Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., chairman of the Foriegn Relations Committee, today said the U.S. and its European allies should forge a new strategy for dealing with Russia.

"Over the last seven years, Russia has slipped into a mire of authoritarianism, corruption, and manufactured belligerence," the Delware Democrat said at his committee hearing on U.S.-Russian relations.

"In view of these stark realities and the Kremlin’s charged rhetoric about the United States, the most important conclusion we can draw about our strategy for dealing with Russia is that we need a new one,” Mr. Biden said.

"A joint U.S.-European approach would not and should not constitute a threat to Russia. Indeed, I believe the principal goal of such an effort should be to refocus the Kremlin on all that Russia stands to gain from working with the West -- and all that it stands to lose by sticking to a zero-sum mentality.

"The West needs to offer a clear vision of the positive role Russia could and should play as a leader in the international community. We need to devise incentives that will recognize and reward Moscow’s efforts to deal responsibly with the many common challenges we face.

"Conversely, if Russian leaders continue pursuing a zero-sum diplomacy, then it is time we address the issue together with our allies," he said.

-- S.A. Miller, Capitol Hill correspondent, The Washington Times