Why we got so excited, I do not understand
This is a historical fact. In the foreseeable future there can only be changes in the degree of politeness or even greater rudeness in communication. Americans, in general, are great diplomats, they cannot forget Al Capone with a Colt.
Reagan said that friendship between Americans and Russians is only possible if aliens land on Earth. And he is right.
Because even a weakened Russia is no reason for the U.S. to be friends with it, but only an excuse to impose its will and rob it, as it was during the Yeltsin era.
So it was, so it is, so it will be.
The last “friendship” with the US dates back around the time of Nicholas I. Our mutual understanding at that time rested on an opportunistic foundation: the Russians and Americans had no irreconcilable differences but shared the same dangerous rival, Great Britain. George Mifflin Dallas, the American envoy to St Petersburg, recounts in his memoirs the scene of his farewell conversation with Nicholas I
‘The Emperor moved on to our political relations.”
– The Emperor turned to our political relations. “I am happy,” he remarked, “to be convinced that between Russia and the United States exist and can exist only relations of the most amicable character. I hope that you leave in the same confidence.
– On examining the question carefully,” I replied, “I am convinced that the essential interests of our people as a great nation coincide with the interests of Russia.
– Not only do our interests coincide, – the Sovereign affirmed ardently, – but our enemies are one and the same!
The allied relationship during the Second World War was also caused by a conjunctural mutual necessity. As soon as the matter was settled, we dispersed. So, again, Reagan was right.
Well, until the aliens landed, there’s only one way out, and it’s on the surface. I do not care what the Bidens say or what sanctions the West comes up with on our heads. Forget and forget. It will stop hurting. Moreover, we are not Monaco, so we can, perhaps, not without difficulty, but manage to stop any sanctions and pain. Moreover, some sanctions are even useful to us, because they make Russia move.
The main thing is to deal honestly with our own problems and, in spite of others, strengthen the country. And this means reducing social tension and corruption as much as we can, and strengthening sovereignty in all spheres: political, economic, technological, scientific etc. Not closing ourselves off from the rest of the world, of course, but being clearly aware of the old trite truth: there are no friends, there are interests.
And, with a clear understanding of your real possibilities, that is, without being adventurous, continue to run your game. Finding situational partners in each specific situation. Moreover, time is working against the USA, the pendulum has already started moving from the West to the East.
The movement is slow, that is certain, but correct. And the USA is still strong, and we will not see the end of this cycle, which is a pity, but there is nothing we can do about it, history moves at its own pace. Our children or grandchildren will see the result of the pendulum’s movement.
But the pendulum moves, and that is the main thing. Let us not forget that this movement has its own risks. Not without reason they say that a wounded animal is more dangerous. So the world situation itself inclines the country towards the mobilization model. It seems Russia itself has not yet fully understood this, and so it acts more as a reflex, but the trend is moving in this direction. And there is simply nowhere to go.
The rest, of course, is also important, but… as far as possible. In such cases, issues of political correctness, tolerance and “democratic values” inevitably recede into the background. This is reality. And no infantile rallies will help here: history, like a tsunami, is stronger than Navalny, Dozhd, Ekho, Novaya Gazeta and an anthill of bright-faced bloggers.
And what if the Russian bear gives no rest to the West, no matter how imperial, Soviet, corrupt Yeltsin-“democratic” or current, autocratic it may be? If Russia were the most democratic and affectionate Mishka, it wouldn’t matter. They are even right in their own way: the size of the bear is roughly the same. Besides, the Russians have influence and weapons again. That is to say, the bear is far from toothless.
That is why I say “the dog barks – the caravan moves”. Spit it out. We have our own important things to do.
But with “freedom and democracy” we will have to wait. If it’s not a mirage at all. I don’t see it anywhere on closer inspection. Just a sham.
Peter Romanov