Dear CCI Friends,

The fast current of news this week and last is more than most can navigate, assimilate and comprehend in a timely manner.  Certainly there is too much – and too much of it contradictory – to allow us to make reasonable predictions for our future.  In many ways it feels as if the future is a murky cloud at the foot of the precipice we are teetering over.

While the tragedy in Ukraine appears to be in its final act, there is no agreement on how or when it will end.  Looking at how a deadly conflict that never should have happened (which we may say about all wars?) came about may serve as a guide.  

Ted Snider at The American Conservative reviews how we got to this unbelievable moment in time when corruption and a coup in Ukraine brought the Europeans and Great Britain to the point of salivating at the prospect of all out war with Russia.  Who could have anticipated such madness?

Patrick Lawrence does another quick review of how we got to the Europe/Ukraine/Russia/US impasse and how we might actually work our way out of it in one piece – thanks to Donald Trump.  And how many, in the West and in the US (even in the US government), are prepared to accept such an outcome?

Finally, Gilbert Doctorow and Judge Napolitano have a short discussion of Vladimir Putin’s perspective on the deadly drama of our time.  Is the West prepared to concede that Russia’s position deserves respectful consideration?

All heady questions, friends, and more than we can solve. Please give them your consideration in view of the following and  let us know  what you think.

Sincerely, 

The Directors
The Center for Citizen Initiatives

Ted Snider, The American Conservative

Zelensky – Fake Promises of Peace and Public Integrity 

Patrick Lawrence, The Floutist

Who Destroyed Ukraine?

https://thefloutist.substack.com/p/what-is-this-peace-in-our-time?

Gilbert Doctorow, With Judge Napolitano

US/Russia Negotiations; A Waste of Time?

Dear CCI Friends,

Best wishes to you all during the week when we in the US gather to count our blessings.  We want to thank you all for your support, friendship, criticisms, kudos, caustic comments and helpful recommendations.  It is our pleasure to meet with you regularly in this wonderful online space – until we meet again in the real world.

And if you have time for a reflective respite during this very busy week, please consider the following tantalizing possibility:

Peace in a Multi-Civilizational World

https://glenndiesen.substack.com/p/paul-robinson-russias-world-order?utm_source=podcast-email&publication_id=2670149&post_id=178737219&utm_campaign=email-play-on-substack&utm_content=watch_now_gif&r=1ow2st&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Directors
The Center for Citizen Initiatives

Dear CCI Friends,

As most of you know, Center for Citizen Initiatives was first organized in 1983 by Californians determined to do something at the grass roots level to avert nuclear war between Russia and the United States.  Formally incorporated two years later, its mission was – and is to this day – to bring Russian and American citizens together in peace.  Developing, sharing and promoting programs and educational materials on the cultures of the two countries is what we do.

Since the war in Ukraine broke out in 2022, some of our friends and followers have been disturbed that we continue to promote friendly, respectful relations between Russia and the US.  The question frequently asked is,  “What about Ukraine?!”  The implication seems to be that the ongoing bloody conflict in that country must somehow nullify our mission to avoid a nuclear war with Russia.  It does not.  On the contrary, we feel the tragedy in Ukraine makes our work of promoting understanding more critical than ever. 

The video below features an interview with Professor Nicolai Petro, University of Rhode Island, hosted by Glenn Diesen.  Prof. Petro’s credentials as a scholar and expert on Russian and Ukrainian geopolitical history are extensive and we hope you will take the time to carefully consider his analysis of the entwined cultural roots shared by Russia and Ukraine.  His perspective will deepen your understanding greatly.

The video is long and for those of you who prefer to receive information in a written format,  a CCI friend has kindly taken the time to create what he calls a ‘rough’ transcript which follows the video.  It is very helpful and much appreciated!

We look forward to your comments.

Center for Citizen Initiatives

“Deep Roots,” by Prof. Nicolai Petro:

Transcript

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U18uip7gBefDHARzOS_sp1agPQJnldVy/edit

Dear CCI Friends,

The current American hostility towards Russia has not always been the prevailing sentiment.  There was a time when we recognized the common ties that bind and which made Russia a true friend.  What happened?

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the creation of the United States and that milestone will bring much attention to the history of when England was our deadliest enemy.  For those of us hoping for a reset in US/Russia relations today, it might be helpful to remember that Russia has been our friend or supporter or ally in every major conflict this country has endured – from the American Revolution to the War of 1812 to the Civil War and through two world wars (when Germany was our deadliest enemy).

It might be a good time to take a good look at ourselves and consider – do  we know who our friends are?  Please consider:

“The Forgotten Tradition of Russian American Friendship”

https://chandragupta.substack.com/p/the-forgotten-tradition-of-russian

Sincerely,
The Directors
Center for Citizen Initiatives

Dear CCI Friends,

In the following interview, Glenn Diesen discusses the current Russian military planning and its on-ground execution with a man with a unique perspective.  Born in Russia, Stanislav Krapivnik’s father was a dissident who emigrated with his family to the United States in the 1970’s.  Stanislav grew up here and became a US Army officer – now he is back in Russia.  What he gives us is an account of the war, and what we may expect relations between Russia and the West to be in the foreseeable future, from a Russian point of view absent in our press.  

Fallout for Generations to Come

https://glenndiesen.substack.com/p/stanislav-krapivnik-dangerous-endgame

While we contemplate the ramifications of the disastrous war in Ukraine we might also ask ourselves how and why the fiasco came about.  Kautilya the Contemplator (again!) provides a deeply thoughtful analysis of the situation.

Why Is US Foreign Policy an Embarrassing Mess?

https://substack.com/inbox/post/177609722

Looking forward to your thoughts!

Sincerely,
Center for Citizen Initiatives