Reuters
John Evans, National Interest: The Key to Understanding Vladimir Putin
It is common to ascribe America’s growing difficulties with Russia to President Vladimir Putin personally, but the sources of Russian discontent predate Putin’s presidency.
Let me put it right out there: I believe we Americans have misunderstood -- or, as George Bush might have said, “misunderestimated” -- Vladimir Putin from the moment he entered our consciousness, at the very start of the present millennium. Here is how I remember him and what I think of where we are today.
Putin was my guest at a July 4th reception in St. Petersburg in 1995, when I was serving as the U.S. Consul General there. I recall taking him into my library. We spoke Russian in those days, before he began to learn English. His wife, still recovering from a bad automobile accident, did not accompany him. On that occasion, he was representing his boss, Mayor Anatoly Sobchak, who was off on a trip. Of course, I hadn’t the faintest idea that this man was destined to become the President of the Russian Federation--and neither did he.
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WNU Editor: For Putin watchers, this is definitely my must read post for today.
4 comments:
Yes.
PS. A long walk down memory lane.
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Putin is a commie baby killing savage!The author of this article is a progressive traitor.
This is indeed a "must read." Actually none of this is anything new for those wishing to take the time to "find out" for themselves rather than trust what either their ideology or their preferred media pundits tell them. There really is nothing to add. Everything in the article is spot on.
The author of this article John Evans is what I think one would call a "statesman." Admittedly this is a lost art in the "west" in general and the United States in particular. This is actually a "must read" for US leadership. Unfortunately with the exception of Trump and perhaps some of his closest advisors I don't envision many of them having the humility to actually take an honest look at this.
There are few things I think need to be added. 1.)US foreign policy often goes off the rails because US leaders blithely assume the US is a hyperpower, the world's sole superpower or something to this effect. Russia is equal to the US in many areas and perhaps superior in others. This is a "multi-polar" world. Obviously stand up to Russia where and when necessary, make clear what and where our core interests are, in general be respectful, but avoid egregious insults. As an anonymous commentator put it awhile back to paraphrase be "tough but fair." Engage them. Treat them as the equal power that they are. As another anonymous commentator put it awhile back to paraphrase "talking with major world powers such as Russia would have been looked upon favorably at one time. Now we have entered into 'silly season' where such sensible actions are attacked.
The twin myths of "Russian collusion" and systemic Russian interference in our election are not addressed. This has certainly set relations way back. Trump and his team worked very hard to meticulously establish a diplomatic framework that was bearing much fruit up to the Summit meeting with Mr. Putin. These twin myths and other egregious actions have essentially destroyed this. This has exacerbated Cold war 2, a war we didn't need, can't readily afford, and may not be able to win. At a minimum, given the gravity of the situation, more proof would need to be provided.
Mr. Evans has nailed it. IMHO everyone including our leadership needs to read this. His article combined with my additional analysis I think pretty much explain the situations. Now if we could just get the leadership class to understand this or replace them leaders who do. I think Trump is an excellent start here but he is one person and his power is strictly limited.
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