Wikileaks Email claims Biden offered Medvedev 2nd Term as Russia's President

This should be investigated. Can you offer something which you don't control?


Re: INSIGHT -RUSSIA/US - Biden visit, the tandem & foreign policy


They did, but they genuinly believe that they have Medvedev in their
pocket and that there is a break in the Kremlin.

On 3/7/11 9:08 PM, scott stewart wrote:

Like they never heard of using the good cop/bad cop approach.....

That is incredible, Marko. Blows my mind that it never occurred to them.
The Russians love that.

On 3/7/11 1:31 PM, Marko Papic wrote:

It is difficult to explain. But it is as if each of the European
countries thinks there is room to negotiate with Medvedev, and none with
Putin. This is about dealing with a Russia who can at least talk.

Yeah, the Secretary General NATO for Strategic Planning -- a German --
laid out this dynamic. He said that Berlin was hopeful that Medvedev
"wins out". I told him that our assessment is that the tension between
Putin and Medvedev is to an extent "manufactured". He looked at me like
"holy shite, we did not think of that" sort of way.

This was also echoed by the German Ambassador to the U.S. when I met him
in Austin.

On 3/7/11 7:40 PM, Michael Wilson wrote:



CODE: RU185
PUBLICATION: yes
ATTRIBUTION: STRATFOR sources in Moscow
SOURCE DESCRIPTION: Kremlin linked Russian Foreign Policy thinktanker
SOURCE RELIABILITY: C
ITEM CREDIBILITY: 3
DISTRIBUTION: Analysts
HANDLER: Lauren



Biden has an offer for the tandem. Biden is set on Medvedev remaining
president. Obama gets along with him personally and is not intimidated
by him. There is a real issue when Obama and Putin are together in that
Obama does not act like the US President. It is a personality thing,
which is important to both sides.



On the other hand, the US is interested in Medvedev remaining president
also because it shifts the dynamics of the personalities in other
regions as well. Other leaders react very differently to Medvedev versus
Putin. Putin has close personal relationships with Merkel, Sarkozy,
Berlusconi and even Tusk. Each of these countries fall into line with
Moscow and are more hesitant with Washington if Putin has laid down
edicts. They do not really do this with Medvedev as strongly. It is
difficult to explain. But it is as if each of the European countries
thinks there is room to negotiate with Medvedev, and none with Putin.
This is about dealing with a Russia who can at least talk.



On the other hand, the US does like Putin's policy on China, versus
Medvedev's. Medvedev takes a soft line on China, giving Beijing room to
leverage its relationship with Moscow against Washington. Putin takes a
very hard line against China, believing it to be a great concern for a
future hostile relationship. Having the latter would benefit the US in
the long run, so Washington and Moscow can collaborate on how to shift
global pressure and perception of China.



So Biden is traveling with "an offer". Medvedev will have a 2nd term as
president and Putin will be offered a prestigious international position
related to either the UNSC or NATO. The latter would be a newly created
position-and that is all the details we have thus far on it.


LINK
Of course the US doesn't want anyone to know that it is trying to mold
the Russian elections. So that is why McFaul has been tripping all over
himself this weekend to ensure that it is know the US does not have the
power to do so.



--

Lauren Goodrich
Senior Eurasia Analyst
STRATFOR