The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

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While the current approach to political relations with Russia at Cabo San Lucas as described by American Ambassador Michael McFaul is appropriately "businesslike," and cordial; it is important to observe, or re – discover one overall issue that presents itself with any assertive if not aggressive Russian regime at this point.  There is a huge overhang in Russian society to date of the “class of 1937,” as this legacy, political, administrative, cultural and scientific does determine and visibly affect the modern polity of the Russian Federation in many ways, internal and external (see article from “The Economist” magazine,) especially with respect to the utility of and gainful aims of a now  understated leftist / authoritarian Russian regime at this point.  In typical fashion, and without regard to the seriousness of it, the Russian regime itself has gratuitously accepted and begun to abuse its status as a WTO (nothing to do with Warsaw, for example,) member at this time.  One might find numerous examples of late of the Russian Federation “scoring” in international trade as the result of its newly – won trade status, hardly a reason or reasons to have others take notice of this harmonious trade organization.  The article from “The Economist” also suggests Russian candidacy for the O.E.C.D., and this seems likely only in the event there are many again Russian sympathisers within that Western cooperation and development organization at this point as well.  There have indeed been for years, and as such a consideration as far as Russia is concerned only calls for further confusion about global economic issues and the emphasis in Eastern Europe on “heavy” industrial economics and its supposedly enticing appetite for financial windfalls and profiteering (even in the distant past under the soviets.)  The magazine article cited here also appropriately calls for a stoppage of the arms business going on with Syria in view of the war there, something the Russians have been notorious over their relations with the Middle East for years starting in the 1960’s – and no one is likely to bully them out of it anytime soon. 

That all of this should add up to more cessions to the Russian Federation does not really add up at all, despite the efforts of some to balance the arguments and discussion about what needs to happen with Russia and trade, politics, human rights  and so on.  Human rights remains an opaque and unresolved issue in that country and a subject of hot contention and debate among commentators everywhere people are allowed to have free discussion; including in places like Seattle, the source of the Jackson – Vanik legislation from years ago that in its own understated way maintains linkage between civil, political, civic, human, administrative and other freedoms in Russia with its international status and recognition by the great powers.  The questions about ushering in a new foreign policy on Russia (in repealing by the one, Jackson – Vanik and other measures) and allowing it to continue its leviathan centrist ways along Hegelian lines, essentially without respect from its  administration as to its own internal debates, even as they are proposed in places like Cabo do indicate a kind of economic ‘playing with fire’ the great powers are doing at present in view of the overall inadmissible tone of that federation’s leadership at this point.  This is indeed observable in the meetings between heads of state at the latest G20, especially in what concerns its puffing itself up economically and its adversarial posture to even its near neighbors in Eastern Europe, not to mention its supposed overseas trading and administrative partners including now the U.S., U.K., France and others.

See also, "New York Times" article.