Considering the already strained relations due to the ICBM and the missile defense plans, the recent acusations of Russian firms selling war equipment to the Iraqi government, and the most recent (I read it in today’s paper) accusation of the Russians allowing Saddam to take refuge in the Russian embassy in Baghdad (I don’t know how serious this accusation was, only that the Russians denied it strongly), are we looking at another resurgence of cold war-like tensions?
Nah. We both know where the other guy stands. We may not like the Russian stance, but its based in open and honest self-interest. One can deal with that. They don’t pretend to any particular holiness or virtue, they just want to survive. And I appreciate that view, even if I don’t share it.
Russia is nowhere near as strong as the Soviet Union was (IIRC they are not even close to being the second runner up in “superpower status” - although I could be wrong on the second but they don’t have the ability to compete with the US anytime soon). Any attempt to follow those footsteps would crumble the weak economy they have today. And everyone knows it, none more than themselves.
ISTM that Russia and the US has too much of a vested interest to remain as friendly as possible. Russia requires the foreign investment to get out of the proverbial gutter, and the US requires a stable and “transparent”, western leaning Russia to keep the powers and stability in check.
Any disagreements they have can and will be worked out because of the bigger fish both have invested and in common.