Obama Makes Pointed Quip on Russian Sale Of Alaska.

[elleng]

Referring to the long history of Russia-U.S. trade stretching back more than two centuries, Obama told an audience of business people in Moscow:

"Along the way, you gave us a pretty good deal on Alaska. Thank you."

Czar Alexander II's sale of Alaska to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million in gold, around 1.9 cents per acre, was regarded by Russians as a national disgrace -- particularly once it became clear that the province was rich in oil.

Moscow was short of cash at the time.

http://nytimes.com/reuters/2009/07/07/us/politics/politics-us-obama-russia-alaska.html

[KansDem]

1. Well, the Russians did get a river north of San Francisco named after them...

...so it worked out for the better all around! :D

edited to add article...

[classysassy]

2. Hello Russia

you can have it back if you keep Palin.

[Shadowsmith]

3. I think not.

No, no they can't have it back. Alaska is a wonderful place to live. They can have the Palin clan however.