Which button are we hitting now?
By Christian Brose For everyone wondering where the U.S. government keeps the "reset button" that Vice President Biden tells us we will be hitting on our relationship with Russia, it has now been located. In fact, Secretary Clinton, in Geneva today, presented a "reset button" as a gift to Foreign Minister Lavrov. This presents a few interpretive problems. ...
By Christian Brose
By Christian Brose
For everyone wondering where the U.S. government keeps the "reset button" that Vice President Biden tells us we will be hitting on our relationship with Russia, it has now been located. In fact, Secretary Clinton, in Geneva today, presented a "reset button" as a gift to Foreign Minister Lavrov. This presents a few interpretive problems. Had Clinton already hit the reset button prior to giving it to Lavrov? Is it Russia that is now supposed to hit the reset button on its relationship with the United States (a more fitting though far-fetched metaphor)? When hitting said reset button, will Russia use an open hand or a clenched fist? These are serious questions, and Americans want answers.
Well, the plot thickens. Turns out, the Russian word inscribed on the button didn’t translate to "reset." As Lavrov pointed out, Clinton had given him an "overcharge" button. Something tells me that’s a button Moscow won’t be hitting anytime soon, even if the Obama administration tries to pay for better Russian behavior by selling off NATO missile defense or bargaining away the peace of mind of our eastern European allies. In fact, Clinton may want to take back that overcharge button. She may need it soon.
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