by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright May 8, 2005
All Rights Reserved.

ommemorating the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, President George W. Bush gave Russian President Vladimir V. Putin the back of his hand, expressing regrets about the Yalta agreement that gave Russia control of central and eastern Europe in 1945. Signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Soviet Chairman Joseph Stalin and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the Yalta pact sought to give Russia security after sacrificing 27 million citizens to defeat Hitler's Third Reich. Even U.S. history books give Russian some credit for ending Nazi aggression. Calling the Soviet Union “one of the greatest wrongs in history,” Bush compared Yalta to the Treaty of Munich signed by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, Italian leader Benito Mussolini and French Premier Edouard Deladier, appeasing Hitler, allowing him to invade the Czechoslovakia.

      Speaking in Riga, Latvia, Bush fired up lingering outrage against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It's difficult finding common ground and commemorating a solemn occasion like defeating Hitler when simultaneously criticizing Soviet oppression. “Yet this attempt to sacrifice freedom for the sake of stability left and continent divided and unstable,” said Bush, making friends in the Baltics at the expense of Moscow. Knowing Russia's sacrifice in WW II, it makes no sense condemning Moscow during times of solemn observance. Bush's mission of global democratization isn't helped by showing insensitivity and condemning today's friends and allies. “The captivity of millions in central and eastern Europe will be remembered as the one of the greatest wrongs in history,” said Bush, fingering the Soviets, not the Nazis, at a time of reflection and giving thanks.

      Bush has many critics in Europe, especially over the Iraq war. Playing the Baltics against Moscow fuels old rivalries and festers old wounds. Surely Bush knows how the Baltic states collaborated with Hitler during WW II. Unspeakable war crimes and atrocities took place in the Baltics during Hitler's reign of terror. Given the Baltics participation in the Nazi war machine, it made perfect sense for Russia to take charge after the war. After all, the U.S. still stages 70,000 troop in Germany. Lithuania and Estonian leaders plan to boycott Russia's 60-year commemoration in Red Square. Calling the Soviet annexation of Latvia akin to slavery, Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga accused Putin of lying that the Soviets were invited into the Baltic states. It's easy to forget and ignore the degree of Nazi sympathizing and collaboration during World War II.

      Building strong international alliances involves showing sensitivity to Russia's 27-million casualties in WW II. While the U.S. lost 405,000, Russia's sacrifice was staggering to bring an end to Nazi tyranny. Bush took liberty to criticize Putin's record on civil liberties, citing reversals in Russia's democratic reforms. Bush forgets that Putin contends with growing ethnic strife leading to continuous erosion in the Russian Federation. “In the long run, it is the strength of Russian democracy that will determine the greatness of Russia,” said Bush, forgetting the brutal history that left Russia in a defensive posture. “We do not consider ourselves to encircled. We considered ourselves blessed,” referring to U.S.-Canadian and Mexican relations. While the U.S. has fought over territory with Mexico and feuded with Canada, there's no comparison with Russia and its neighbors.

      Putting on a happy face in public can't deny the tensions that exist between Russia and the U.S. With Russia selling arms to Syria, who, in turn, supply insurgents in Iraq and elsewhere, Bush knows that Putin can either be a hindrance to peace or a strategic ally. Lambasting Putin for reversing democratic reforms or, for that matter, dominating Eastern Europe doesn't create the conciliatory mood needed to enlist Putin's support in the Middle East or in the war on terror. “Four years ago, your presidential election was decided by the court. The judicial system brought into it,” Putin told Mike Wallace on “Sixty Minutes.” “But we're not going to poke our noses into your democratic system because that's up to the American people,” said Putin, rebuffing Bush's public criticism. Before Bush publicly criticizes Putin, he should take a closer look at his own foreign policy.

      Photo-ops and back-slapping won't repair counterproductive rhetoric on the eve of commemorating the end of Nazism in Europe. Pandering to the Baltic states rubs salt in old wounds when it's time to show gratitude to Russia's unimaginable sacrifice in WW II. No one doubts that the Baltics suffered under Soviet rule but they also collaborated and committed atrocities with Germany. One the eve Russia's big celebration ending the Third Reich, Putin has no apology for the Baltics or anyone else. He pays respect to the 27-million Russians who collectively fought Hitler and liberated Europe in WW II. It's easy criticizing the Yalta agreement today, without considering the horrendous price paid by Russia to end Hitler's reign of terror. Instead slinging arrows, Bush should find ways to praise Russia for helping end the world's darkest days. No one should forget Russia's sacrifice.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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