Thirty years ago, the last Soviet leader gave the world the possibilities of a democratic Russia and (with Ronald Reagan) an end to Cold War and nuclear arms races. Today, it is as though those historical alternatives never existed.
Timothy Snyder and the distinction between writing history and manufacturing propaganda
The following is an open letter Oxford University’s Tina Jennings to the editor of TIME magazine. According to Jennings, “We would do well to take Putin at his word now and again. He chooses his words exceedingly carefully and doesn’t do sound bites. The result of this approach is that Putin not only means what he says, he also says what he means. This is so refreshing by the standards of ordinary politicians we’re accustomed to in the West that it may feel perplexing, even disorientating, for some.”
The ‘New Cold War’ Was Never Inevitable (Michael Lind)
Russian-American relations today can be described by Kennan’s phrase: “a new cold war.”
Prof. Stephen F. Cohen Continues Weekly Discussion With John Batchelor
In this week’s installment, ACEWA Founding Board Member and the author of Soviet Fates and Lost Alternatives: From Stalinism to the New Cold War, Prof. Stephen F. Cohen talks to John Batchelor about, among other topics, Henry Kissinger’s recent Wall Street Journal op-ed.
Kissinger writes that Russia’s recent move into Syria “is a classic balance-of-power maneuver to divert the Sunni Muslim terrorist threat from Russia’s southern border region. It is a geopolitical, not an ideological, challenge…” During their discussion Cohen notes that America’s policy of “regime change in pursuit of virtue” is no way to run a responsible foreign policy, while Batchelor comments that “stability requires that sovereignty be defended.” For the full discussion click below.
What the Cuban Missile Crisis Can Teach Us About the North Korean Missile Crisis (Martin J. Sherwin)
To avoid catastrophe, Kennedy turned to diplomacy. Trump would be wise to do the same.
BREAKING NEWS: Transcript of President Putin’s Speech at Valdai Discussion
According to the Kremlin’s official webpage: “This topic of this year’s Valdai conference is Societies Between War and Peace: Overcoming the Logic of Conflict in Tomorrow’s World. In the period between October 19 and 22, experts from 30 countries have been considering various aspects of the perception of war and peace both in the public consciousness and in international relations, religion and economic interaction between states.” Mr. Putin’s speech is linked below.
Russia-gate’s Evidentiary Void (Robert Parry)
A cyber-warfare expert sees no technical evidence linking Russia to the Democratic email releases, but The New York Times presses ahead with a new hope that Ukraine can fill the void, reports Robert Parry.
Putin accuses West of double standards over Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed criticism over his country’s air campaign in Syria, accusing Western governments of double standards in their support for the Syrian opposition.
Speaking on Thursday at a political conference in Sochi, Putin said the West is using some of the rebel groups as pawns to fit their wider agenda in the Middle East.
“Let’s not play with words and divide the terrorists into moderate and not moderate,” said the president.
Domestic Politics Distort Relations with Russia (Amb. Robert Hunter)
Maybe sober leaders in Europe can have an impact on Washington’s attitudes and approaches. That is currently doubtful, but it may be the only chance left to avoid a new, dangerous, and quite useless Cold War II.
Isis in Iraq: Shia leaders want Russian air strikes for battle against militant threat
Iraqi political and military leaders are demanding that the government follow Syria in requesting Russia to start air attacks on Isis fighters in Iraq.
Two members of parliament are quoted as saying that the Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, is under “tremendous pressure” from his ruling National Alliance group to call for Russian military help.
Presidents have too much power over U.S. nukes (Bruce Blair)
Bruce Blair, a research scholar in Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security and a founder of Global Zero, the international movement for the elimination of nuclear weapons writes “The crisis with North Korea shows just how urgent it is that we change the way the United States handles its nuclear arsenal.”
RUSSIA AND THE EAST
…when one reviews the history of Russia’s relationship with the East in general, and with Islam in particular, it isn’t as negative as that of the West. There has been a little less hostility and fearfulness, a little less of a sense of superiority, and also a little more tolerance. This fits with the Slavophile view that I have described elsewhere, which contends that cultural diversity is desirable.
Three Days in August (Nadezda Azhgikhina)
They remain in history as a heroic and inspired experience of civic awakening, the unexpected and joyous understanding that everyone’s personal choice has meaning and the future of the country depends on that choice.
Syria and the ‘Vacuum’ Metaphor
Official Washington’s new “group think” is that President Obama’s hesitancy to fully invade Syria has created a “vacuum” that Russia is now filling, but the use of such metaphors can cloud serious analytical thinking and lead to catastrophic misjudgments, as ex-CIA analyst Paul R. Pillar explains.
Stop Poking the Russian Bear (Robert W. Merry)
Western intrusion into traditional Russian spheres of influence, areas under the sway of Moscow for three centuries or more, represents a highly provocative and destabilizing policy.
Surprise Assad-Putin meeting signals push to end Syria crisis
Bashar Assad’s surprise meeting with Vladimir Putin could signal that Russia ultimately seeks a political settlement after weeks of heavy airstrikes in Syria. But the terms of such an arrangement are uncertain, and questions remain about whether Moscow will seek the departure of its longtime ally or try for a power-sharing agreement.
Book Review: Ukraine in the Crossfire (Paul Robinson)
…it is important that Americans (and Europeans and Canadians) understand that there is guilt on many sides in Ukraine, that their own countries’ hands are far from clean, and that there is much more to the war in Donbass than ‘Russian aggression.’
Don’t Ally with Saudi Arabia against Russia
While the usual suspects flood the US media with ideas on how to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin over his audacious move in Syria, the European Parliament adopted a new resolution on October 8 on the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia. The focus of the resolution was the case of Ali Mohammed Nimr. The Saudi authorities sentenced the 21-year-old Saudi citizen and nephew of a prominent Saudi Shia dissident cleric, to death by beheading to be followed by crucifixion.
On Attribution, Personal Attacks, and Conflicts of Interest (Jeffrey Carr)
If you want to claim that Russia or China or any other government is responsible for a cyber attack, show the proof…
Obama’s Dangerous “No War, No Peace” Strategy in Syria
President Obama is about to add another dismal chapter to his foreign policy record. He may believe that his administration’s “no war, no peace” response to Russia’s intervention in Syria will avoid subjecting the United States—or him—to the potential costs of making a choice between two unattractive alternatives. Unfortunately, this posture may well be the most dangerous approach of all for it conveys both weakness to U.S. allies and inflexibility to Moscow, thereby encouraging further assertiveness at America’s expense while allowing Syria’s civil war to rage and ISIL to gain ground.