There is certainly a lot of cans in this one, enough to keep a recycling company busy till eternity. Everything is possible, Russians however, want to know what the chosen reality is. There is talk of Obama's washington, but I think that doesn't exist yet. What we have now is Washington's Obama and a power struggle under way, to determine what can and can't be done with respect to Russia. Russia has played this game pretty straight. It knows there are huge vested interests in maintaining Russia as a perpetual 'enemy' for the US. Five hundred billions of dollars in the defence industry each year is pretty hard to justify, if we are all sitting around smoking peace pipes. Also persuading Wall street that the world should be a free market, and not one owned by them, Is also a difficult concept to sell and get them to swallow. They see the US military as a commercial tool. So what happens next is very much down to the US, and I think we all in reality know this, we are not naive, for Russia and the US to be close, would take a paradigm shift in the thinking of the 'financial few' that control the US government. Obama has a huge task to regain control of the US for the American people. To do it, he has to step on a lot of toes, of the ones eager to crown themselves global omnipotents. The struggle for Obama is clear to see, he says some things in Moscow, then the hawks quickly counter and obfiscate when he returns, and this, is in his own administration. He is at the moment a commander in speach, until he gets home to see mum and dad. He is like the juvenile learning to grow up and make his own decisions, only to have them continually overidden when he gets home. Will America pass puberty with respect to Russia, who knows, it all depends on Obama managing to gain his independence of action. He may just turn out to be a chip of the old block, an old grey man, wanting to control everything, shouting at anyone who wants to be free. and enjoy a bit of life. Don't give us cans, they often have holes, give us a hand back, for we have already outstretched ours. This is now a US issue, so continaully pontificating about the likely response, is as poinless as pacing the floor as an expectant father. What will happen will happen, regardless of what the dad does, only the Mum, doctors and baby have a say in what will happen. In this case these are all American.

This article is optimistic about what's going on. The reset is to bring back Yeltsin or total weakness. This is necessary to break up Russia and steal her resources. Population reduction would be an added bonus. If the US wanted a traditional sphere-of-influence way of handling things, there wouldn't be a need for a reset in the first place.

I am wondering what were the achievements of the Russian counterpart in this summit. In case those achievements were kept secret, I hope that this time Russians have made Americans sign something off, the NATO enlargement to the Baltic nations teaches. The reduction of nuke piles is only a tool of propaganta and nothing more than a good way to save money for the maintenance of the older arsenal. Both parties will scrap the obsolete weapons while continuing investing in research and production in the field. How America is going to balance out the Russian concessions? It looks to me that nothing changed at all and Americans have not aknowlegded any of Russian securuty issues. It's enough looking at the world map to understand that USA and Russia cannot follow the same geopolitical path: the US are surrounded and protected by oceans, and talking about sphere of influence for the USA close to its borders means only the Central American countries and Canada while Russia needs a sphere of influence in order to secure its border and guarantee its security, in the same time the Monroe Doctrine is still valid. If the US meant really to reset the relations with Russia, they would have aknowledged the difference between the two countries.

Reset for the USA administration has a totally different meaning and interpretation that that viewed by the Russian government. In so much as the summit may have brought the leaders of the USA and Russia to dialogue again and to politely state their areas of cooperation and differences. Unfortunately it seems that the USA has not surprised anyone with any new approach to USA-Russia bilateral relations. In fact they must be pleased about the outcome of this summit more so than Russia. After all they managed to achieve concessions out of the Russian government on transit flights over Russian territory for US military aircraft to Afghangnistan and concessions on the Nuclear treaty reductions without having to compromising their so called nuclear protection shield in eastern European NATO countries. Additionally none of the Russian governments concerns over NATO expansion,sphere of influence in the Caucasus and energy concerns were addressed by Obama. So unless the USA is willing to give some concessions to Russia and to recognize honestly Russian concerns, I do not see any happy outcome for future relations between the USA and Russia in the long term.

Peter, I very much enjoyed your article as it brought to mind many similar conclusions I have drawn with regards to recent US/Russia relations. Understand that my views come from a very mixed and privileged background, I have lived in The United States as well as The Russian Federation. I have a good understanding of how Americans view Russia and why. In America an average person can become President, and they do. The point is that from a very young age an American is indoctrinated by The Flag and The Pledge of Allegiance. This begins as soon as one enters Grade School. It did with me. As a British "alien" I had to hold my hand over my heart and recite The Pledge of Allegiance. It wasn't "our father which art in heaven". No. But it was a profound statement of indoctrination at a very tender age. I did not question it. I just did it. Then came History and Geography. American History and American Geography. I can still recite the names of every State in the Union, as well as their respective Capitals. As a (now) British-Canadian this has supplied me many free pints of beer to the utter bemusement of my American friends who lost the bet. The point is this. Most Americans in the present education system are spat out into the real world with a very limited knowledge "of" the World. Ask an American to name the Queen of Canada or 4 Canadian cities. You will win the beer 7 times out of 10. This is not a statement to slam Americans, no, but it is a statement to slam how they are taught about the World around them. It is very important because one of these people eventually becomes President. The result of the Media and Government propaganda is that they believe that the US is the only democracy in the World and that only the US has true freedom. As the most litigant society on Earth I would beg to differ on that issue. I was once in the town where they tried Bruno Richard Hauptmann for the kidnap of Charles Lindbergh's son. A friend of mine had forgotten to vaccinate her cat and was a hair's breath from having her driver's license revoked as a consequence. Freedom? Irrespective, the issue here is one of historical indoctrination and an inability to accept that history can be written in many different ways. I agree that it is nearly childish to admonish past indiscretions and clean the blackboard for a new lesson. One has to understand the past and history proper to have a balanced and viable viewpoint, especially as a politician on a global stage.This is especially true with regards Russia and its pivotal role in recent history and, of course, The Great Patriotic War, our WW2. I still have great reservations that the US President is properly prepped by his advisers on exactly the magnitude of the Russian sacrifice in that great struggle.Frankly I do not think it can be properly comprehended by a country that has never been bombed. I remain hopeful for the new engagements. What is essential for both sides is to not simply demonstrate understanding and respect, but to actually prove they have respect for each other. Words are not enough now, Russians are tired of words from the West. This will be the "proof of the pudding". It is no different than saying "I do" at the alter, it means absolutely nothing unless there is a true demonstration of respect with actions in the years following. Anyone can say "I do". Now say "I do" when you know the church is being surrounded by soldiers. Why are they here, what are they doing? Sorry, run it past me again, what business has The NORTH ATLANTIC Treaty Organization in Georgia? Georgia has a coastline with The Black Sea. If anyone thinks this is not a provocative action to Russia is either stupid or daydreaming. Similarly to reject Russian help with missile defense strategies is equally provocative. No. Russians deserve respect and they expect their elected representatives to be treated with equal respect on the global political stage.After all, Russia is an important member of The United Nations and the Charters to which it abides by. Is it at last happening? I hope so. It is in all our interests.

Dear Mr. Lavelle: I have become familiar with you on RT.tv and would like to express how impressed I am with you and RT.tv. I find your weekly program "In Context" extremely compelling and am entralled with your talent and intellect. Please keep up the good work.

Michael Hockney, NOT being a US citizen, I was surprised to hear your comment that the USA has not been bombed! Evidentally, you must not have heard about those "Japs" who sent bombs on strings over to the West Coast, or maybe even 9/11? I loved your comment about turning down Russia's offer of missle defense, completely laughable. I always come to RT for a good laugh. Great site!

"I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts." The story (this WW of the Ancient world) which brought into existance this phrase should be well remembered, especailly by those who would not like finding themselves in the same situation as the old Trojans.. resisting global trends from the West in their own times. If I could para-phrase I would say: "I fear the Greeks/the strong of the day most when they bring gifts."

@sierra nevada I think he meant a war situation were no one has tried to invade the US and in both cases you mention the US had prior warnings and intelligence reports telling them of an impending attack with the 9/11 story having more holes in it than Swiss cheese. What’s funny about his statement on the missile shield? Putin’s offer of hosting it in Turkey and Azerbaijan would intercept any missile coming from Iran faster than it’s location in Poland and Czech Rep. Only a fool would not realise it is not aimed at Russia and laughable to think otherwise.