Americans want to concentrate on American problems. But as Bill Clinton acknowledged during the campaign, they can afford to do so only to the extent that the rest of the world remains stable. The more successful Russia is at remaking itself into a free-market democracy, the more time and treasure Clinton can devote to domestic needs. That will require, as Clinton has noted, a substantial U.S. investment in Russia's future up front.
Other Western governments agree that Boris Yeltsin needs a visible helping hand to survive. But the experts keep debating how best to extend it. A few call for pumping...