Dear CCI Friends,

Sensational allegations along with fake news stories erupt daily, sometimes hourly, from both parties — it’s nearly impossible to figure out what’s really happening. This could be by intention. Stephen Cohen, writing below, brings up some very disconcerting observations: one, what all of this is revealing about America’s current elites and, secondly, what this is doing to our national institutions.

Further, the field of potential leaders looks decimated. I wonder if anyone sees a candidate they could feel comfortable voting for president in 2020, which is just a short time away. Certainly I couldn’t vote for anyone taking PAC funding. But how can anyone run for the highest office without it? And what does this say about us as a nation?

All the best,

Sharon Tennison
Center for Citizen Initiatives

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TheNation
February 21, 2018

‘Russiagate’ Is Revealing Alarming Truths About America’s Political-Media Elites

Its allegations and practices suggest disdain for American institutions, principles, best interests, and indeed for the American people.

By Stephen F. Cohen

Stephen F. Cohen, professor emeritus of Russian Studies and Politics at NYU and Princeton, and John Batchelor continue their (usually) weekly discussions of the new US-Russian Cold War. (Previous installments, now in their fourth year, are at TheNation.com.) [Ed: Audio available at end of article.]

The nearly two-year-long series of allegations and investigations now known as “Russiagate” was instigated by top American political, media, and (probably) intelligence elites (mostly Democratic or pro-Democratic, but not only). What they have wrought suggests profoundly disturbing characteristics of people who play a very large role in governing this country. Cohen specifies six such barely concealed truths, which he and Batchelor then discuss.

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Dear CCI Friends,

Much misinformation is circulating about U.S.-Russia relations these days. Feast your eyes and mind on this article written by Peter Loukianoff, a board member of CCI who has unique insights and considerable experience in Russia – certainly more than most pundits opining on this subject today.

His article provides useful historical context for events and actions affecting U.S.-Russia relations to this day and argues why there’s hope for the future with the new generation of Russians – the kind we’ll be bringing to the U.S. as part of our Russians Meet Middle America (RMMA) program.

Peter is a first-generation American from an immigrant family. He earned an engineering degree and MBA from UC Berkeley and is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist. Since 1990, Peter has worked on various ventures and diplomatic efforts related to Russia. He was part of a group that hosted the former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev in Silicon Valley and worked on the Gore/Chernomyrdin Commission.

Please resend this article to as many of your friends and colleagues as possible. Perhaps it will open their minds to points of view larger than what is in our mainstream media today. Follow The Center for Citizens Initiative on Facebook.

Warmly,

Sharon Tennison
Center for Citizen Initiatives

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EastWest.ngo
December 14, 2017

Re-imagining Russian-American Relations: A Pragmatic Business Perspective

BY: P.N. LOUKIANOFF

This year represents the centennial of the communist takeover of Russia, which indelibly marked the transition from Tsarist Empire to the Soviet Union. The U.S.S.R. was a menace not only to the free world, but also to its own people. Despite its collapse and Russia’s independence over 25 years ago, many in Washington still cannot allow themselves to imagine, let alone manifest, a productive relationship with Russia.

Prior to 1917, Russia was the only major power in the world with which the United States had neither a war, nor serious diplomatic dispute. It even supported and defended America during its formative and most vulnerable years—the American Revolution1 and Civil War. Thus, President Jefferson declared, “Russia is the most cordially friendly to us of any power on earth” and President Lincoln’s Secretary of State stated, “[Russia] has our friendship, in preference to any other European power.”2 Notwithstanding constitutional differences between the Russian monarchy and American democracy, their relationship blossomed.

In our current political climate, each nation blames the other for meddling in domestic and international affairs. Foreign malfeasance cannot be tolerated, but should the United States not seek bona fide deals with Russia for the sake of America’s national interests? Meanwhile, recurring sanctions against Russia have forced it to align with China versus the United States. Continued hostilities only increase the chances of direct confrontations—be they political, economic, cyber or nuclear. Arguably, America has more at stake in these scenarios long-term.

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Dear Friends,

The hype on television yesterday about “13 Russians Indictment” was like a flash bomb on both CNN and Fox news channels.

Please note that voices of wisdom are quickly speaking up. This one is by Peter Van Buren, a highly respected former U.S. foreign service officer. Van Buren spoke out prior to the Iraq war and has since disengaged himself from failed intelligence and policies. I suspect we will see a wealth of pushback to yesterday’s hype in the coming days.

More to follow,

Sharon Tennison
Center for Citizen Initiatives

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Institute for Public Accuracy
February 16, 2018

“13 Russian” Indictment

PETER VAN BUREN, info at wemeantwell.com, @WeMeantWell Available for a limited number of interviews, Peter Van Buren is a former State Department foreign service officer who spent time in Iraq. Now in Washington, he writes at his blog, We Meant Well. His first book, We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People.

He said today: “Just did a quick read of the ’13 Russian’ indictment. Missing are a) any connections between the 13 and the Russian government and/or Trump campaign; b) any discussion of the impact (if any) their social media efforts had. It describes them buying Facebook ads, but nothing about if it affected votes; c) no connection shown between any of this and DNC, Wikileaks, hacking of emails; d) no discussion of motive; e) assumption that anything anti-Clinton was defacto pro-Bernie and/or pro-Trump. And all indicted persons are Russians, and outside the U.S., so highly unlikely this is going anywhere further legally.

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