WASHINGTON (AFP) — Faced with a Russia emboldened by its energy wealth, the two US presidential candidates have shown a similar resolve on how to deal with the country's former Cold War foe.
Democratic candidate Barack Obama has ramped up his position in recent weeks to join the hardened tone of his Republican rival John McCain.
While McCain immediately adopted a hawkish attitude to Russia's military offensive in Georgia in August, Obama was initially cautious in issuing a strong condemnation of the former-superpower.
The candidates' debates, however, have made clear that the current confrontational atmosphere between Washington and Moscow will not dissipate quickly with the arrival of a new US president.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin wants to "reassemble the old Soviet Union," McCain has said.
"I looked into his eyes and saw three letters, a K, a G and a B," he said, referring to the USSR's secret police, and outgoing President George W. Bush's claim to have seen Putin's "soul" through his eyes.
McCain favors expelling Russia from the G8, the group of major industrialized nations, and hopes to embrace former Soviet satellites Ukraine and Georgia into the NATO.
Obama, echoing his opponent, said "the resurgence of Russia is one of the central issues that we're going to have to deal with in the next presidency."
The Democrat said he agreed with McCain "for the most part" on the steps that need to be taken on the issue.
After the Russian military action in Georgia, Obama called merely for restraint from both sides.
But now he proposes using energy as a weapon against Moscow's imperialist ambitions.
"Energy is going to be key in dealing with Russia," he said, adding: "If we can reduce our energy consumption, that reduces the amount of petro dollars that they have to make mischief around the world."
Asked in Tuesday's debate whether he thought Russia was an "Evil Empire," as former US president Ronald Reagan had described the Soviet Union, Obama neglected to answer directly.
But he did say Russia was guilty in recent months of "evil behavior."
Some analysts are surprised by the candidates' tone, and many agree a return to constructive dialogue is key for improved US-Russia relations.
"Obama's rhetoric on Russia is one of several indications that, on substance, Europeans will find that their differences with Washington won't end with the departure of President Bush," said Washington Post columnist Jackson Diehl.
In a combined statement two giants of 20th century American diplomacy, Henry Kissinger and George Shultz, have said "this drift toward confrontation must be ended."
"However appropriate as a temporary device for showing our concern, isolating Russia is not a sustainable long-range policy," they wrote in the Washington Post.
Kissinger and Shultz argued that NATO's enlargement to include Georgia and Ukraine should be postponed to allow Russia to feel sufficiently respected by the West.
But for some, like Steven Pifer of the Brookings Institution, a research and policy think-tank, punishment is required for Russia's actions in Georgia.
"You want to have certain penalties," he said, adding that it must be made clear Russia "can't break international rules without some sanction."
"On the other hand," said Pifer, "on things like controlling nuclear materials, cooperation has to go forward. That's an interest we share with the Russians and we share with the Europeans."
"The Russians like it, if for no other reason than it's an acknowledgment that they are a superpower on nuclear terms, on par with the United States," he said.
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