Despite the passage of time, Cold War patterns of thinking about Russia show no sign of weakening in America. To avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, we need to look at Russian society in a fundamentally different light. We must learn to appreciate it as a democracy that shares key similarities, as well as differences, with the West.
NATO Reaffirms A Russia Narrative Of Its Own Devising (Robert Parry)
The Warsaw communiqué – signed by leaders including President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and British Prime Minister David Cameron – ignores the reality of what happened in Ukraine in late 2013 and early 2014 and thus generates an inside-out narrative, writes Robert Parry.
Paul Grenier: Why Political Philosophy?
The Simone Weil Center for Political Philosophy asks: What is international order, what kind of thing is it? Can we understand what international political order is without raising the question about what politics itself is, what it’s for? [Read more…] about Paul Grenier: Why Political Philosophy?
Book Review: War With Russia (Paul Robinson)
As NATO wraps up its summit meeting in Warsaw, it will no doubt be patting itself on the back for displaying ‘unity’ and ‘resolve’ in the face of ‘Russian aggression’…If we are to believe NATO’s former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Sir Richard Shirreff, such displays of strength are exactly what are needed …That is the message of a novel he has just published, entitled 2017. War with Russia. An Urgent Warning from Senior Military Command.
Conrad Black: The Collapse of the Collusion Narrative
It…seems to be clear that James Comey, and former National Intelligence and Central Intelligence directors James Clapper and John Brennan, were involved in improper leaks of confidential information and in coordinating their activities to mislead the president-elect
Trudeau’s visit to Ukraine shows ‘change in tone’ about relations with Russia (Globe and Mail)
Gesture-wise, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s first visit to Ukraine was exactly what his hosts wanted to see. In terms of substance, however, the message to President Petro Poroshenko’s government was that Canada is considering a step back from its all-in position of supporting Kiev, in favour – perhaps – of a defrost in relations with Russia.
Lev Golinkin: Unchecked anti-Semitism in Ukraine & What is to be done?
Noted author and journalist Lev Golinkin (“A Backpack, a Bear, and Eight Crates of Vodka”) talks with WABC radio’s John Batchelor about the disturbing uptick in anti-Semitism in Ukraine these past months.
‘Aggression’ May Be Threatening Europe—But NATO Is Looking for It in the Wrong Place (The Nation)
NATO’s troop build-up is based upon the faulty, though widely believed, premise that Russia’s assistance to the rebel forces in the breakaway republics of Luhansk and Donetsk is a prelude to even grander designs by the Kremlin.
Gordon Hahn: Russia, America, and the Biases Within Us
In a recent New York Times article Keith Gessen attempts to explain the long deterioration in post-Cold War US-Russian relations.
Joint statement of the NATO-Ukraine Commission at the level of Heads of State and Government
On July 9, the NATO-Ukraine Commission released a joint statement which, says, among other things, that the NATO “Allies commended the efforts of the President of Ukraine aimed at a peaceful settlement of the conflict.”
John Mueller: The Price for Peace in Syria Is Cooperation with Assad
For those whose chief concern is the welfare of the Syrian people, the conclusion, however painful, should be obvious. The United States and other intervening states should work primarily to bring the suffering to a substantial close, and this likely means cutting off support to most rebel combatants in Syria and working with—perhaps even directly supporting—Assad and his foreign allies
Russia Offers India Nuclear Aircraft Carrier (Defense News)
Russia has offered its nuclear aircraft carrier, dubbed “Storm,” to India for purchase, a senior Indian Navy official said. The offer comes as India and the US discuss the transfer of technology for India’s future nuclear aircraft carrier, the INS Vishal.
Leonid Bershidsky: Trump Forbids Russian Pipeline. Europe Pushes Back
Nord Stream 2, the planned Russian natural gas pipeline to Germany across the floor of the Baltic Sea, is the latest front in the growing conflict between Europe and the U.S.
Russian Federation: A Situation Report (Patrick Armstrong)
Patrick Armstrong rounds up the latest developments and notes, among many other things, that as regards to sanctions: French report puts loss of business at $US60 billion, 77% borne by EU. Figures a year old; more by now. Just extended. Non completion with Minsk II one of the reasons; here is the text: find the word “Russia” in it. But they’ve been good for Russia and bad for the EU.
Daniel Lazare: Making Excuses for Russiagate
As months turn into nearly two years and no solid evidence emerges to nail Russia for nabbing Election 2016, some big Russia-gate cheerleaders are starting to cover their tracks, as Daniel Lazare explains
Mikhail Gorbachev says Nato is escalating Cold War with Russia ‘into a hot one’ (Independent UK)
Former Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev has accused Nato of preparing for “offensive operations” against Russia.
As the Western alliance held a summit in Warsaw, Poland, Mr Gorbachev criticised Nato’s decision to deploy 4,000 more international troops in Eastern Europe.
Mary Dejevsky: UK as Spearhead for Anti-Russian Alliance
Every now and again you hear a snatch of a radio bulletin or glimpse a newspaper headline and wonder where on earth it might have come from – so disconnected does it seem from everything else that is going on. This was my response to a recent front-page in the British Guardian newspaper that said: “Revealed: UK push to strengthen anti-Russia alliance”.
Warsaw: NATO’s Theater of the Absurd (Harvey M. Sapolsky, Elizabeth S. Barnes)
…Montenegro has joined NATO as its twenty-ninth member. Under Article 5 of the NATO Treaty the United States pledges to defend Montenegro, and Montenegro has our back as well, writes MIT Professor Emeritus Harvey Sapolsky and Elizabeth Barnes.
Andrei Kortunov: A Letter to John: Where Are U.S.-Russia Relations Headed?
A Letter to John: Where Are U.S.-Russia Relations Headed?
In the decades I spent working with the United States, I acquired quite a large circle of contacts in Washington. Collectively, they represent the so-called American establishment. Today, I’d like to address these Washingtonians as one individual, whom I’ll name John for the sake of simplicity. [Read more…] about Andrei Kortunov: A Letter to John: Where Are U.S.-Russia Relations Headed?
Russia: NATO focuses on containing non-existent threat from east (Deutsche Welle)
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has hit back at NATO, accusing it of focusing its efforts on containing a non-existent “threat from the east.” This comes after a NATO summit called for a tougher position toward Russia.