Is there an escape from this march to oblivion?
There is. Most urgently: negotiation and de-escalation, as noted above.
Beyond that, we might acknowledge, without necessarily agreeing with, the Russians' perceived grievances against us.
We might attempt, however painfully, to accept the idea that we Americans are not perfect, or even "exceptional." We might then make a sincere and determined attempt to correct these errors. As a wise man once observed: "the greatest of all faults is to be conscious of none."
We might, through our news media and our schools, learn more about Russian history and culture, and apply this knowledge to our foreign policy. Russia has bestowed upon the world a vast legacy of literature, art and science. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, cable TV networks such as The Discovery and The History Channel featured an impressive array of programs celebrating this legacy and portraying Russian history. They are absent today.
We might insist that the media welcome dissenting views. That media entertains "both sides" of the evolution and climate change debates. Why not the Russian "threat"?
Then there is "the peace dividend:" if we cut the $824 billion military budget in half, the United States would still have the largest military in the world -- not including the military of its allies. Those $400 plus billions could then be applied directly to the physical and human infrastructure -- roads, rail, water and sewage, electrical grids, internet access, schools, scientific research and development. The neglect of these essential institutions and services poses a far greater threat to American security and world leadership, than any Russian threat imagined by the media-hawks.
All these positive moves are possible. But sadly, they are unlikely while we are captivated by this deadly anti-Russian "group-think."
And so I must urgently ask the neo-cons and the mainstream media: What do you see as a way out of this deadly trap? What else other than negotiations and mutual concessions? Do you ever ask these questions? Do you even care?
What common interest could, and should, unite the United States and Russia?
We begin with the mutual acknowledgment that we Americans and the Russians are fated to live on the same planet. There is no "Planet B." Then we acknowledge common threats and plan together in good faith efforts to deal with them. We know these threats: Non-state terrorism, climate change, nuclear war.
There is no need to posit, as Ronald Reagan suggested, an alien invasion from outer space to unite us.
When I visited Russia seven times in the nineties, Americans were very popular. Some polls showed that Russians approved of Americans four to one. Now, I am told, those numbers have been reversed. No doubt, many Russians are just pissed-off at us yanks. Still more, I suspect, are simply bewildered as they wonder, "why are the Americans treating us this way?"
I confess that I do not have an answer that does us Americans much credit.
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