US threatens Russia over Iraq veto

Russia could suffer serious economic and geopolitical consequences if it vetoes a UN resolution authorising war against Iraq, the US ambassador to Moscow warned in a newspaper interview published on Wednesday.

Alexander Vershbow told the Izvestia daily that Moscow could put at risk planned cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector, that would include massive US investment in the Russian oil industry.

He also signalled that Russia's strategic partnership with the United States forged since the September 11, 2001 attacks, as well as cooperation in anti-missile defence could be placed in doubt.

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[Mike]

I really don't think we need to start threatening Russia now. Haven't we put enough pressure on Turkey, North Korea, Iraq, etc?

[JacobM5727]

america is such a bully, leave poor little russia alone

[skuz]

Just what is this veto story Russia and France have ?

[couch potato]

the worst thing is to piss russia off....then bush will have a handfull

[PSU2Fan]

Ya know I really think Bush thinks he and his administration are doing the right thing. But they are WAY too brash, especially with international relations. I'm fearing he's going to put up too many walls and create too many rifts between ourselves and other nations.

[Chuckiechan]

Russia has a GNP of somewhere equal to Belgium. France wants to ally with Russia to act as a strategic counterweight to the USA. Russia is dancing with the devil and we are diplomatically telling them that. I really don't think Putin wants another go-around on the wrong side of the USA again. The other "interests" in Russia only want to keep the heroin trade routes open through France to the rest of Europe. Russia doesn’t want to count on the French to help them develop their natural resources if they are at odds with the USA. Who’s going to loan the money?