John Lewis Gaddis’s biography of American statesman and scholar George Kennan published in 2011 has brought into new currency the life and thinking of one of the nation’s most extraordinary public figures of the 20th century. In the latest online edition of Foreign Affairs magazine, Naftali takes the new interest in the man who was the only US Ambassador to Russia to be declared persona non grata and find points in common with the plight of the incumbent ambassador Michael McFaul. There is indeed plenty of commonality, but not in the sense Naftali adduces. Read on…
Rebuttal: “The End of the ‘Reset’. Why Putin’s Re-Election Means Turbulence Ahead” by Andrew C. Kuchins, Foreign Affairs, March 1, 2012
The political science community in the United States has divided opinions on Iran, divided opinions on China, but is lined up like so many ducks in a row in its (mis)understanding of Russia. In what follows, a contrarian speaks out against the latest wrong-minded take on Putin’s political agenda in Foreign Affairs magazine…..
An Open Letter to Guy Verhofstadt
Universal geniuses do not exist in nature, as Guy Verhofstadt’s ill-informed and wrongheaded remarks on the electoral victory of Vladimir Putin demonstrate amply. Read on…
Russia Votes, 4 March 2012: The Information War
On this day when Russians go to the polls to elect their President for the coming 6 years, of one thing we can be certain: whatever the plurality that Vladimir Putin may obtain (as projected by the most authoritative polls this past week), Western media will find reason to discredit the process for the sake of repudiating his authority and undercutting Russia’s place in the world. If, most improbably, he fails to win outright in this first round of voting, the howls of delight will echo from Whitehall to Foggy Bottom and in many chancelleries in between…Read on
Continue reading “Russia Votes, 4 March 2012: The Information War”
Russia and European Energy Security: The Inevitable Intrusion of Geopolitics
All aspects of Europe’s relations with Russia including the energy dimension inevitably have a strong geopolitical overlay which at times becomes distorting beyond recognition. To put it in terms of everyman’s anecdotal Freud: here we have a cigar which is never just a cigar. Read on….
Continue reading “Russia and European Energy Security: The Inevitable Intrusion of Geopolitics”
Year One of the Revolution: Travel Notes from Morocco
The results of the well controlled Arab Spring in Morocco are taking shape before our eyes as the first Islamist-headed government settles down to work. With God’s help, progress towards good governance may yet be made, notwithstanding the headwinds of economic recession blowing in from the Old Continent. Read on…
Continue reading “Year One of the Revolution: Travel Notes from Morocco”
Corruption in High Places: Germany under the Spotlight
The ongoing scandals surrounding German President Christian Wulff make a mockery of his arrogant denial of Russian aspirations for a visa-free regime with Europe. Read on….
Continue reading “Corruption in High Places: Germany under the Spotlight”
Bye-bye Nabucco!
The signing in Ankara on 26 December of the contracts for creation of a Trans-Anatolia Natural Gas Pipeline sounds the death-knell of the EU’s Nabucco project. It is now high time for Mr Barroso’s Commission to re-examine the folly of its Energy Charter and 3rd Directive on Un-bundling Gas Transmission and Production.
More on Putin and Democracy
If you type the words “Putin, democracy” in Google search, dozens of articles appear on the screen, all saying one thing. The consequence of such complacent consensus of opinion is a generalized ignorance of where exactly Russia is headed now. Read on…
Putin’s Democracy
The recent interview of Vladimir Putin with three senior media executives provides insights into the democratic vision and blind spots of Russia’s leading politician as he prepares for his return to the presidency.
Gilbert Doctorow 