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Rice Says Russia Has Taken a 'Dark Turn'

by Dave Keating | September 19, 2008 at 03:25 am

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US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has dramatically ramped up the rhetoric condeming Russia, saying the country has taken a "dark turn." The new harsh words come at the same time that the Bush administration has cancelled a nuclear deal wth the country.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stepped up U.S. criticism of Russia yesterday, saying its military action against neighboring Georgia last month failed to achieve Moscow's objectives and has put Russia on a path to "self-imposed isolation and international irrelevance."

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Rice Says Russia Has Taken a 'Dark Turn'

For Georgians, a Much-Needed Break

In a speech, Rice said the United States and Europe must stand up to what she described as Russia's bullying behavior, and she railed against "anachronistic Russian displays of military power" in Latin America. She referred to the arrival of two Russian strategic bombers in Venezuela last week for training flights at the invitation of Venezuela's anti-American president, Hugo Chávez.

But Rice said the United States will not let differences with Russia's government "obstruct a deepening relationship between the American and Russian people" and will continue to "support all Russians who want a future of liberty."