Dear CCI Friends,

Zach Battat traveled to Russia with CCI in 2019 – the last organized group visit before first Covid and then the Special Military Operation slowed us down.  It is great to see him again and a real pleasure to share his article in the July issue of The Montreal Review  with you.  As he points out in exquisite detail, the Russophobia virus did not first infect the West (and the US in particular) in 2022, nor in 2014, not even in 1945.  To understand it, and to one day beat it back, we must deal with the root.

On reading the piece, CCI Director Charles Heberle noted:  “Reminds me of my hosting of the first Russian delegation to NATO which held so much promise only to be destroyed by the Washington establishment.  Mass psychosis as the basis for evil again.”

Please check it out, folks.  You’re in for a great read.

And thank you, Zach!

“THE LONG COLD WAR”

“The U.S.–Russia confrontation did not begin in 2014 or 2022. It is the continuation of a conflict more than a century old, shaped by mistrust, missed opportunities, and a persistent belief that security can only come at the expense of the other side.”

https://themontrealreview.com/Articles/The_Long_Cold_War.php

Charles, Krishen, and Paula
The Center for Citizen Initiatives

Dear CCI Friends,

From NATO, the EU, Great Britain, the G7 (including us) and of course, from the President of Ukraine, comes a growing cacophony; more, bigger, harsher, all-encompassing war.  Escalate (to de-escalate? Who came up with that brilliant idea?), increase sanctions,  send more long-range armaments and drones to cause more pain more deeply into Russia, pressure the people to remove Putin….  It beggars belief, or it should.  Do any of the ‘leaders’ of these countries, the promoters of full-on, large-scale war between the ‘West’ and Russia have any idea what they are wishing for?  Or do they imagine war to be like a video game – something to be played at for a while then put on pause if you’re losing, go make dinner, have a glass of wine, find another distraction?

Alex Krainer knows better.  In the article below he explains vividly how people go from the comfort of believing war can’t really happen, no matter how much the news may tell them otherwise, to finding themselves fully committed with no turning back.  

Please see his description of how a population of civilized citizens turns overnight into something else entirely.  He should know; he’s been there.

“If Russia retaliated…”

“Before leaving 10 Downing Street, Sir Keir Starmer authorized another large-scale attack on Russia.”

https://alexkrainer.substack.com/p/if-russia-retaliated

Ray McGovern sees the warmongering crowd in a different light – warmonger wannabees, at best.  Let’s hope he’s right.  Watch his interview with Glenn Diesen to the end for a moving recapitulation of CCI’s 2016 trip to Crimea for the 75th anniversary of the launch of Operation Barbarossa.

“Putin Under Pressure to Retaliate Against NATO…”

….but he’s smarter than that.

https://glenndiesen.substack.com/p/ray-mcgovern-putin-under-pressure

And finally, a bright note in memory of a dreadful day….

“Russia Must Not Be An Enemy!”

“There are people in Germany who remember history and disagree with the current government’s anti-Russian policies.”

“On June 22, 1941, at 3:15 a.m., Nazi Germany launched its attack on the Soviet Union on several fronts.  On Saturday, June 20th, to mark the 85th anniversary of the start of Operation Barbarossa, approximately 700 people gathered in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin under the motto “Russia is not our enemy.” 

Best wishes to all,
The Center for Citizen Initiatives

Dear CCI Friends,

CCI travelers and friends in New Zealand forwarded the article below by Eugene Doyle.  His is a new voice to us, one of reason and sanity that we are happy to share.  We look forward to more of his analyses.

We hope you feel the same and, as always, we look forward to your responses. 

“The Most Dangerous Place on Earth”
       The Baltics at Boiling Point

https://www.solidarity.co.nz/international-stories/baltics

Sincerely,
The Center for Citizen Initiatives

Dear CCI Friends,

If the first lesson of history is, ‘those who cannot remember it are condemned to repeat it,’  the second might be, ‘those who never knew it may be in for a shock someday.’

The intricate details of the histories of Ukraine, Poland and Russia are terra incognita to many Americans and the current blow-up in Ukraine/Polish relations may be indecipherable to many of us.  Please consider the explanations – very personal in one respect – of Andrew Korybko, an American of Polish extraction living and writing on current geopolitical affairs in Moscow – as he exposes us to history with a direct impact on current affairs.

Is Ukraine An Anti-Polish State?

https://korybko.substack.com/p/heres-why-im-a-proud-volhynia-genocide

https://korybko.substack.com/p/will-putin-benefit-from-the-volhynia

https://korybko.substack.com/p/ukraine-is-now-indisputably-an-anti

And if history is opaque to us, can we imagine the future?

The Future of Trans-Atlantic Security

https://glenndiesen.substack.com/p/the-future-of-trans-atlantic-security

Best regards from,
The Center for Citizen Initiatives

Dear CCI Friends,

The assault on our nerves never ends.  Are we being pushed into another war – or a bigger war – by our ‘allies’?

Great Britain and Europe seem to be following a path, or pushing a narrative, that indicates that they are not just anticipating a war with Russia but that they are delighted at the prospect.  It’s too absurd to believe, isn’t it?

You be the judge and let us know, please.

Does Germany Bear the Blame . . . 

https://glenndiesen.substack.com/p/jeffrey-sachs-the-baltic-states-are

. . . Or Does the ‘Honor’ Go to Great Britain?

https://scottritter.substack.com/p/terror-and-mental-war

The Center for Citizen Initiatives