"The US had made promises and he had to take them at their word unless they proved otherwise".
There was abundant, indeed overflowing evidence dating back to the 18th century that the US government's word is worth absolutely nothing. They lied to the Native Americans, and they have lied, cheated and stolen (not my words: Mike Pompeo's) ever since. If a US government ever kept a promise or honoured a treaty, it was solely because at the time that was the most convenient course. In Washington the words "honour", "promise", and "loyalty" mean nothing except as a cause for delighted laughter.
Quite true. However, I wonder if his strategy was not correct in the long term. By taking the Americans at their word, he in effect put them in the position of violating their promises (as they always do) in a way that would highlight their duplicity and hegemonic intentions. It would seem that the US had been trying to subvert Russians with images of American "affluence" and "power". Putin's focus was on re-inventing Russia and he needed to guide the understanding of the Russian people which had a substantial 5th Column -- the "Atlanticists". He began by co-opting the "Atlanticist" argument - Russia as a EUROPEAN nation -- but Europe's biggest and potentially most powerful. I think it significant that he told NATO Russia should not need to "apply" to join NATO -- it should be invited. In any case, things have worked out well for Russia and for Putin - badly for the US and Europe.
Some of the Russians. When thinking about politicians and business people, it’s always essential to distinguish between their private interests and their public statements. I think there is far more arm-twisting and outright blackmail than most of us suspect.
Short answer: no. Mr Putin, who has never failed to explain clearly and fully his aims, plans, and intentions, has been consistent in saying that after all the treachery Russia has no alternative but to turn away from Western Europe towards the rest of the world.
And it's common knowledge that he has always had to fight hard against many of the Russian oligarchs, for whom the welfare of Russia and its citizens are far less important than their own wealth and security.
I suspect that this is just Putin trying to win back a straying lover "I have options, you know!"
When I lived in Ukraine, it was the fashion to denigrate all things western. The moment membership in The Club was dangled out, all was forgotten, all was forgiven!
Trump only has time, love & attention to give to himself. He'd never have even thought about owning pets. President Putin on the other hand has & isnt scared to show his deep affection for his pets. Says everything to me as a massive lover of pets & animals.
Even Obama got a dog. For his kids, of course, to maintain the First Family image - y'know kids and dogs. I don't think he cared for dogs much in reality -- although I am sure the kids were happy! I felt REALLY sorry for Biden's dogs. Both his dogs became biters. Some people blame it on the breed. -- German shepherds - but I don't believe that. Blame the human not the dog. If you can't win the trust of a dog, you can't win the trust of a nation.
About that, remember Clinton's cat Socks? A lot of pretty photos about him, then he quietly disappeared and a dog took his place - probably because The American Family stereotype has a dog, not a cat, and PR works better with the dog. I don't think either Clinton or Biden spent more time than needed for the photo op with "their" dogs. They're props to win approval and nothing more.
It seems obvious to me that Putin never really believed the West. He acted like he did and they thought he did but Russia was not taken by surprise - the West has been and is still off balance.
No, Putin did want to make nice with the West. He even offered for Russia to join NATO in 2000! By 2007 however Putin had seen enough for him to change his mind. Hence, his watershed Munich speech.
More to the point, he never even had the courtesy of an acknowledgement - let alone a reply - let alone an acceptance.
Just as Mao Zedong's letter to Harry Truman in 1945, offering full-scale partnership between China and the USA, was simply ignored. So he turned to Stalin, who did what he could to help China.
There are bad dogs, just like bad people. Canine psychopaths....LOL. But they are rare. I have never met one. I have , however, met a LOT of bad people.
Before i knew i was Autistic, i have lived together with 2 cats; Black and white. Male and female.
From rather young a few years, after that i left my partner and the cats. I played with the male. I used to throw a mouse-like toy and he would catch or find it and brought it back for another turn. We had eye-contact.
Later i had a household with 2 large dogs, blond Belgian Bouviers. Mother and son. They are very different from cats... I used to be another dog among dogs when my partner was there and only when i was alone they accepted my rules.
Now i know i am Autistic and live alone and do not want an animal in my house. But i seek contact with the animals around the house. Especially with the pair of magpies who nestle somewhere in my vicinity. I greet them when i see them and they reply and when they see me they greet me. When the youngsters where ready to fly out i heard them and when i came outside it was the father who was proudly showing his kids on the nearby chimney. After that they went into summer. The cats in my neighbourhood know me. Some are shy but one of them found a place in my garden where she liked to be.
One day i found a seagull in my backyard. It is small and has a high ring Fence. The pretty large seagull needed a longer runway to get airborne than my garden offers. It had made him upset. So I opened the gate door and slowly, by walking around him, i guided him to the open gate door, after which there was a long path to be used as runway. And he flew away.
I always felt more of a person with animals -- if could "fit in" With Who-Mans I "masked". In my teen years, I had a wolf-hybrid. Not wolf , not dog. Both. I identified. We were both autistic.
When you say, "and reportedly Bill Clinton" - a long time ago, Jeffrey Sachs gave an interview in which he was part of the team, and he confirmed that Bill Clinton was in the loop.
Animal therapy? I miss my cat - but today got two "cat" bookends for my bookshelf. But they don't purr like my Misha.
What would I do without Ichi and Chappy? Who would I talk to? Umm....talk to intelligently, LOL, as in puurrrrrrrrrrrrr? Fortunately, I have made a lot of friends among coffeebuyers. Love'm.
"The US had made promises and he had to take them at their word unless they proved otherwise".
There was abundant, indeed overflowing evidence dating back to the 18th century that the US government's word is worth absolutely nothing. They lied to the Native Americans, and they have lied, cheated and stolen (not my words: Mike Pompeo's) ever since. If a US government ever kept a promise or honoured a treaty, it was solely because at the time that was the most convenient course. In Washington the words "honour", "promise", and "loyalty" mean nothing except as a cause for delighted laughter.
Quite true. However, I wonder if his strategy was not correct in the long term. By taking the Americans at their word, he in effect put them in the position of violating their promises (as they always do) in a way that would highlight their duplicity and hegemonic intentions. It would seem that the US had been trying to subvert Russians with images of American "affluence" and "power". Putin's focus was on re-inventing Russia and he needed to guide the understanding of the Russian people which had a substantial 5th Column -- the "Atlanticists". He began by co-opting the "Atlanticist" argument - Russia as a EUROPEAN nation -- but Europe's biggest and potentially most powerful. I think it significant that he told NATO Russia should not need to "apply" to join NATO -- it should be invited. In any case, things have worked out well for Russia and for Putin - badly for the US and Europe.
Yup, but the Russian leadership desperately want to be allowed to join The Club, which is why they fall for the Okey Doke, over and over again.
Some of the Russians. When thinking about politicians and business people, it’s always essential to distinguish between their private interests and their public statements. I think there is far more arm-twisting and outright blackmail than most of us suspect.
Any specifics?
Short answer: no. Mr Putin, who has never failed to explain clearly and fully his aims, plans, and intentions, has been consistent in saying that after all the treachery Russia has no alternative but to turn away from Western Europe towards the rest of the world.
And it's common knowledge that he has always had to fight hard against many of the Russian oligarchs, for whom the welfare of Russia and its citizens are far less important than their own wealth and security.
At the moment, no names no pack drill.
I suspect that this is just Putin trying to win back a straying lover "I have options, you know!"
When I lived in Ukraine, it was the fashion to denigrate all things western. The moment membership in The Club was dangled out, all was forgotten, all was forgiven!
Perfect example of the Great Man Theory. Only get one or two every century at most.
Maybe every couple of centuries?
If Putin sets the bar, yes.
Trump only has time, love & attention to give to himself. He'd never have even thought about owning pets. President Putin on the other hand has & isnt scared to show his deep affection for his pets. Says everything to me as a massive lover of pets & animals.
Even Obama got a dog. For his kids, of course, to maintain the First Family image - y'know kids and dogs. I don't think he cared for dogs much in reality -- although I am sure the kids were happy! I felt REALLY sorry for Biden's dogs. Both his dogs became biters. Some people blame it on the breed. -- German shepherds - but I don't believe that. Blame the human not the dog. If you can't win the trust of a dog, you can't win the trust of a nation.
About that, remember Clinton's cat Socks? A lot of pretty photos about him, then he quietly disappeared and a dog took his place - probably because The American Family stereotype has a dog, not a cat, and PR works better with the dog. I don't think either Clinton or Biden spent more time than needed for the photo op with "their" dogs. They're props to win approval and nothing more.
No such thing as bad dogs, just bad owners & the Biden family as a whole don't inspire much confidence.
It seems obvious to me that Putin never really believed the West. He acted like he did and they thought he did but Russia was not taken by surprise - the West has been and is still off balance.
No, Putin did want to make nice with the West. He even offered for Russia to join NATO in 2000! By 2007 however Putin had seen enough for him to change his mind. Hence, his watershed Munich speech.
See my reply to Tom above.
More to the point, he never even had the courtesy of an acknowledgement - let alone a reply - let alone an acceptance.
Just as Mao Zedong's letter to Harry Truman in 1945, offering full-scale partnership between China and the USA, was simply ignored. So he turned to Stalin, who did what he could to help China.
You make an excellent point. The US has a long history of rejecting offers of friendship. The US does not have friends, only slaves.
Like I said: “He acted like he did”.
I very much hope so - for all our sakes.
Exactly. A lot changes in a quarter of a century. People places positions and beliefs. I would never underestimate Putin. Or the effects of time.
Great article Julian, thanks. I didn’t know about Bidens dogs. Gonna have to look that up
There are bad dogs, just like bad people. Canine psychopaths....LOL. But they are rare. I have never met one. I have , however, met a LOT of bad people.
You’re keeping our informational space in place correctly with the truth .
Good point Brian B. Has made.
Autistics and Animals...
Before i knew i was Autistic, i have lived together with 2 cats; Black and white. Male and female.
From rather young a few years, after that i left my partner and the cats. I played with the male. I used to throw a mouse-like toy and he would catch or find it and brought it back for another turn. We had eye-contact.
Later i had a household with 2 large dogs, blond Belgian Bouviers. Mother and son. They are very different from cats... I used to be another dog among dogs when my partner was there and only when i was alone they accepted my rules.
Now i know i am Autistic and live alone and do not want an animal in my house. But i seek contact with the animals around the house. Especially with the pair of magpies who nestle somewhere in my vicinity. I greet them when i see them and they reply and when they see me they greet me. When the youngsters where ready to fly out i heard them and when i came outside it was the father who was proudly showing his kids on the nearby chimney. After that they went into summer. The cats in my neighbourhood know me. Some are shy but one of them found a place in my garden where she liked to be.
One day i found a seagull in my backyard. It is small and has a high ring Fence. The pretty large seagull needed a longer runway to get airborne than my garden offers. It had made him upset. So I opened the gate door and slowly, by walking around him, i guided him to the open gate door, after which there was a long path to be used as runway. And he flew away.
Cassandra
I always felt more of a person with animals -- if could "fit in" With Who-Mans I "masked". In my teen years, I had a wolf-hybrid. Not wolf , not dog. Both. I identified. We were both autistic.
When you say, "and reportedly Bill Clinton" - a long time ago, Jeffrey Sachs gave an interview in which he was part of the team, and he confirmed that Bill Clinton was in the loop.
Animal therapy? I miss my cat - but today got two "cat" bookends for my bookshelf. But they don't purr like my Misha.
What would I do without Ichi and Chappy? Who would I talk to? Umm....talk to intelligently, LOL, as in puurrrrrrrrrrrrr? Fortunately, I have made a lot of friends among coffeebuyers. Love'm.
I get the impression that two book-ends might not fit the bill...
In any case, Misha was very much an outdoor cat - and I live on the 14th floor. He'd need a parachute to be happy outdoors ;-)