Dear CCI Friends,

Professor Cohen has penned another very important piece that I know you will want to digest, since it goes to the heart of the demonization going on during the current frenzy to dismantle, dismember and bankrupt the largest country in the world. The good professor has tolerated my request to add some ungracious bolding and underlining to his fine article. For you speed readers, if you read the bold sentences, I’m quite sure you will want to check the non-bolded ones as well!

Regardless of what others repeatedly proclaim, the following is the truth about the “meddling” issue.

Sharon Tennison
Center for Citizen Initiatives

The Nation
March 6, 2019

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Dear CCI Friends,

At last a decades-long traditional U.S.-oriented Russia analyst and professor, Dr. Angela Stent, is admitting to second thoughts about America’s policies toward Russia, including what Russia hoped for and needed after the USSR imploded.  She also gives Putin a break from the norm of demonizing, and sees him as a leader who understands what Russians need and respect. After Dr. Stent’s use of “disruptive” twice (to please the powers that be?), the remainder of the article below is quite perceptive and straight forward.

It’s interesting to me that it is a woman Russia specialist who is now ready to admit that significant mistakes were made by the U.S. in its treatment of Russia. Perhaps others in her league have also backtracked and I missed them? If so, please let me know. With this Boston PBS interview, Stent may be opening the door whereby other American professionals will choose to be more open regarding Russia/Putin topics.  Many went along with the “party line” during these years since 2000 in order to keep their positions. This is understandable. Hopefully this piece will make others feel safe to be more above board in the future. If so, she has provided a much needed example. Read the following interview and let us know what you think.

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Dear CCI Friends,

Politico issued a dire warning on February 1 from reputable American specialists who were central to tamping down the Nuclear Arms Race in the 1980s. Will their message get out to mainstream Americans this time? And will the current Congress be willing to address this frightening issue?

It’s up to people like us to demand that our Congress members heed this final ultimatum and inform our friends and colleagues how close we may be to nuclear obliteration.

Please do your part! Send this to as many persons as you can in case it’s not dealt with by mainstream media. There can’t be too many voices on this issue and every voice counts!

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Dear CCI Friends,

Hello from St. Petersburg where it is Orthodox Christmas night, Monday, January 7th. This morning when I awakened about 8 am, the sight out my window was a blanket of snow over everything … all was covered in pristine white … from Moika Canal and 19th century buildings all the way down to St. Isaacs’ gold dome: there were no people to be seen anywhere (the first time ever for my eyes). Few automobiles and no trucks or city buses were seen out of my windows. St. Petersburg appeared frozen in time… silent, like in the centuries past.  It has been the quietest beginning of a day I’ve ever experienced in Russia.

In the afternoon traffic picked up a bit. Going outside my door, from the flat next to me, a Russian man of about 50 years rushed off wishing me Happy Christmas and mentioned he was on his way to St. Nicholas’ Church services. Later there was more foot traffic going in the direction of the church. What a wonderfully pensive day to enjoy the snow and the quiet … and to ponder.

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Late in the day, an amazing article arrived on my computer. I call your attention to it, since it is the most rational writing I’ve experienced that deals with the challenges we Americans face today.  I urge you to take sufficient time to absorb it seriously. I scanned it first, then realized I’d not digested it sufficiently; whereupon, I went back and read it aloud to myself to really get the essence of it.  I’ve not seen any other article quite so specific, so truthful, so focused on where we Americans are at this particular time in our history.  I urge you to digest this piece … whether you are Democrat or Republican, whether you abhor Trump or think he is good for our country.

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