"People familiar with me know that I believe the Russians covertly control many leftist organizations throughout the world. I have partially detailed my thinking on this in previous posts and will not reiterate much background here."
I'd agree, insofar as leftist organizations are anti-US organizations, so they can generally be counted on to follow the Russians. The so-called Institute for Global Education was a Soviet front, and it fell apart when the USSR did. As Russia vanishes from history (low birth rates, emigration), it can still try to drag us into its grave.
But the main reason for Russian arms sales (Iran, Venezuela, Syria) is cash. Back when the USSR fell apart, the US should have actively recruited Soviet scientists and arms technologists, a la post-WWII "Paperclip". Alas, didn't happen.
The Russians have been dismantling Chechnya, as well as its own post-Soviet capitalists, in order to impose state control over hydrocarbon supplies, a major export which will grow in importance for some years. Shed of its troublesome, landlocked, predominantly Moslem SSRs in Central Asia, Putin's renewed Soviet Union can concentrate on solvable problems, such as Chechnya.
The Chinese are not allies of Russia. They are enemies, and have been since 1960 at least. From time to time the Chinese and Russians pursue a common interest at the expense of the US, but China needs Russian oil and gas to support development and growth. North Korea is a political convenience only for the Chinese -- to control it, the Chinese would literally have to invade and occupy it.
I think we did try to get as many scientists as possible. With 'Paperclip", they were prisoners and we just took possession of the Nazis. Not to mention the Soviets got their fair share of Nazi scientists.
"I'd agree, insofar as leftist organizations are anti-US organizations, so they can generally be counted on to follow the Russians. The so-called Institute for Global Education was a Soviet front, and it fell apart when the USSR did."
But other, better hidden connections between the Russians and the American Left remained, in my opinion. Unfortunately, I cannot prove it.
"As Russia vanishes from history (low birth rates, emigration), it can still try to drag us into its grave."
Perhaps we agree, in a sense. In my view, Russia is not vanishing. From the standard perspective, they are in a great decline. But the standard perspectives may not be the crucial one---especially as far as the United States is concerned. I feel Russia's main strength and talent, at this point in time, is subversion. I believe the Russians have elevated the practice of subversion higher than anybody in the history of the world. Utilizing this talent, combined with their other assets, they have a reasonably good chance to destroy our society. If they do so, the possibility of them "vanishing" afterwards does not make me feel any better.
"But the main reason for Russian arms sales (Iran, Venezuela, Syria) is cash."
I agree, but wouldn't you also agree that they are at the same time playing the same old anti-American game---albeit twisted into a new form.
"Back when the USSR fell apart, the US should have actively recruited Soviet scientists and arms technologists, a la post-WWII "Paperclip". Alas, didn't happen."
Agreed that would have been a good idea.
"The Russians have been dismantling Chechnya, as well as its own post-Soviet capitalists, in order to impose state control over hydrocarbon supplies, a major export which will grow in importance for some years. Shed of its troublesome, landlocked, predominantly Moslem SSRs in Central Asia, Putin's renewed Soviet Union can concentrate on solvable problems, such as Chechnya."
True. And I believe the Russians are playing a central role in the troubles that are causing oil prices to be so high---which benefits them. I believe they may have found a formula to keep oil prices high indefinitely--due to creating world tension. The fact that the US will be worrying the most will be icing on the cake for the Russians.
"The Chinese are not allies of Russia. They are enemies, and have been since 1960 at least."
Anatoli Golitsyn, high-ranking KGB member who defected to the US in 1961, says the Russian Chinese conflict starting in 1960 was a fake. He says it was concocted in a series of international communism meetings in Moscow from 1957 through 1960, meetings that he not only attended but helped create the agenda for. (New Lies for Old is the title of his first book.)
"From time to time the Chinese and Russians pursue a common interest at the expense of the US, but China needs Russian oil and gas to support development and growth."
I would agree, on many levels, that Russian and Chinese interests diverge. Yet I believe they are much closer allies than they let on.
"North Korea is a political convenience only for the Chinese -- to control it, the Chinese would literally have to invade and occupy it."
We disagree completely on this one.