Tough times help Russia, U.S. be friends

There is nothing like hard times to help people understand the importance of transcending differences in pursuit of a common prosperity. 

An article in the Financial Times Wednesday describes how, in comparison with last year, a more "pragmatic" approach to bilateral relations has taken hold on both sides of the Bering Strait. Last year there was U.S. and EU criticism of over Russia's military action in Georgia. Russia was voicing strong objections to a U.S. plan to place anti-missile defense installations near its borders. 

Now, both sides are taking a calmer approach, based on an understanding that the Russia and the U.S. need each other. 

This blog's position is that a fixed transportation link between the two countries at the Bering Strait would go a long way toward stablizing bilateral relations. Linking Chicago to Yakuhtsk and Moscow to New York would provide the infrastructure needed for the two countries to vastly increase their volume of bilateral trade. 

Let's not have good relations just during hard times. Let's have them all the time.