By Tom Ryan, Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel

Russia’s economy is a one-trick pony, petro-state. They are fragile. They have energy resources to sell and sell they must. France leads the world in nuclear power technology research, development, and deployment. France and Russia compete for customers and we should recognize this. Obama does, clearly.

Competition is good for Europe. Unlike a nuclear weapons race, this race to compete in the business place will continue to make Europe a vital collective economy. And right now the power behind the European Union’s vitality is Russia and the EU members know that. Winter approaches and Russian natural gas will warm everyone’s toes.

Some nations may be nervous about this as they geographically rub elbows with Russia, their former master. But a missile shield isn’t going to make them any more confident than today. They’re either in the EU or have their application in the EU’s inbox. Confidence will come with economic growth and cooperation, not shields.

This transition will take time as this cold war (lower case now?) mindset is still in the intellects of many people. We lived it. Some of us pulled border patrol together across the same fence. Now, we’re business partners, competitors, clients, and friends even. We’re all able to party in Berlin, and taste the beer in Prague without having our passport checked at every streetcorner like in 1969.

Europe needs Russia’s energy resources today and for the foreseeable future, just like we need the coal trains that rumble through Kansas City to power us. France’s nuclear power vision is something for us to track. It is their big ticket item, making them a powerful voice in the EU and world.

This week’s missile defense issue is a sideshow, plays well in preparation for the Pittsburgh G20 huddle…Europe needs energy…France and Russia are selling.

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