Cold-war redux

Letter in response to a Los Angeles Times article, A Cold War redux is seen on the horizon, January 29, 2008

Rather than enlighten its readers, the Times' article on U.S.-Russian relations ("A Cold War Redux Is Seen on the Horizon," Jan. 29) fosters tensions through its curiously one-sided reportage. It may well be that Bush administration officials have concluded that "Russia is now more comfortable with the U.S. as an enemy than an ally," but if so, they are merely projecting their own prejudices on the Kremlin, for there is strong evidence that it has been U.S. policies and statements which are predominantly responsible for the deterioration. It was the Bush administration which unilaterally abandoned the ABM (anti-ballistic missile) treaty; works to militarize space; plans new generations of nuclear arms; endeavors to push NATO's borders eastward and establish military relationships with countries encircling Russia; and is trying to establish ABM batteries along Russia's western borders. And it has been the Bush administration which has been pursuing reckless and destabilizing policies in the Middle East, the Caucuses and southwest Asia, regions of considerable strategic importance to Russia. Russian analysts and leaders reasonably perceive these actions and aims as threatening to Russian security, and have reacted in the regrettable but understandable ways described in the article. We should not be blind to the disturbing anti-democratic developments within Russia, but tensions would be much lower and the U.S. would be able to play a far more constructive role if our policies were better chosen, and if our news media were more objective in their reporting. Let us hope that 2009 brings us an administration which pursues a wiser course.

Note: this was originally posted on ketches, yaks & hawks 29 January 2008