-By Toby Westerman
California governor, and former film superhero, Arnold Schwarzenegger has pledged to lead a trade mission to Russia and assist “in any way possible” Russia’s drive to develop its own high tech “Silicon Valley.” U.S. president Barack Obama has also promised his backing in facilitating the flow of U.S. technology to Russia.
The eager participation of Schwarzenegger and Obama in exporting U.S. technological capabilities came during Russian president Dmitry Medvedev’s three day visit (June 22-24) to the United States. Medvedev was looking for technological assistance, and in return offered an increase in U.S. corporate profits and an attractive return for investors.
Medvedev’s campaign for venture capital and high tech aid occurred as his “new” Russia is looking increasingly like the old Soviet Union. Stark warnings about the true intensions of the Moscow elite are coming from vocal opponents within Russia, but are ignored by many in positions of power and influence in the United States.
The Russian “Silicon Valley” effort, known as the Skolkovo Project, named after the Moscow suburb in which it is located, has already gained wide support in the U.S. Boeing, Google, and Cisco are among the U.S. corporate giants participating in Skolkovo, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has agreed to participate in joint research with Skolkovo. MIT may establish, with Russian high tech corporations, a separate research group located at Skolkovo.
Schwarzenegger Flexes Muscle for Moscow While Obama Ignores Warnings from Russian Dissidents”