Польза от изучения языков неожиданно открылась в сирийском вопросе.

Эх, не могу удержаться, напишу. Изучила я оба обращения президентов к американскому народу. И вот надо было, видимо, переехать в Канаду чтобы начать испытывать большее уважение к Путину :)  Все таки полезно знать хотя бы один дополнительный язык, а также расширять географию поездок дальше чем пару all-inclusive курортов за жизнь, это помогает смотреть на картину немножко более независимо. Эх, как бы ещё выучить испанский и китайский... Ведь тогда, может быть, можно будет понять как устроен этот мир :) Мечты, мечты... Позабавило, что многие американские комментаторы апеллируют к КГБ-шному прошлому Путина, намекая на то, что такому человеку доверять нельзя. Видимо, больше апеллировать не к чему, раз из рукавов вытаскиваются такие аргументы.

Составлю свой топ комментариев американских граждан на обращение Путина в NYT.



1 место за разумность поделили два комментария:

"
Jordan
Long Island

International diplomacy is certainly preferable to military intervention. I applaud President Putin for bringing the conversation to a higher level. Additionally, the proposed solution is far more likely to yield real results that any limited military strike would. If the real objective in this situation is Chemical Weapon Stockpiles, then certainly it is more sensible to dismantle and destroy the stockpiles under the scrutiny of organized international verification, then to vainly attempt to deter and degrade the Syrian Government's military capability with the vague hope that "they won't do it again."

Again, Bravo President Putin."

George
San Jose, CA
"Mr Putin makes many points, some I disagree, some I agree. But all are perfectly valid concerns. I commend Mr Putin for contributing to the discussion.

Mr Putin's main concern is the issue of who's responsible for the recent chemical attack. Mr Obama admits the issue remains in dispute, but believes there is substantial evidence the Syrian government is responsible. Mr Putin believes it may in fact be the Rebels who are responsible. It would be hard to disagree that this is the key issue and deserves full "due process" resolution.

US constitutional law might offer some help here. It requires in a dispute such as this, where a crime may have been committed, for the accuser (Mr Obama in this case) to provide all evidence pertinent to the crime be made available to the accused (Mr Assad, presumably in this case represented by Mr Putin). "All evidence" , meaning that which supports the accuser's claims, and also that which supports the accused claims -- the so-called exculpatory evidence. Mr Obama should immediately provide this evidence to Mr Putin.

US law rules of evidence also require that testimony or claims be of first person origin. No third person testimony -- so-called "hearsay" evidence -- is allowed. Mr Obama should comply, and offer evidence only which can be supported by first person testimony. With names attached.

1 место за четко подмеченные особенности американцев.

Sarah
Arlington, VA
Finally a powerful foreign leader has the guts to point out the hubris of a country that constantly not only calls itself 'exceptional', but is populated by a majority never having set foot in another country in their life considering it 'the greatest country in the world'.

Except for the statement of Mr. Putin still blaming the so-called rebels for the chemical attack on Syrian civilians, his op-ed reveals a deep understanding of the decades old conflicts in the middle east, and the fact that those very conflicts can not and never will be resolved by brute force from afar.

Только 18% американцев знают что-то кроме английского, и 64% американцев никогда не были заграницей. К тому есть свои системные причины. В США в среднем 12 дней отпуска в году и стоимость перелетов большинству населения недоступна. Стандарты образования снижаются. Если возникнет желание погнобить американцев, то не стоит, в РФ примерно тоже самое, только причины свои. 43% россиян не владеют иностранным языком хотя бы на минимальном уровне, 70% россиян никогда не были заграницей. Как же похожи две "исключительные" страны мира. Разный только вектор. В РФ ситуация потихоньку улучшается, а в США ухудшается.

1 место за маразматичность. Особенно доставил удовольствие аргумент "Everyone knows", что в переводе на русский "одна баба сказала":

dc
miami
"I am amazed that this op-ed would be generating such positive responses. How dare the leader of Russia, who's human rights record leaves much to be desired, have the nerve to lecture the United States and the American people about moral standards. Under Putin's leadership, civil liberties and the right to voice opposition to the government are the worst since Russia became a democracy. This is who everyone is praising? I don't really see what difference it makes who launched the attack. Everyone knows it was the Syrian government, but isn't getting rid of the weapons more important than who launched them? Anyone wondering why Russia is against military action? Perhaps to protect their own interests. Let's get some responses here from people more educated on the topic.

Мнение американской бабули:
Chris McMorrow
Waltham, Mass.
"I wish I could feel that Mr. Putin was being sincere here. If nothing else, he has a fabulous writer.

But at my age, having grown up during the Cold War and witnessed all sorts of tricks, lies, distortions, and manipulations by the old Soviet Regime, I just have some doubts. As an ex-KBG agent, Mr. Putin may not be my age, but he was trained in the old Soviet culture.

I think the main thing that really strikes me here is how myopic the US can be to its image around the world. We pay lip service to the idea that certain actions will "surely win us more enmity around the world," but we usually go on our merry way trying to get our way.

So, the benefit of Mr. Putin's assessment here--even if contrived, manipulative, and written to lecture this country, in and of itself a pretty arrogant act--is how based in realpolitik it is.

But--and this is a very big but--I'm not sure that Russia is in any position to lecture anyone right now, given its long history of isolationism, paranoia, and curbs on basic freedoms inside its borders.

I think it will be interesting for all of us to save this article, and our posts, and see how they stack up against events as they unfold over the next 6 months. We will either be pleasantly surprised, or just surprised as how gullible we really were."

А вот парочке американцев обидно, что их назвали равными с остальным миром.

Dylan Morrissey
CA
While not all of Putin's reasoning is null, the abhorrent hypocrisy of several of his statements completely destroy any of the validity of his attempt at appealing to the American people.

I do not believe that the limited military strikes that have been called for are the right course of action for the US to take (the situation in Syria is much too complicated for that simplicity), yet in criticizing Obama, Putin completely disregards the fact that his actions have done nothing better to uphold the integrity of the UN as a body to uphold international peace and security. Whether Putin wants to admit it or not, Syria has grossly violated a core piece of the 1925 Geneva Protocol--be careful in questioning the US on wanting to uphold international peacekeeping principles when you have armed the Assad regime and ignored its obvious use of chemical weapons. Furthermore, Putin feebly ends his argument with words "we must not forget that God created us equal." In all aspects, this statement is ridiculous. "We?" Can Putin really refer to himself and Americans collectively as "we" when he bars Americans from adopting Russian children? Does he truly believe that "God created us equal" when he actively promotes the persecution of gays?

Yes, the article is well-written and some reasons he presents should be considered in the debate, but don't criticize the US on principles you yourself violate excruciatingly. As an American, I feel no greater trust in Russia.

David Voss
Richmond, VA

I'm sickened by the fact that we live in a time when a foreign leader has the ear of the American people. Our President is so weak that the American people would actually consider reading an Op-Ed from Putin and take it for face value. In the absence of leadership, someone will fill the void. Putin is trying to do just that. The sad thing is, the really said thing, is that many Americans will agree with his final paragraph. That we are not exceptional - we are just equal to everyone else. This is exactly what Obama has been trying to instill in us since Day 1. For us not to be outraged is a sign that our society now believes there is nothing great about the United States. This is our lot on 9/11/13 just 12 years after we were attacked.
For those of you who have not given up on the United States, I stand with you. We are the greatest country in the world because of people like you and I who will not give up on God, country, family, and the opportunity to create something with our lives that transcends our existence. Stay strong brothers and sisters! We will win this war.

"Прекрасное" владение ситуацией в Чечне:

Darwin
dallas
"I really want to believe Mr. Putin, but you'll have to excuse me if I take his statements with a gigantic grain of salt. It's very hard to believe he's a man of good will when he's dealt with Chechens with an iron fist; not to mention choking all kinds of freedoms and civil liberties in Russia."