NATO to take look at dealings with Russia

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Secretary of State Colin Powell and other NATO foreign ministers will take a new look this week at the way the alliance does business with Russia.

Since Sept. 11, the allies believe they have detected a new, more cooperative Russia under President Vladimir Putin, a potential partner rather than the confrontational adversary of old.

NATO's secretary-general, Lord Robertson, went to Moscow recently to discuss bringing Russia into the fold -- not as a member of the 19-nation alliance, but as a full partner in deciding major issues of European security. This will be discussed Thursday and Friday at the foreign ministers' meeting.

"We have an important opportunity to recast NATO's relationship with Russia," said Nicholas Burns, the American ambassador to NATO. "NATO and Russia are increasingly allied against threats such as international terrorism."

Some see this as letting the fox in the hen house, allowing Russia to gnaw at the alliance from within, doing through stealth what it failed to do through confrontation. Others think it is pragmatic, a recognition of the reality there is more for both sides to gain.

The NATO members are discussing what form this new relationship should take, but what likely will emerge is a structure within the alliance in which Russia sits as a full participant on selected issues.