The Standard

Week In Review

Russia Begins to Nationalize, France May Re-Join NATO

****Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced legislation in the Russian parliament that would nationalize key sectors of the Russian economy. The atmosphere within the Kremlin suggests this is only the beginning.

****French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Russian President Putin met at a bi-lateral conference in Moscow to discuss the Iran nuclear issue, among other Russia-West disputes. The leaders' public remarks about closer ties were well-measured and largely inconsequential.

****France submitted paperwork at NATO political headquarters that proposed ways for EU foreign policy makers and NATO officials to work more closely. The proposals are seen as an indication of French intent to re-join the alliance.

****Foreign Ministers from Norway, Sweden, and Finland met with NATO military officials in Bodø to discuss the increasing number of Russian bomber flights over the Norwegian Sea.

Ministers, NATO Mull Over Russian Bombers

NATO Officials Meet Foreign Ministers in Bodø

Foreign Ministers from Sweden, Finland and Norway met this week in Bodø to discuss the increased number of Russian bomber patrols over Scandinavia.

The discussions included high-ranking NATO officials.

Norway has dispatched fighter jets to intercept Russian bombers flying near Norwegian airspace 29 times this year.

On Thursday, the Norweigan newspaper Aftenposten carried a photograph of a Russian Tupolev 22 bomber jet with a missile attached to its underbelly.

The bomber reached 12 nautical miles off of Bodø before turning away.

It did not enter Norwegian airspace and Norwegian military officials have stressed it is not a serious provocation.

Russian Aggression

Russia's military and diplomatic moves have grown increasingly aggressive over the last several months.

In July, President Putin announced Russia would suspend its participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, a major Cold War arms treaty that places a limit on the amount of heavy weaponry deployable between Eastern Europe and the Ural Mountains.

Last month Russia tested the largest non-nuclear explosive device in history.

In events unrelated to the Bodø incidents, Finland and Estonia have been seeking three-way talks to discuss repeated breaches of Estonian airspace by Russian planes.

Russia has denied its planes violated Estonian airspace.

Week In Review: International

*** Labor Day made it a short week in the US, where economic data continued to suggest the economy was moving toward recession.

*** Sources out of Washington told the Financial Times that the Chinese PLA were very likely to have hacked Pentagon computers, but cyber-spying on the information infrastructure of the US Department of Defense doesn't elicit much of a response from the White House these days.

Perhaps it was busy planning its upcoming war with Iran?

Barnett Rubin thinks so.

*** Across the Atlantic, Russian officials threw a public hissy fit when the EU mentioned the prospect of legislation that would prevent Russian state-controlled corporations from taking over European energy companies.

Later in the week, Russia sent eight bombers up above the Barents sea, apparently just to see if the UK and Norway would pay attention to them. They did, but EU leaders seem a little hush-hush about the group rendez-vous up in the skies.

*** And where would our week have been if we hadn't caught Vladimir Putin shirtless, strolling by an evergreen shielded stream in his crucifix and military fatigues?

Mr. Brown? Ms. Merkel? We're waiting...

UK and Norweigan Fighters 'Chase' Russian Bombers

Brinksmanship in the Far North

In yet another incident above the Barents Sea, Norweigan and British fighter jets were scrambled as long-range Russian bombers flew into international skies patroled by NATO.

The last several months have seen aggressive moves by the Russian military and government, including the withdraw from a major Cold War arms treaty and a missile attack on Georgia.

No prominent US or European leader has addressed Russia's move with more than a shrug or 'regret'.

On the contrary, you may remember how George W. Bush invited President Putin for a weekend of fishing in Kennebunkport shortly after the Russian president threatened to target European captials with nuclear warheads.

The silence of European and American leaders in the face of recent Russian brinksmanship grows more and more irresponsible as the incidents continue and there is little doubt that it is perceived as cowardice by the Kremlin.