US Cold Warriors escalate toward actual war with Russia.

By Stephen F. Cohen
March 20, 2019
The Nation

Russian Air Force Su-25 jets fly past the Russian flag on the Kremlin complex during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo / Pavel Golovkin)

(Audio from the John Batchelor show is available here.)

Heedless of the consequences, or perhaps welcoming them, America’s Cold Warriors and their media platforms have recently escalated their rhetoric against Russia, especially in March. Anyone who has lived through or studied the preceding 40-year Cold War will recognize the ominous echoes of its most dangerous periods, when actual war was on the horizon or a policy option. Here are only a few random but representative examples:

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Dear Friends,

The Mueller Report is finally out.However, the dangerous polarization against all things Russian and Vladimir Putin continues to deepen despite the report findings of no evidence of collusion between Trump and Russia or Putin.

Democrats and most Republicans alike continue to demonize and damn Russia, the only other country that can destroy our entire nation!  Have Democrat and Republican policy makers and the media completely lost their minds?  Have they forgotten that there are no remaining treaties or agreements regarding weapons of mass destruction between the two nations? Do they remember that diplomacy between our countries is non-existent due to their pressure and protestations in the U.S. media over the past three years? Do they think we in America are somehow immune or protected from Nuclear War? If so, they need a wake-up call.

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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

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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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