Mullen Calls For New Us-russian Military Relationship

A Russian military honor guard welcomes U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, 26 Jun 2009In a speech in Moscow Saturday, the top U.S. military officer called onRussian officers to forge a new defense relationship with the UnitedStates to help lead the world to a more stable future. Admiral MikeMullen spoke to students and teachers at Russia's Academy of theGeneral Staff.

In a crowded lecturehall, Admiral Mullen called on more than 100 mid- and senior-levelRussian officers to help move U.S.-Russian military relations to a newlevel, and he said the idea has the support of the chief of Russia'sgeneral staff.

"Instead of merely settling for a relationshipdefined by differences, we have the opportunity to forge one based onmutual respect and the realization that our joint leadership mustcontinue to be a cornerstone of security and stability for the world,"he said. "It encourages me to know that my counterpart, General of theArmy Makorov, shares my belief in the power of our presentopportunity."

Admiral Mullen's audience was mainly of colonelsand lieutenant colonels, officers chosen for the prestigious mid-careertraining course, many of whom are headed for the rank of general andsenior command posts in the coming decades.

"In this very roomsit the future military leaders who will see the way ahead," he said."Now is the time, here is the place, for the armed forces of Russia andthe United States to commit themselves to a new and betterrelationship."

The admiral said in spite of differences on someissues, the U.S. and Russian defense establishments can work togetherto fight extremism and terrorism, promote nuclear stability and combatpiracy on the high seas. Those were among the topics he discussedFriday with top Russian defense leaders, along with differences overmissile defense and the extent of the threat posed by Iran.

"Letus pledge to each other that, though we may not always see this newworld in quite the same way, we will nevertheless see our way clear todialogue and discussion and debate," said Admiral Mullen. "For fromsuch things come understanding, and from understanding comescooperation."

Admiral Mullen and his Russian counterpart willsign a new military cooperation agreement early next month, duringPresident Barack Obama's visit to Moscow. That will mark a significantturnaround from last year, when the United States froze militaryrelations with Russia after it invaded Georgia. Although differencesremain with the new U.S. administration over Russia's Georgia policy,President Obama has said he wants to "reset" U.S.-Russian relations.

Inthe Saturday speech, Admiral Mullen praised great Russian generals ofthe past, and urged the young officers to remember that the Russianwriter Leo Tolstoy called "time and patience" the "strongest of allwarriors." Then he invited their questions, but after a long period ofawkward chatter among themselves, there were none, and the sessionadjourned early.