Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a meeting between the heads-of-state of the two most powerful nations on Earth supposed to be reserved for issues great international import?
If I'm right, then why are presidents William Clinton and Boris Yeltsin meeting? I've heard some noise about disposal of plutonium. I've heard that Yeltsin is in need of a shot in the arm and the meeting with Clinton would provide that boost.
Be that as it may, but are we really expected to believe all that rot? This meeting is yet another diversionary tactic being engaged in by two "leaders" on the ropes and in danger of going down (sorry Monica) for the count.
There is nothing that will come out of the "summit". The name, in regards to this meeting, sticks in my throat. Summits are supposed to reserved for momentous agreements. What momentous agreements can we expect from this one? Easy - none.
The only thing that can be accomplished is that it may, and that is stretching it, allow either or both, of the participants to remain in there respective positions for the remainder of their terms. But, is that really a reason to hold a nonsummit, summit?
Yeltsin is on his last vodka-filled leg. His government is in shambles. His country's economy wishes it had it that good. There are are large segments of the Russian labor force that has gone unpaid for years.....yes, YEARS.
Calls have been coming from within Russia for Yeltsin to step down for almost two years. He's managed to stave off being removed from office, but only by the reverting to a revolving door tactic of naming and replacing key ministers in quick succession.
All the while, Russians have endured higher inflation, stagnant pay, and a falling standard of living. There are many reasons for this happening, but the most glaring is there was a missed opportunity when the Soviet empire disintegrated and Communism fell under it's own weight in Central and Eastern Europe.
Other than a few McDonald's opening near Red square, in Stalingrad (oops, St. Petersburg again), there has been precious little foreign investment into Russia. The reason for this is not hard to understand. The name of the country changed, not the mindset of the ruling elite nor the people. There are precious few willing to put capital into that fragile and unstable environment.
There have been attempts to establish a market economy were mostly a charade. What was done, essentially, was to turn over the managed of the Russian industrial sector over to the communist trained managers who had "earned their positions through communist party loyalty, not through the business acumen.
Simply calling yourself a "free-market economy", while maintaining the structure of the command economy that held sway for more than 70 years does nothing. And what we've seen in Russia has been less than nothing. It's sad for this free-market, capitalist to admit, but I think Russians were probably better off under the Communist rulers than they are today. At least they were competent at what they were trying to do, - subjugating an entire population.
Yeltsin is in the position he's in because he isn't capable of moving his countrymen to a free market system, and never was. His heyday passed after the communist led rebels were put down when they tried to over throw Gorbachev in 1991.
No, Boris needs Bill there so he can look like an effective leader to those within his country, and without. To appear "presidential".
This might have been a good idea if it was anyone else coming to the confab, but his guest has problems of his own - big ones. President Clinton is coming with nothing more to offer than a photo-op.
He wants every one to see two world leaders, having a meeting of the minds and resolving deep, and continuing problems. What we are getting is yet another diversionary tactic intended to take the Russian people's mind of their problems and the American peoples mind off of Bill's
So Bill, Boris. Have a good time, Tip a few Stoley's. Tell a few jokes. But when you're through, remember. The history you both are making is one of missed opportunities and broken promises, so enjoy yourselves while it lasts.
