Martin Wolf’s column on Russia from last week’s FT has been provoking some strong reactions, including a letter to the editor from Ambassador Yuri Fedotov. Mr. Fedotov bitterly dismisses Wolf’s criticism, citing economic growth indicators and stating that “Russia has entered the 21st century as a modern state open to the outside world, with the continued development of political institutions based on democratic principles.” This in itself is certainly not surprising, but it is Fedotov’s conclusion that may raise an eyebrow: “By describing the current state of affairs between Russia and the west as a “cold peace”, I fear that Mr Wolf is reverting to the language and approach of an era that Russia has long since abandoned.” It seems odd for Fedotov to play the innocent victim card on the same day that president-to-be Dmitri Medvedev accuses both the British Council and foreign NGOs as being fronts for Western spies, hostile to Russian interests. Both Western journalists and Russian officials are eagerly playing this game of Cold War tit-for-tat – no one is on the sidelines.
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7 Comments
James:Why would you be surprised that Russia would object to being characterized by half-truths and unfair generalizations.There are two general groups who are part of a campaign to paint Russia as the bad guy.1. The pro-Khorodkovsky group, of which you are part. Your frustrations are understandable even if you might therefore miss the many positive changes happening in Russia currently.2. The pro-NATO crowd, of which the anonymous La Russophobe blog, an organized CATO Institute think-tank project, is absurdly spewing post upon blog post of hat-filled, misogynist, anti-Russian filth.The pro-NATO group has needed to create a reason for NATO’s continuing expansion and existence.By painting Russia as the aggressor and Putin as some kind of two-headed monster it is able to justify NATO strategy of adding members and therefore, making billions in additional arms sales to the new nations (think of the windfall when Georgia and Ukraine possibly become members?).The problem is that despite La Russophobe, Michael McFaul, Edward Lucas, Martin Wolf, Anne Applebaum, et al’s best efforts the reality is that Russia is simply playing the cards NATO, Europe, and America have dealt them.We might debate whether Russia could be more nuanced in responding to the direct provocations of NATO, America, and Europe but the fact remains the provocations are aimed at making Russia mad and thereby, “proving” to the world that Russia is still “dangerous” and therefore, NATO is justified.I am embarrassed by my government’s policies with respect to Russia and we can only hope that Mr. Obama, not McCain (we definitely don’t need another southern fly-boy), is elected President of the United States in November.Knock wood, psst, psst, psst (over left shoulder)
Actually, Timothy, that is exactly my point – it is not surprising that the Kremlin objected to Wolf’s column, which in my opinion was very coherent and well argued.I can’t speak on behalf of all these people you list, only our view. Personally, I’m not one disposed to conspiracy theories. Lately Russia has not needed much help in “painting” itself as an aggressive opponent to global stability. The threats and posturing have been made in explicitly clear language by the government officials themselves. Anti-americanism is an easy way to distract your citizens from the fact that they are being denied a real vote.Of course there will always be some rabid critics on both sides who go off the charts in terms of rhetoric and fact. Welcome to the Russia debate.It is interesting however to imagine how it could be possible to reconcile support of Barack Obama and support for Vladimir Putin. Such an inherent contradiction must rob one of sleep.
My support of both Putin and Obama certainly does not affect my sleep habits but I will postpone my bedtime just a few moments more to respond to you.Putin was exactly the type of President and leader Russia has needed over these past 8 years.In 2000, Russia was in a Depression both economically and psychologically. Putin has managed the economy masterfully and given average Russians some pride and dignity back again.In 2008, America has lost much of its former glory and respect. The belief amongst the citizens of the world that while America once represented hope, opportunity, and justice these defining characteristics of America are long gone.America over the next 8 years shall be lucky to avoid some of the same economic results experienced by Russia in the 1990′s.Barack Obama gives me hope that he may be able to restore some of our country’s lost reputation and perhaps scale back our outrageously overextended use of our military and thus, save our economy from collapse.My support of Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin may be hard for you to see because of your blind hatred for Putin but it’s rather really simply,”Tough times call for strong leaders.”Spakoney noche.
If you’d like to see Obama win, it might be better to stay quiet – the last thing the guy needs is a comparison to someone like Putin, whose record on traditional liberal values like open economy, human rights, freedom of press, and independence of the judiciary is less than stellar.I suppose I just thought that having Michael McFaul lead Obama’s team would turn off the Putinistas.From the Moscow Times:”Clinton’s main competitor, Illinois Senator Barack Obama, holds a similar stance on Russia, while pushing harder in policy papers for greater cooperation on reducing nuclear stockpiles and boosting democracy inside the country. Michael McFaul, a Russia expert and political science professor at Stanford, is leading Obama’s Russia team.”http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2008/01/28/002.html
It’s rather odd that Mr. Post refers to “our country” when in fact all of his loyalties lie with Russia, including most especially financial ones. I would challenge him to point to a single public statement he’s ever made picking America’s side over Russia’s where the two countries’ interests were in conflict.The fact that he sees Obama as the politician most likely to allow the Sovietization of Russia should pretty much disqualify Obama from serious consideration by any patriotic American.And the fact that he claims, without a single scintilla of actual evidence, that Putin’s policies are responsible for any positive changes in Russia over the past eight years, is so predictable as to be yawn-inducing. Given that Obama’s “Russia man” is McFaul, who has just published a gigantic paper showing how Russia would have been far better off without Putin, Mr. Post’s comments take on aspects of the comical, or even the insane.Or perhaps, just evil. It seems he’ll tell any kind of lie, sink to any depth of propaganda, betray American and its values to any extent, if it will help him turn a buck in Putin’s Russia. A short study of history would tell him that such people have always ultimately been eaten alive by those whom they sought to befriend, a fate Mr. Post richly deserves.
A+ to Tim’s responses.In my opinion, people who really hate America might actually want McCain to win in November. Because 4 more years of this [arrogant, imperialistic, and just plain stupid foreign policy] and we’ll officially get an End of Empire notice.There are enough practical people in Obama’s team and they will be able to neutralize McFaul so quickly, assuming McFaul’s anti-Russian stance wasn’t for just for show in the first place.With Obama, it’s easy to get excited about real Russian-American cooperation that will devestate both the “pro-Khorodkovsky group” and the the “pro-NATO crowd.”
Easy for an idiot to get excited, not any informed and thinking person. Mr. Obama doesn’t know the first thing about Russia and hasn’t made a single concrete proposal regarding “cooperation.”And it’s pretty hard to imagine that Russia, one of the most racist nations on the face of the earth, would find it very easy to cooperate with him. Indeed, when he learns about Russian racism first hand (should he ever get the chance to do so), he might turn out to be the most ferocious critic Russia has ever seen.