Hey, There!

Get lost. Literally, figuratively. Until and unless the Kremlin can successfully accustom itself to the idea that it can and should co-exist with other countries of the world without its proclivity to incessant hints of aggression, and the kind of sniffy hyperbole that they think will result in respect, they should give a wide berth to the kinds of alarming adventures they indulge in to be noticed.

We know you're there. Full stop. Stay there.

Respect the sovereignty of other countries at least in equal measure to that which you insist on receiving from others. Is that so difficult to comprehend? As you sow so shall you be met with. Now that makes sense, doesn't it? Not too popular with the European Union of late, right? No country likes to see its citizens huddling in despair, freezing in the dark.

There's a disagreement between the five polar presences respecting possession, recognition and entitlements. Nothing new there; the courageously intrepid 19th- Century explorers of two Continents set out to establish a presence on behalf of their nations, and a mild unease between all the principles still exists. Brought to the fore, surprise! by the presence of vast undersea mineral and petroleum resources.

Through the just intermediary of the United Nations and the Law of the Seas it will yet be revealed through scientific scrutiny and evaluation where the boundaries of possession will be drawn. Despite your triumphally controversial, impetuous, yet admittedly audacious and successful flag implantation.

You'd like the security of harbouring for yourself the future security of vast revenues through those undersea resources. So would Canada, the United States, Norway, Denmark. They too have claims, yet to be fully determined and acknowledged. So sit tight, like the rest of them, and await revelations and conclusions.

And just by the bye, exercise a little restraint in your international communications. You'll find yourself more highly regarded; others won't mind respecting you so much with a little co-operation and open-minded regard for others. Stop provoking other countries. As for example, those Tupolev jets tickling Canadian airspace, without prior notification.

The provocation perhaps a double-edged flick of arrogance toward both Canada and the United States. Staged as it was just on the cusp of the brief sojourn of President Obama to Canada, for his initial courtesy call. Courtesy; doubtless that's a concept not in great currency in the Kremlin, though it should be, despite going against the grain of its political culture.

The government of Canada is not known for making falsely accusative remarks against other countries. But we do respond when provoked. Certainly not like an angry bear when it's provoked, but within the diplomatic protocol. Bear in mind that there are international obligations between countries that should be observed to maintain cordial relations.

The current and ongoing standoff between the Kremlin and the Canadian government does not particularly bespeak a comfortable future, and that's a shame. The chief of the Canadian defence staff has identified overflight incursions as a perplexing irritant of several years' duration, reminiscent of the old Cold War. Does that bespeak our future? A return to the past?

A Russia with a leaking currency and bottomed-out oil prices that insists regardless on expending huge amounts of its treasury on upgrading its military, on modernizing its military infrastructure, and purchasing unwholesome amounts of armaments doesn't present a comforting picture for the future. Your own people aren't tickled pink at their growing unemployment rates and feckless government impositions.

Haven't you anything better to do with yourselves in this troubled world? Take a step back, and reconsider your generous support for Iran's nuclear program. Do we take it that Iran's irascible aggression toward the rest of the world is a reflection of your own? Unremarkably, or remarkably as the case may be, Iran does not enjoy a high state of regard from her neighbours, either.

Do we know you by the company you keep, or do we know others' intent by the company they keep?