecca heinrichs from The Heritage Foundation she's in Washington DC.
And she's written recently about Russia and the new Russia and while the United States and the Obama administration has had an approach of trying to restart relations with Russia.
In fact Russia is turning in the other direction and -- is getting set.
Getting set to resume being -- the old Soviet empire.
Under the new president who in the background -- about Russia what do you think they're up to him why are they sending ships to Syria why are they sending.
Ships and have they Arctic region and whether they have to.
We'll Russia specifically underpinning.
Desires how are they desire to be a super power and they see power.
As a struggle between themselves and the United States so at every turn.
Russia has tried to undermine what United States is doing in the Middle East and and Eastern Europe.
With so do you think the Russians still view of the world banner of the good old days of the Cold War and want to revive that Russian US competition.
Certainly seems so I had the election leading up to -- couldn't just.
Was our reelected -- the presidency.
He's a lot of rhetoric that Harken back the old imperialism nationalistic sentiment that still resonates with the Russian people.
And he's kind of stoked a new paranoia anti Americanism that's very -- it.
Within Russia and so he has combined that domestically with this very forceful.
On foreign policy in which she is opposing an undermining US influence my Gillick -- -- in serious specifically and and Iran.
What -- think that's there's some opportunity there sometimes the best.
Foreign policy and diplomacy is made with countries -- you look at as your adversaries is -- any -- have the Obama administration lets you think there was one.
We're the United States could go to -- and -- survey.
We can work together over Syria we could work to gather over the growing rising.
Potentially military threat of China is there.
Is there any room for -- very very do you think that couldn't really is going in the direction avenue called war.
Well this is this is a troublesome.
Problem.
-- Obama has pursued this reset with Russia he has.
Again and again tried to offer diplomatic overtures towards Russia and Russia's frankly just turned them down and embarrass the United States at every turn.
It would it seems almost like Russia is living in a parallel world with the United States there's a lot of things that they simply just don't see the way we do.
We see Iran as posing a threat to Europe as well as the United States into Russia in the long run Russia does not see it that way which is why -- Couldn't has opposed the United States working with NATO to build a missile defense system in Europe they don't think that it's necessary because they don't see it as a threat.
So and it it is difficulty to cooperate and negotiate with with with a country where you see there common interest for they simply just disagree.
What if -- Russian economy I was out met with big Russian.
Treasury minister.
A couple of months ago and I must say -- sounded like the newest capitalists on the block he said Russia's balance its books it doesn't do deficit spending.
Russia's looking for western investment for -- in its energy sector.
It looks to want to expand from just being a resource exporter exporting oil and natural gas and wants to build up.
You know heavy industry it do you think that Russia's going in that direction.
Unfortunately I don't although I see that there be a wonderful opportunity for the United States and Russia to find commonalities.
And especially in the marketplace the problem is that domestically.
Russia doesn't have set rules that some investors can depend on.
It's run more like a mafia Kati and so I think investors are a little bit unsure about investing in in the Russian market.
And -- until until.
Russia can -- it can sort out its domestic problems especially in that regard and I think that there's going to be some hesitancy on the part of international investors.
After Russia on a -- in connection.
-- It's probably one of the biggest problems -- and regards the United States national security.
Russia again has used the Iran US problem.
To push back on US interests in the region and to show that Russia still has.
Influence -- so.
You know Russia cooperate facilitates allows emboldens for Iran to continue its nuclear weapons program.
And if it wasn't for Russia Iran wouldn't be as far as it is in the Bushehr nuclear facility.
And -- Contends that the dual purpose parts those are parts that can be used for a variety of things civilian purposes as well as.
Military purposes continue to be shipped to Iran from Russia they say that the Russian government doesn't have anything to do with it.
-- of course not true.
The Russian government knows what's coming in and out -- country.
But that Russia continues to allow Russian and cities to embolden and perpetuate the Iranian nuclear program I'm in the face of international opposition.
Okay what if -- from the United States from Danny about frustrations proposed reducing the US nuclear stockpile.
-- you've argued that the Russians are in fact building up their nuclear stockpile.
What's your sense of this.
Americans often.
Fall victim not the problem of assuming that the rest of the world thinks the way we do.
And it's particularly dangerous in regards nuclear weapons.
An American president doesn't -- -- nuclear weapon and so we would like to patent many on -- individuals and in the policy world.
Want to get rid of nuclear weapons on the planet thinking about -- -- and so since the only nuclear weapons an American president can really control our own.
This president has pursued an agenda of getting rid of US nuclear weapons either by allowing them to -- your feet.
Failing to modernize -- or in fact getting rid of them out right meanwhile the Russian government understands and nuclear weapons are the backbone of its foreign policy.
So they are modernizing their nuclear weapons they're building new ones Kati and their building -- deeply.
Buried facilities in which to store.
-- the the parts of the military that allow their nuclear arsenal to offer incredible.
The -- the United States and our allies in fact.
Russia since 2007 has actually threaten to use nuclear weapons fifteen times some against American.
Military facilities.
-- -- question Rebecca I know that you know that the deal about this show is that people write in their questions and that I get to ask the questions of you the experts.
So this -- you never know what's coming.
I -- -- has a question.
About Iran being up appointed to the UN arms panel.
If the president goes along with any -- UN ban treaty ban.
On US and worldwide arms sales whereas Russia at all -- Good question and you know every time the United States.
Attempts to limit arms.
You know a lot times -- can only do -- bilaterally.
But then their their countries that are truly the problems.
-- Russia and China a lot of ways.
I don't buy into this and so the United States and that tying our own hands.
And then allowing these other countries that.
That -- the real problems to allow.
You know on constraint.
Okay well that's Rebecca -- -- just turner question out completely I feel that she handled brilliantly.
So thank you very much -- -- and The Heritage Foundation we're gonna take.
