dr. michael mcfaul to our committee. the united states relationship with russia remains as you pointed out critical to many foreign policy priorities including nuclear nonproliferation, counterterrorism, global energy security and numerous regional issues in euro-asian a, common interests and economic conditions have created openings for cooperation in specific areas but we need to proceed according to realistic assessment of what is possible and we should avoid ratcheting our attitude towards russia between severe disappointments and excessive expectations. last year the senate approved the new s.t.a.r.t. treaty for ratification which preserved the foundations of certainty in the u.s. much russian strategic relationship. one does not have to abandon skepticism of the russian government or dismiss contentious foreign policy disagreements with moscow to see value in a practical enterprise of nuclear verification and transparency. in fact it is precisely the friction in our broader relationship that makes continued engagem

dr. mcfaul, and enthused by your nomination for the post not only have you been a scholar of the region, but you also lent your expertise and time to several organizations such as ndi and freedom rights but promote the substance of democracy and supporting indigenous efforts to grow democracy and expand civil society and enhance respect for human rights is something i feel passionately about and i am sure if you are confirmed he will continue to hold those views as the u.s. ambassador of russia. now, i do have a line of questioning that is important to me and i just want to reflect for a moment on -- before you answer the last question you're yearning for academic freedom, and i would just say as i sit in the past two other nominees that have come before the committee that if you are confirmed he will take an oath of office and that is to the constitution of the united states that means a constituted government that is both the executive and the legislative branch and while the president may nominate you it is the congress particularly the senate that confirms you. and so i hope that in