Next, the Russians should pledge never to annex the Russian-speaking eastern provinces of Ukraine, as the West agrees in return not to extend NATO membership to Ukraine. Then Ukraine, for its part, should agree to adopt a federation, with semi-autonomous Russian and Ukrainian regions. A bi-lingual nation? Why not? It works cuite well in Belgium and Canada.
With an easing of military tensions, the time would then be ripe to reinstate educational, cultural and scientific exchanges. Russian scientists and technologists might then join a coordinated global effort to halt and possibly reverse climate change. Nuclear stockpiles would then be radically reduced, as they were at the end of the first cold war, and removed from "launch on warning" status. Russian, American, European and, yes, some Islamic countries, might unite in a joint campaign against terrorism.
"Impossible!" say the neo-cons. "Naive and dangerous!" "Start making concessions the Russians, and they will only demand more, with no reciprocating concessions on their part. You just can't trust those conniving Russians.!
Perhaps. And if so, then we will find out soon enough, and the New Cold War will be on again, whereupon we all may be on the road to Armageddon.
On the other hand, a "benign circle" of accommodation might lead to a new era of peace, prosperity and partnership.
If the tit-for-tat experiment fails, what do we lose? A few useless missile bases in eastern Europe? A strategically deployed military? The withdrawn NATO military units can be readily returned along the Russian border. Small costs compared to the enormous advantages of peaceful coexistence and partnership that will follow successful negotiations.
In sum, little to lose and much to gain -- a gamble well worth taking. Russians win. Americans win. The world at large wins.
From his moral point of view on Mars, Marty would be pleased.
And you should be too.
"All I am saying, is give peace a chance."
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