[squicscor]

Commies protest a joint celebration of VE Day

updated 5:26 a.m. ET, Sun., May 9, 2010
MOSCOW - NATO troops marched across Red Square on Sunday as Russia marked the 65th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany, a gesture of friendship to the West which won praise from U.S. President Barack Obama but enraged Communists.

Foreign leaders including President Hu Jintao of China and German Chancellor Angela Merkel watched as over 11,000 troops from World War Two victors Russia, the United States, Britain and France paraded to the sound of a huge military band.

A detachment of Welsh Guards from Britain in their trademark red tunics and black bearskin hats marched past Lenin's mausoleum carrying assault rifles. Armed U.S. troops from the 170th Infantry Brigade based in Germany followed shortly after.
...
Russia's Communists, still the country's biggest opposition party, pledged to hold a protest march in central Moscow after the parade. They will chant slogans against NATO forces for marching over a hallowed square which is also home to the embalmed body of their revolutionary hero, Vladimir Lenin.

"Foreign troops have never appeared on Red Square. It's a violation of tradition," said Sergei Obukhov, a member of the party's Central Committee. "The presence of foreign troops with weapons in their hands is...an unnecessary reminder that we lost the Cold War".

Obama, unable to come to Moscow because of a scheduling clash, praised the invitation to NATO troops.

"President Medvedev has shown remarkable leadership in honoring the sacrifices of those who came before us, and in speaking so candidly about the Soviet Union's suppression of elementary rights and freedoms," he said in a statement. That has to be a great honor for those soldiers who got the mission to represent the US at such an occasion.

[Enfotanab]

And they didn't have to goose step.

[newpiknicker]

Commies protest a joint celebration of VE Day



That has to be a great honor for those soldiers who got the mission to represent the US at such an occasion.

That's pretty cool. Any sign of openness between Russia and the US is a good thing.

[attishina]

Russia just fell for the oldest trick in the book.

Sneak attack!!

[iuopyra]

Russia just fell for the oldest trick in the book.

Sneak attack!!

What trick would that be? Could you enlighten me? I'm genuinely perplexed.