Actually, at that point it wouldn't be NATO. NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but if Russia joined the Pacific would be an important theater as well. More important, in fact, for defensive purposes, than the Atlantic. Some new organization would be needed, in which Russia and the US are the two principle members. This is needed for several reasons. First, to acknowledge that the theater's of operations have changed. Secondly, To be more inclusive and perhaps allow other Pacific nations to joing. Thirdly, by creating a new organization, it helps reduce Cold War legacy hard feelings, and make it seem like Russia isn't playing second fiddle to the US. This would be important not only for cohesive reasons, but also likely be necessary for Russia to join in the first place.

Sounds like a good idea to me, FH.

Or, instead of getting lashed into yet another entangling foreign alliance, we could just agree the let the Russians handle their problems on their own, we'll handle our problems on our own, and anytime we think some sort of combined effort would be mutually beneficial to address a specific situation then our two countries can establish a focused, specific relationship to address that single situation. Displacedjim

Okay, two. First, Our Problems and Their Problems overlap. Not only the actual participants (Chechens turn up in Afghanistan, Palestinians in Chechnaya, etc) but in motivation and method. When an Imam in one place issues a Fatwa justifying a murder, a Terrorist in another place says to himself "hey, that works for me, too". Second, presenting a solid front scares the enemy. The very fact of an alliance would be a powerful thing.

Also, by working together the US and Russia can accomplish more than the sum of their parts. A combined action would be so much more effective that two nations working for a common purpose independently. In fact, the necessity of working together so often would likely create an impetus of its own to form such an organization. It simply makes sense to create a new organization for a new war.

I have been watching Russian politics and the behavior patterns of Russians in positions of power, and I would like to know what you all see as the intent of Russian policy toward the United States. What do they want from us, if anything, and where do they see our interests and theirs converging? On the one hand, they clearly want to build their economy and modernize, but then we have improved RPGs turning up in Iraq and they help Iran build a nuclear reactor, not to mention their furious arming of China. I have an idea, but I would like to hear some others.

Right now they're desperate for money. Why else would they sell stuff to China after all?.

I dont think they want to join!!

Russia will never njoin NATO. Everyone or at least I know what the NATO partners are...slaves of the US and Russia will never be one a slave.

NATO members are slaves of the US?? If that's the case, we need to send them to do some serious cotton picking, on account of the malfeasance of many during the Iraq affair. What use do you estimate America or anyone else would have of Russia as a "slave"? Sounds like an arrangement where we pay bushels of foreign dollars to prop someone up. No thank you.