Where is he headed? Can we count on his support?

The United States and the West have reached a critical juncture in their decision making in dealing with various global problems. The current issue with North Korea is directly related to Iran as the broader concern is nuclear proliferation and both Iran and North Korea are aspiring nuclear powers. It appears that North Korea got there first, but it is unknown how far Iran is behind North Korea. Both North Korea and Iran can be stopped from becoming nuclear powers. There is a soft approach and a much harsher method.

The US and the EU have decided to approach both of these separate but related issue by seeking a consensus of opinion with Russia, and Russia has interests with North Korea and Iran. Logic would assume that Russia would object to having another nuclear power in its neighborhood, but in reality they talk one game and practice another. Russia has made the determination that both Iran and North Korea cause more concern and problems for the US than they do Russia, and to the Russians that is a good thing. It is time for the US and the EU to understand where Putin is taking Russia. It is not in a direction that will be helpful to the EU and even less so for the US. North Korea will be a test. If Russia is not helpful, it is time to face reality and make plans to treat Russia as a state that will be opposed to US interests, not quite a cold war, but certainly close to it.

Germany got a little taste of this reality with a recent visit to Russia by the German Chancellor.

Deutsche Welle reports:

Germany | 16.01.2006
Putin Cagey on Iran Issue After Discussions With Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Moscow hoping for a firm offer of support from President Vladimir Putin on the subject of Iran. She left Monday wondering what stance, if any, Russia would take.

Angela Merkel arrived on her first visit to Russia since becoming German chancellor Monday hoping to use the "strategic partnership" between the two countries to persuade President Vladimir Putin to join the European Union and the United States in pressuring Iran.

While other topics such as energy collaborations and human rights were breached, the most pressing subject of Merkel's three-hour discussions with Putin was the escalating Iranian nuclear crisis. Emerging from the talks, the Russian president gave little away about what action his country would be supporting.

"As for Russia, and Germany, and our European partners and the United States -- we have very close positions on the Iranian problem," President Putin said at the joint press conference after the talks.

But he warned against taking "abrupt" steps over Iran's nuclear ambitions and said Tehran had not ruled out a Russian proposal to enrich uranium for Iran on Russian territory.

Not very encouraging.