Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is on a friendly visit to the Bay Area before flying across the country to meet with President Barack Obama, and he comes in peace.
Which must be why he brought along the flagship of the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet, the nuclear-capable missile cruiser Varyag. Makes total sense.
Medvedev will be dining with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Secretary of State George Schultz Tuesday night.
On Wednesday, he'll be visiting technology companies including Twitter, Apple, Google and Cisco Systems, in part to promote an "innovation center" modeled on Silicon Valley, in Skolkovo, near Moscow.
The visits by Medvedev and the Varyag and its crew comes ahead of votes in Russia's Parliament and the United States Senate on the latest nuclear arms control treaty negotiated by Medvedev and Obama.
Rest assured, display of militaristic muscle aside, the crew of the Varyag come in peace. They'll be joined by sailors on leave from the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force and the crew of the USS Bunker Hill this week.
Yes, that's right, all kinds of sailors to choose from on the streets of San Francisco this week, boys and girls!
Jackson West predicts Russian sailor shirts to be a summer fashion hit in San Francisco.
Russian President's Big Silicon Valley Splash
Dmitry Medvedev dining in San Francisco tonight
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