Again, as I have said for twenty years, Russia views the collapse of its empire as only a setback, however disastrous. Putins remarks are predictable, but I wish he would not rush into remarks about American tyranny. It will only give his adversaries something to latch on to. If Putin were to find the course of Russian harmony he would be able to deduce a more useful route. The consent of the people is what Americans are used to demanding in more or less all relationships; it is the basis of their idea of Democracy. If people anywhere consent to something, then American ideas about someones supposed tyranny dissolve. Putin is most persuasive when he points out the small amount of violence in the Crimean situation, but he is at his least persuasive when he points blame to America. IMO he should cease immediately with slashing out at America, and concentrate on the health of his nation. If I may offer a musical metaphor, he would do well to employ both harmony and counterpoint, then he would have two skills to Americas one skill. If America tries to slash or isolate Russia then, if Russia is taking care of business, America will be in the wrong, and there will be no need to make a defense. A theme coursing throughout his remarks was the restoration of Russia after a period of humiliation following the Soviet collapse, which he has famously called the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century. This is good for a basic platform but he should let it be history and not make a refrain out of it, or it will work to poison the situation. It is good to identify things as they are, but a leader does not whistle Dixie. Russia took a blow, but needs to move on from the past.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 22:25:16 +0000
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