Bringing Russian and American citizens together in Peace since 1983.
Dear CCI Followers,
Please read carefully the latest from former Colonel Andrew Bacevich, now the President of the new Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. He hits the “nail on the head” regarding our challenging and dangerous situation.
Sharon Tennison
Center for Citizen Initiatives
Dear CCI Readers,
While we surmise that Alexei Navalny could have been poisoned by someone, I reject the accusation that Putin ordered it.
Why do I think it wasn’t Putin? This rumor is seriously out of sync with Putin’s basic mode of operating during the years for which his history is known. Being the butt of so many rumors and projections of evil during the past 20 years, he seems to have developed an imperviousness to it all. He simply keeps attention on what has to be done and moves forward.
I don’t suggest that any agree with me, but in case you are interested, here is my rationale: From what I’ve experienced and learned from other sources, Putin has been and is a level-headed, introvertish man. He admits to being governed by training in martial arts philosophy since age 11, under the guidance of his respected martial arts mentor. Putin is known (outside of the U.S.) to be the most strategically thinking of today’s world leaders. He is currently planning a United Nations “Big Five” meeting to address world issues in the immediate weeks ahead. Perhaps these most recent rumors are intended to downplay such a role, which no other world leader has risen to thus far. Past accusations heaped on Putin have had little-to-no-proof or truth offered to back them up. His way of handling these recurring rumors has become … “the dogs bark and the caravan moves on… ”
My experience with Putin started when I met an unknown Soviet bureaucrat in the St. Petersburg mayor’s office in 1992. I outlined the benefits my plan would provide to both countries. He seriously studied the proposal paragraph by paragraph, asking questions as he went along. Clearly he was interested in aspects of it. At the end he patiently said, “I’ve tried to understand whether this proposal is legal or not … and currently it is not. I’m sorry, I can’t sign my name to it.”
Dear CCI Friends,
The following article is extremely dangerous. Syria is Russia’s “Near Abroad” that houses Russian aircraft and an air base. It would be the same if Russian planes were buzzing Mexico, Canada or Germany’s borders, which they are not. Why does the U.S. continually do this? It could become a deadly provocation.
What if a U.S. plane accidentally drops a nuclear missile on Syria and it detonates? Putin has warned if such a weapon is dropped on Russian soil or one of Russia’s near abroad countries, they will consider it a full attack on Russia and will fire on the U.S. as if it is a full act of war.
This seems severe, but U.S. officials refuse to sign nuclear treaties with Russia. This is Russia’s only insurance to prevent a “First Strike” by the United States.
America is warned: do not risk an all-out attack that would end all life on earth in a couple of years.
By David Swanson
World BEYOND War
August 31, 2020
I highly recommend watching this video:
I will not be a part of the killing of any child no matter how lofty the reason.
Not my neighbor’s child. Not my child. Not the enemy’s child.
Not by bomb. Not by bullet. Not by looking the other way.
I will be the power that is peace.
The above video and promise are from a group called Fields of Peace that is highlighting one of the least welcome facts on earth. Since World War II the majority of the people killed in most wars have been civilians. And most wars have been waged in poor countries where the majority of the population is very young, and where many of the adult men have been recruited to fight. The majority of the civilians in these places, and the most vulnerable, are children. War “kills and maims more children than soldiers,” in the words of a famous UN report. In fact, in wars waged by wealthy nations in poor ones, the casualties are so lopsided, that children on just one side of the war can make up the majority of the war’s total casualties.
Dear CCI Friends,
Those of you who watch Russia’s immediate neighbors may be wondering what will happen as Belarus heats up for change.
Chris Weafer, Russia’s top expert on their financial realm, as recognized by the Financial Times, The New York Times and numerous international papers and pundits, sends the following report on Belarus.
It sounds like the situation will be handled without major conflict.