Biden: It's Time To Hit The "Reset" Button On Diplomacy

[babylonsister]

WRAPUP 1-Biden vows break with Bush era foreign policy

Ross Colvin and Noah Barkin
Reuters North American News Service

Feb 07, 2009 11:08 EST


MUNICH, Germany, Feb 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden promised a sharp break from the go-it-alone policies of the Bush era in a major speech on Saturday, saying it was time to "reset" Washington's ties with Russia and talk to Iran.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, an annual gathering of leaders and defence experts, Biden said the new U.S. administration of President Barack Obama was determined to "set a new tone" in Washington and with its allies.

In the wide-ranging 25-minute address, Biden focused on relations with Moscow, badly strained by Russia's brief war last year with Georgia and U.S. plans to put a missile shield in central Europe.

"The last few years have seen a dangerous drift in relations between Russia and the members of our Alliance," Biden said in the first major foreign policy speech by the new administration.

"It's time, to paraphrase President Obama, to press the reset button and to revisit the many areas where we can and should work together," he said.

more...

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2009/02/wrapup_1-biden_vows_break_with_bush_era_foreign_po.php

[NYC_SKP]

1. Right on, Joe,

Right on!

[AtomicKitten]

2. K&R - Great stuff. n/t

[Jennicut]

3. Diplomacy is back.

We have adults representing the U.S. again.

[Muttocracy]

4. K&R

[Hippo_Tron]

5. Restoring relations with Russia is a no brainer

Sure Putin isn't a shining example of a democratic leader but we're allied with lots of people that aren't. The Bush administration's obsession with antagonizing Russia was due to the irrational feelings of his foreign policy team who can't accept that the cold war is over.

Russia is a natural strategic partner for the United States and will be vital in dealing with the Middle East and East Asia.