“It is a deeply held belief—whether they’re right or wrong—in the Kremlin, in the Russian political class, that the United States, our country, has waged political, diplomatic, economic war against Russia for at least ten years and the attitude in Moscow expressed daily is that ‘we’ve had enough,’” said Cohen.
Analysis
PODCAST: Stalin Resurgent, Again (Stephen F. Cohen)
Nation Contributing Editor Stephen F. Cohen and John Batchelor continue their weekly discussions of the new US–Russian Cold War. (Previous installments are at TheNation.com.) This week’s installment focuses on the upsurge of pro-Stalin sentiments in Russia as reflected in recent public opinion surveys, nearly 60 percent now viewing him as a positive figure in Russian history.
Paul Robinson: Unprecedented Destruction
Throughout the civil war in Syria, and particularly since the Russian Federation became involved, we have bombarded with complaints about the particularly barbaric methods of war used by the Syrian Arab Army and the Russians.
Russia’s got a point: The U.S. broke a NATO promise (LA Times Op-Ed)
Europe’s stability may depend just as much on the West’s willingness to reassure Russia about NATO’s limits as on deterring Moscow’s adventurism.
Daniel Larison: The Legal ‘Arguments’ for Attacking Syria Are Preposterous
The “arguments” being put forward by U.S. officials and others to justify an attack on Syria are as ludicrous as you would expect…
Douglas MacGregor: Trump Can’t Alter Syria’s Future
The advocates for military action include the usual suspects.
US Exceptionalism Has No Place in a Multipolar World (Robert Shines)
With the end of the Cold War twenty-five years ago, many in the U.S have taken the country’s continued global hegemony for granted. However, this state of affairs is increasingly being challenged by both Russia and China, exemplified by their aerial flybys and interceptions of the US military within their respective regions.
VIDEO: Stephen F. Cohen Talks the Crisis in US-Russian Relations
Sky News Australia hosts Ross Cameron and Rowan Dean chat to Emeritus Professor Stephen F. Cohen (Princeton and NYU) on the Skripal poisoning, the expulsion of Russian diplomats, NATO, Syria, Putin’s agenda and Hippocratic Oath. “They say Putin personally directed this – I can’t think of a single motive…” said Cohen.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to President Trump: Do Not Strike Syria
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard today called for President Trump to refrain from using military action against Syria that would expand and escalate the conflict, and likely result in additional civilian and military casualties, more refugees, and fewer resources to invest in rebuilding American communities, and instead work toward peace.
Beyond Cold War to Mobilization for War Against Russia? (Stephen F. Cohen)
Nation contributing editor Stephen F. Cohen and John Batchelor continue their weekly discussions of the new US-Russian Cold War. (Previous installments are at TheNation.com.) This installment continues last week’s focus on the extraordinary US-NATO build-up of military forces—on land, sea, and in the air—on and very near Russia’s borders, the opening of, as Cohen terms it, “NATO’s Eastern Front.”
The Intercept: Trump Continues to Be More Confrontational Toward Russia Than Obama Was
Indeed, not only did Obama refuse to risk military confrontation with Russia in Syria, he sought in 2016 — after Russia annexed Ukraine — to form a military partnership with Vladimir Putin to bomb agreed-to targets in Syria.
West could sleepwalk into a Doomsday war with Russia – it’s time to wake up (Richard Sakwa)
Since the Ukraine crisis exploded into civil conflict and war in 2013, we have known that we live in troubled times. It has become increasingly clear that the peace order in Europe, established at the end of the Cold War in 1989, is unstable. The arrangements made at that time appear to have generated more conflicts than they were able to resolve.
Andrey Sushentsov: “BALL GAME”: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION DURING RUSSIA-WEST CONFRONTATION
The information space is the main field of confrontation between Russia and the West today. The aim of this confrontation is to win over the public to one’s side. It is important not just to be right, but also to be convincing.
Tucker Carlson: Would war against Assad make US safer?
Syria is a complicated situation. With Assad gone, who would run it? (Hint: The jihadists who attacked the US on 9/11)
Nadezhda Azhgikhina: ‘Novaya Gazeta’ Continues to Be the Watchdog of Russian Democracy
Twenty-five years ago, young Russian journalists created an independent newspaper to tell the truth about the past and present without censorship or fear. Since then, Novaya Gazeta has remained the chief outpost of freedom of speech, courageous investigations, and protection of human rights in Russia.
Recommended books on Russia…(Danielle Ryan)
The incisive Danielle Ryan has put together a ‘must read’ list of books about Russia. Well worth a look.
Dave Majumdar: Here Is How Russia and America Could Go to War in Syria
President Donald Trump said that the United States is currently examining the evidence and that military force remains an option. Trump promised a response even if his administration decides that Russia is responsible
Paul Robinson: The Idea of ‘Island Russia’
Russia’s elite aren’t looking for a conflict with the West, but are increasingly convinced that partnership is impossible and that Russia will have to learn to live on its own. People in the West should not find that threatening, but personally I do find it more than a little bit regrettable.
Tom Switzer: Russiaphobia and the Perils of a New Cold War
From Washington and Canberra to London and Brussels, western leaders have indulged in the rhetoric of moral indignation, punished Moscow with economic sanctions and treated Vladimir Putin as a pariah in world affairs. [Read more…] about Tom Switzer: Russiaphobia and the Perils of a New Cold War
The Internal Logic of Eternal NATO Expansion (Gordon Hahn)
Once NATO expansion began in the mid-1990s, it became all but inevitable that it would continue to do so until it encompassed all the territory between the original NATO member-countries and Russia’s borders.