thursday’s nima with michael & richard offers some insight into the complexities of putin & the other members of primakov’s select cadre. michael’s family, its history & its impact upon him as well as on minneapolis was riveting, however, michael’s revelation of stalin’s agreement with roosevelt to refrain from supporting or promoting labour strikes during the war is singular. therein, we may find some glimmer of comprehending russia’s pragmatism. mao’s disenchantment with stalin. it’s possible all russian generals must be capable of burning moscow to secure victory. mao understood this, & made several decisions similar, but never (to my knowledge) against an ally. in the west we are suckled upon the myths arising from plunder, its right to rule & own, so much so we erect museums to showcase plunder. russia & china are suckled upon the realities of being vanquished & plundered & appear reconciled, bonded in a desire to attain security. perhaps to serve this they endeavour to avoid empire’s distractions & pitfalls.
