volprof
Destroyer of Nihilists
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- Oct 26, 2011
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More than likely but to what extent? I do not know. Regardless of Russian involvement (because it is not how the information was discovered but the content of the information), all countries attempt to meddle in each other's affairs. It's what we do. Do I think Trump is more amicable to Russian interests? Potentially. He didn't want to establish a no fly zone in Syria that almost certainly would have led to confrontation. I personally do not see what is the issue with improving relations with Russia. Countries do not have to become allies to improve relations. They have to negotiate sore spots to prevent conflict. No one wants to see Russia and the US duke it out. That is bad for the world. The solution is to SMARTLY find common ground and KNOW what to yield on. Do I think we will concede the fight in Ukraine? Absolutely not. Historically, we support democratically elected governments. This conflict will likely remain frozen for the next few decades. It is the nature of conflicts in eastern Europe (see Moldova). Can we barter better trade deals? Yes. Can we attempt joint ventures to sponsor natural resource exploration? Absolutely. We will not have joint military exercises. We will not trade military technologies.
Sorry for the long paragraph but there is so much to political reconciliation with a geopolitical foe. I do think there are a great many things to keep an eye on. Nothing concerning but issues of interest. Geopolitics after all is a big chess game.
Good post.
To be contrary though, I just can't accept the idea that all Putin wants is better relations with the US. Does he want a US that is easier to deal with and one not as antagonistic to Russian aims as in the past? Certainly, but I think he still aims to subvert us along the way, no matter how good our relations. Because, like any Chekist worth his weight in borsch, he knows that a foe can change its mind at any moment or can likewise be using subterfuge.
I think, like a minority of geopolitical analysts, that Putin resolved some time ago to either destroy the US through subversion tactics (clearly couldn't do it in a war, which wouldn't be desirable even if he could destroy us through such means) characterized by "special warfare" or to at least put our domestic situation into so much chaos that we are effectively removed from geopolitics.
I think he resolved this roughly 5-8 years ago, the result of some sort of combination of anger over the fall of the Soviet Union, US triumphalism as the lone superpower, NATO expansion to Russia's borders, and perceived American meddling in color revolutions in the post-Soviet space. I think that he and his security service allies determined that the only way for Russia forward was to rid itself of this American threat, and if it served vengeance on silver platter, then all the better. Men like Putin never forget a wrong, and they never forgive it.
There's actually a former member of Putin's inner circle that claims he was privy to Kremlin meetings regarding the "Third World War," which resolved to do the very things I just mentioned through hybrid warfare, especially through cyber warfare tactics, hacking, and disinformation. I tend to trust such men when they so often end up dead.