Michael A. McFaul, Stanford University professor of political science; director and senior fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies; Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution; Stanford University, former ambassador to Russia (2012 – 2014).
Colin’s Comment:
Here is what I see as the big picture:
- The current confrontation is more about the actors than about long-term strategy or geopolitical conflict
- Russia is part of Europe, culturally and economically, and its destiny lies in the West
- A strong Russia is in the West’s interest — a weak Russia invites encroachment from China in the East
- The West has to build a strong deterrent to aggression from the current regime
- While leaving the door open to long-term participation in European democratic structures, scientific cooperation and trade.
The best expert on Russia, was Rudyard Kipling –
the rest is a dream !!!
Kipling wrote at the height of British imperialism and his views on Germany and Russia reflect those times.
in the case of Russia, nothing has changed
You can drink with them and play with over 30 years
and I will be very friendly – the time when you will eat a knife in the back
-my grandmother was born in Empire
tsarist russia – and and I learned quite recently
their great desire for revenge – fleeing her murderers -and it is documented case
and by the Polish police and relevant departments