The start of September is a big day in the Russian calendar. Across the world’s largest country, children return to school after the long summer vacation. Proud parents may accompany them as the first day takes on a sense of ceremony.
Analysis
Stephen F. Cohen: How the Coronavirus Is Testing Putin’s Leadership – and the System He Created
At this moment in Russian history, something else is being tested: not only Vladimir Putin’s personal leadership but the efficacy of the political-administrative system he has created since 2000 – the “vertical” stretching from the Kremlin to all of the regions and cities of the world’s largest territorial country.
Richard E. Carroll: Russia And the West, How the West Won the Cold War but Lost the Peace
The current conflict between the West and Russia, which has pushed Russia into the waiting arms of China began due to the arrogance and short sightedness of the West.
Daryl Kimball: Prevent the outbreak of another global security threat. Extend New START.
As the United States and other nations appropriately focus on the steps necessary to deal with the deadly effects of the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout, the international community cannot afford to lose sight of the other global challenges that threaten all of us: the worsening planetary climate emergency and the ongoing threat of catastrophic nuclear war.
Colleen Moore and Ben Freeman: Don’t Let New START Die
If New START expires, or either party withdraws without a replacement treaty, America and Russia would be free to build up their nuclear arsenals. There would be nothing left to restrain the new nuclear arms race, and both countries would lose insight into the other’s nuclear arsenals.
VIDEO: Stephen F. Cohen Appears on PUSHBACK with Aaron Mate
A scathing DOJ report rebukes former FBI director Jim Comey for leaks about the Trump-Russia investigation. Scholar and author Stephen F. Cohen says that Comey and other intelligence officials weaponized their authority, and should be held to account.
Jeanne Morefield: ‘Never in my country’: COVID-19 and American exceptionalism
Behind today’s coronavirus-inspired astonishment at conditions in developing or lower income countries, and Trump’s authoritarian-like thuggery, lies an actual military and political hegemon with an actual impact on the world…
PushBack w/ Aaron Mate: Russiagate skeptics are vindicated, but conspiracy theorists are rewarded
Glenn Greenwald joins Aaron Maté to discuss the disappearance of Russiagate after Robert Mueller’s testimony; how Andrew McCabe has become the latest former U.S. intelligence official to join either CNN and MSNBC; and the absence of accountability for those who continue to promote what he calls the “moronic, irrational, baseless, conspiracist narrative” of Donald Trump as a Russian asset.
Daniel L. Davis: Coronavirus Means No More Money for Forever Wars
This pandemic we are facing represents the greatest challenge our country has faced in generations. It will take every ounce of energy and focus we have to navigate these troubled waters. We must wisely use our limited resources to support our domestic needs–and end our addiction to fighting unnecessary forever-wars.
VIDEO: Secretary William Perry: “My Journey at the Nuclear Brink”
Dr. Perry talks about nuclear weapons and disarmament issues.
Gordon Hahn: The New Terrorist Threat: Ukrainian Neo-Fascist Terrorism at Home and Abroad
Five years ago the threat of ultranationalist-neofascist Ukrainian terrorism (UNUT) should have been clear to all, but it was not. Things have not gotten any better.
TNI: How Russia and Iran Dominated the G7 Summit
Despite not being invited as official participants, Russia and Iran were front and center in the G7 summit discussions.
Katrina vanden Heuvel: After this pandemic passes, America needs a reckoning with its national security
After this pandemic passes, there must be a profound reckoning.
The Guardian: Trump administration determined to exit treaty reducing risk of war
Mike Pompeo and Mark Esper agreed to proceed with US withdrawal of Open Skies Treaty despite pandemic, sources say.
DW: Russia strikes deal with Turkey on Syria’s Idlib, says Putin
Leaders of Russia and Turkey agreed on steps to “normalize” the situation in Idlib, where Syrian troops are advancing with Russian air support, Vladimir Putin has said. Erdogan hinted at buying Russian fighter jets. Moscow and Ankara had set up a demilitarized zone in the jihadi-dominated province. However, Syrian troops backed by Russian airpower have advanced in recent weeks against jihadi forces in the last major rebel enclave in northwestern Syria, and encircled a Turkish military post.
Arms Control Association: U.S. Questioning Open Skies Treaty
The U.S. Defense Department is halting funding to replace the Pentagon’s aging aircraft used for flights under the Open Skies Treaty until the Trump administration decides the future of U.S. participation in the pact, Defense Secretary Mark Esper told Congress in March.
VIDEO: Nuclear Threat Initiative on the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
Since 1972, the United States and Russia have been bound by arms control agreements limiting the size of their nuclear arsenals.
Nikolas K. Gvosdev: Could the Coronavirus Destabilize Russia?
There is a very real fear that the virus will overwhelm a brittle and underfunded health system and that, combined with an economic shock, can shake up the Russian political system.
Doug Bandow: America’s Problem of Empire
The ruthless, winner-take-all nature of American politics today show that the common desire of the country is not so much to be left alone, but to impose its will on others.
Lyle Goldstein: Contemporary Russia Faces a Full Panoply of Interlocking Crises
Vladimir Putin’s leadership has hardly been flawless but it has broadly comported rationally with Russia’s difficult strategic and economic position.