bendog
Diamond Member
The Shove Heard Round the World
By last week, when Markovic flew to a Washington eager to make amends, he was being greeted at the White House by Vice President Mike Pence, signing the official NATO documents at the State Department, and celebrating at a gala dinner at Wilson’s Atlantic Council. But as soon as the membership became official last Monday, Russia issued a threatening statement, complaining of Montenegro’s “hostile course,” blaming “anti-Russia hysteria” inside the country and warning of unspecified “retaliatory measures.”
Was he worried, I asked the prime minister?
“This sort of behavior from Russia is not something that is democratic,” he responded. “This is not something that is in line with civilizational standards, with political standards. They are not supposed to hamper us on our path. We are supposed to be able to choose our own destiny.”
But, I asked, could he really count on NATO and President Trump to defend him if the Russians took action on their threats?
“The United States hasn’t changed its position in terms of NATO,” Markovic said.
The guarantor he cited was not the president, but the vice president."
By last week, when Markovic flew to a Washington eager to make amends, he was being greeted at the White House by Vice President Mike Pence, signing the official NATO documents at the State Department, and celebrating at a gala dinner at Wilson’s Atlantic Council. But as soon as the membership became official last Monday, Russia issued a threatening statement, complaining of Montenegro’s “hostile course,” blaming “anti-Russia hysteria” inside the country and warning of unspecified “retaliatory measures.”
Was he worried, I asked the prime minister?
“This sort of behavior from Russia is not something that is democratic,” he responded. “This is not something that is in line with civilizational standards, with political standards. They are not supposed to hamper us on our path. We are supposed to be able to choose our own destiny.”
But, I asked, could he really count on NATO and President Trump to defend him if the Russians took action on their threats?
“The United States hasn’t changed its position in terms of NATO,” Markovic said.
The guarantor he cited was not the president, but the vice president."