Left Flank

Poland's prime minister, Donald Tusk, gets high marks for trumping Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, for rhetorical skill. Characterizing how the US and Russia are "bored with the cold atmosphere" is pithier than Putin's checklist appeal to every progressive cause in the Bush administration's doghouse.

«In effect we are being forced to retaliate,» he said in a speech to Russia's influential State Council, a gathering of political and business leaders. «Russia has, and always will have, responses to these new challenges,» he said to applause.

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«Nato itself is expanding. It's approaching our borders. We drew down our bases in Cuba and in Vietnam. What did we get? New American bases in Romania, Bulgaria. A new third missile defence region in Poland.

«We are categorically being told these actions aren't directed at Russia, and therefore our concerns are completely unfounded. That's not a constructive response.

«It's already clear that a new arms race is being unleashed across the world ... It's not our fault, we didn't start it,» he said.

He claimed growing foreign interest in Russia was being fuelled by a «mounting struggle for resources», while attempts by foreign governments to interfere in Russian politics were «immoral and illegal».

«We see how under the guise of declarations for freedom and open society the sovereignty of countries and entire regions is being destroyed,» he said in a clear nod to the US campaign in Iraq. «Many conflicts, foreign policy acts and diplomatic démarches smell of oil and gas.»

There's some choice material here, but I still prefer Tusk's grasp on reality.

The 'five generals' have devised a serious and remarkable global platform to reinvigorate conservatism for the 21st Century.

The key threats are:

· Political fanaticism and religious fundamentalism.

· The "dark side" of globalisation, meaning international terrorism, organised crime and the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

· Climate change and energy security, entailing a contest for resources and potential "environmental" migration on a mass scale.

· The weakening of the nation state as well as of organisations such as the UN, Nato and the EU.

To prevail, the generals call for an overhaul of Nato decision-taking methods, a new "directorate" of US, European and Nato leaders to respond rapidly to crises, and an end to EU "obstruction" of and rivalry with Nato. Among the most radical changes demanded are:

· A shift from consensus decision-taking in Nato bodies to majority voting, meaning faster action through an end to national vetoes.

· The abolition of national caveats in Nato operations of the kind that plague the Afghan campaign.

· No role in decision-taking on Nato operations for alliance members who are not taking part in the operations.

· The use of force without UN security council authorisation when "immediate action is needed to protect large numbers of human beings".

Cato's Stanley Kober matches bombast with concision: it's all about Afghanistan! Or, is it about fighting irrelevance?

Look East, NATO, to nurturing a liberal, European Russia!

On the other hand, why not just send in 'Saint Jude'?