“Crimean fantasies: A webcast.”
Nobody’s reasoning why, per usual.
28 JUNE—“Foolish,” “provocative,” “reckless,” “hubristic”: Most of these terms are James Carden’s as we discussed, in this weekend exchange, the H.M.S. Defender’s purposeful intrusion into Russian waters off Crimea last week. And those terms not James’s are mine.
There is a narrow way to look at this incident: What in hell was a British warship doing so close to waters we know Russia claims? And there is a broader context to consider: What kind of relations do the Western powers—or more precisely “the English-speaking peoples”—want with Russia?
James and I took up these questions and several others in this 40–minute recording, he from Washington, I from Norfolk. My own conclusion to the above-posed question: America does not want a settled relationship with the Russians—and Biden may not be serious even about his “strategic stability.” Corollary: This position will divide the West.
Drawing on his extensive background in Russian affairs and U.S.–Russian ties, James brought much nuance to our exchange.
— P.L.
Norfolk, Conn.
Great discussion and historical context. I tend to agree that it doesn’t look like we’re too serious about wanting to improve our relationship with Russia. On the other hand, Biden practically begged Putin for the summit, ostensibly to stabilize w/ Russia in order to concentrate on China. Then he spends the next 4 weeks putting on his tough guy John Wayne act. It’s just herky jerky even by US standards. I can’t figure out if he has advisors pulling him in different directions, or he’s just really bad at staying on message.
All my Australian thinking, suspicions, bare grasp of the history of the region - wandering along a Boulevard de Sébastopol in Paris in early 1973 - recalling a part of the CCP called "The" Ukraine - having seen a Ukrainian theatre anti-Nazi "musical" in Irkutsk in 1976 - having the location of Ossetia pointed out to me during a visit to Georgia in late 2019 and hearing perspectives on the Russians and the way they had left the region a patchwork of ancient enmities keeping each other on alert (Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan) - on the northern/western sides to the Black Sea - Iran on the south-eastern side... suspicious of the narrative of the passenger aircraft brought down (a number of Australians on board and active engagement by the then ugly Australian PM Tony (suppository-of-wisdom) Abbott (self described that delicious insert) later exposed as a good buddy to the rightwing leaders of Poland and of Hungary - and a best mate to Cardinal George Pell (alleged paedophile/paedophile priest protector)...trying to make sense of the region... Australians had a colonial presence in the mid-19th century Crimean War - were at Gallipoli in 1915 at Churchill's ill-planned attack on the Ottomans (and referencing British/US warships sailing through (or turning back from) The Bosporus in these dangerous times - trying to figure out the motives of the US and their engagement everywhere in that region - indeed in any region of the world - your discussion - Patrick L and James C was like a linking up of the numbers on a child's picture puzzle - making the whole thing become clear - for which I offer my sincere thanks. I loved the pointing out of the war-mongering tribes of Europe - the Baltic States, Poland - and Core Europe - France/Germany. I have a sister-in-law who is French - I've travelled in France - I studied French in high school here way back when it was seen as a high culture and truly international tongue of diplomacy - I know there are ancient ties linking France and Russia. And I have travelled and lived if briefly in Germany - kinship links there, too. I liked it when James C referenced some respect for Charles de G - though like Patrick L I have no respect for Winston C - and puzzle too over the movie representations according him a god-like status. So you can see something of the the chaos in my thinking re Ukraine/Crimea and the background/current dangers. Yes - I knew something of the neo-Nazis now in power in Ukraine having with US connivance effected a truly undemocratic overthrow of its former elected leader - that the Bidens are involved in some sort of skulduggery there - and that Crimea was a majority Russian "enclave" and never really part of "old" Ukraine - and yes Sebastopol a "warm-water" Russian port. Nevertheless - with the notes I scribbled while you were both speaking I have now a much clearer picture of the background. I loved it especially when the delusions held by the UK that they are still a major military power were by data/statistics rather demolished. And, yes - some isolationism might not be a bad idea - imagining were the US to pull all its 800 (?) military bases back home - how much more peaceful our world might be (though the paranoid WMD producers would surely have to ramp up false flag incidents - otherwise how would the shareholders get by)?