The question: Does the US understand Russia?
Judge Napolitano as we all know asks similar questions to those that he interviews in order to compare answers. This is good and one cannot critique that method.
The one question that comes up time and time again, is if the US understands Russia, i.e., do they get it when Russia talks about internediate nuclear missiles, or Ukraine, or indivisible security or any of the topics that impact on a Russian US relationship.
None of the interviewees to my knowledge has given a solid answer to that question. It is always a NO, the US does not understand Russia. And that understanding seems to be the order of the day. It does not hold true, not in the slightest.
It is said that if you want to understand what Russia says, listen to Mr.Putin or Mr.Lavrov. So, during the time that the Russians were proposing a new security framework for Europe (end of 2020 into 2021), one of the questions to Mr.Lavrov was exactly that. He had had negotiations with Anthony Blinken and the question was whether Blinken understood the situation, and whether Blinken understands the Russian message.
Mr.Lavrov said and this is from memory. ‘Of course he understands. He looks at me and shrugs his shoulders’.
This is then what I would like to get through to the US pundits. Yes, the US understands Russia and the situation. They prefer to do what they want to, they prefer war to peace and their jobs depend on them shrugging their shoulders and walking away, rather than understanding Russia.
Here is an interview where this question came up again. Nothing critical to the people involved, just illustrating the question and the answer. The question is at time marker +- 12.30
Now, Mr Lavrov: “During my talks with Antony Blinken in Geneva, I asked him to explain why they regard the obligations made within the OSCE as a menu from which they are free to choose the dishes that taste good to them, and why they are disregarding or talking round their pledge to honour the interests of other countries. Mr Blinken did not reply to my question. He only shrugged his shoulders, and that’s it.”
https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/1796041/
Yes, the collective west understands clearly. They are simply trying it on as they believe vervently in their own superiority and arrogent supremacy complex. Perhaps the US pundits will also understand this. It is another excuse. We have to call them out and not make space for a stance of: ‘Poor Lil’ Tony did not understand the question on the test’. Poor Lil’ Tony did understand but shrugged his shoulders.
I was thinking of this exact point today while watching that interview. It is not a question of understanding. It is not that the USA does not comprehend. It is not a mistake or a miscommunication or a lack of communication. It is not who is president right now. It… Read more »
That seems to be the general feeling around these parts Hank. It must be a problem in the head to want to own the world!
I can’t resist the trigger, who indeed? And the film! Comrade Brecht! https://archive.org/details/KUHLE-WAMPE_WHO-OWNS-THE-WORLD
Not to quibble, my friends, but I disagree… Though I suppose it depends on what “understand” means. Slice the word into bits. Ask then, do they understand the Russians don’t bluff? Do they understand that their own personal existence depends on Russian weapons, particularly atomic weapons, and unstoppable rockets? These… Read more »
It is really difficult to see that this excuse is being built in already. And from those that know something. Not the deplorables, not the democrats or the republicans on the street, but those with knowledge and experience. We’re dealing with a strange phenomenon here. They acknowledge the misdeeds, but… Read more »
Andrei Martyanov recommended your opinion here in his opening remarks on today’s video.
Really? I’ll go and take a listen later toward my evening. We have a difference of stance usually I think. His judgement is different .. and is basically Who Knows War. Mine is different again and I like to operate in the non-war world. So, we see things a little… Read more »
Thanks for this comment by Lavrov! Yes, they understand perfectly well. This also lays to rest another perennial dishonest excuse – that they are incompetent. All these lies serve to keep blood-soaked criminals perfumed and protected in the eyes of the Global Majority, whom they seek to control, and cannot… Read more »