Russia Today Roundup - February 11, 2008

Note:  Expect a weekly roundup of RT's headlines each Wednesday.  All articles selected will come from their homepage.  Hopefully over time this feature will aid in determining what the purposes of RT really are. 

• U.S./Iran.  Summary - RT relies on respected experts (Ben Cohen and Richard Bulliet) to report that Obama's focus on proliferation and terrorism risks undermining his campaign promise to begin dialogue with Iran.  Unlike many of the RT articles that cast the U.S. in a negative light, RT adopts a moderate approach to this issue.  This is most likely attributed to the fact that Russia's economy welcomes a rapprochement between the two nations since it would open more doors for trade. 
• Vegas Mayor beefing with Obama.  Summary - Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodwin is demands that President Obama issue a retraction for disparaging his city by criticizing Wells Fargo executive's plans for a corporate weekend in Vegas.  Now, this is more like it. Another example of a non-story being treated like a story.  Not much more needed to be said about this.
• Ukrainian White House is falling apart.  Summary - a Ukrainian mansion modeled after the White House is now a crumbling school building.  The article quotes students who hope that Obama will send funding to Ukraine to rebuild the school.  More pressing news.
• HRW on Guest Worker Abuse.  Summary - a new report from Human Rights Watch details increasing abuse directed towards guest workers in Russia.  This is an interesting read that details growing xenophobia in Russia, in large part due to economic decline.  It should be noted that the last word goes to a young Russian nationalist who criticizes HRW for being hypocritical since it is based in America and the U.S./Mexican border is far worse. This reporting is deceptive as HRW is one of the U.S. government's harshest critics.    
• Pentagon Public Diplomacy?.  Summary - $4.7 billion and 27,000 new employees to revamp the Pentagon's image.  This featured article contains the wit that I've come to expect from RT.  The article ends with the following,

This year, the Pentagon will employ 27,000 people just for recruitment, advertising and PR - almost as many as the total 30,000-person work force in the State Department.  Indeed, 27,000 more jobs is not bad news.  But the question is whether it is a sector where jobs need to be created and whether this news will be welcomed by American taxpayers.