July 15, 2008 By James Kimer

Encouraging Dangerous Miscalculations

There’s an interesting letter to the editor in the Washington Post today from two former Ambassadors disputing Henry Kissinger’s recent article. Garry Kasparov has also recently clashed with Kissinger, whose renewed interest in the Russia debate has been followed closely on this blog.

Misreading Russia Tuesday, July 15, 2008; Page A18 In his July 8 op-ed, “Finding Common Ground with Russia,” Henry A. Kissinger made two questionable points. He asserted that the emergence of two centers of power under President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin may herald “an evolution toward a form of checks and balances.” But that will depend far more on a strong civil society, with private property rights and an independent press, judiciary, legislature and nongovernmental organizations.