Why Negotiations With Russia Seem So Difficult

The American Conservative ^ | 7/13/25 | George O'Neill

[EnderWiggin1970]

Russia is more than a millennium old with a long diplomatic history. Some of Russia’s difficulty may come from the U.S. elites’ ignorance of Russian history and its sensitivities to real or perceived threats of foreign invasion. Many Americans remember the huge drama which arose during the Kennedy presidency when the Soviets put a few missiles in Cuba. Foreign policy wonks still talk about how close we came to World War III.

Americans who do not know or acknowledge Russia’s history are unable to understand Russian thinking, thus compromising their ability to consummate agreements with Russia.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the U.S. political elites promised not to move NATO east into former Warsaw Pact countries. Every time another former Warsaw Pact nation was added into NATO, the Russians complained and the West shrugged off the complaints. They believed Russia was too weak due to their struggle to recover from the ruinous Soviet years. Washington’s attitude was, “So what are you going to do about it?”

U.S. leaders also have spent years engaging ad nauseam in threats to weaken or break up Russia, to ruin the Russian economy, to change the Russian regime—and, of course, have levied decades of never-ending sanctions. This behavior has eroded the trust necessary to negotiate in good faith.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

AC: I contend that the United States of America has been at least as dangerous and evil in my lifetime as any other country in the world. Prove me wrong.

Williams: I’ll just settle for proving you anti American.

Proof not given.

But I do have a question: if the Founding Fathers were to recoil at what has become of our country; if they were to call it evil due to abuses that would have made King George blush (because if you'll recall, the Tea Tax that was a catalyst for the Boston Tea Party was 3%; the Founders would be flabbergasted at the sorts of taxes we have nowadays, notwithstanding the foreign entanglements that George Washington specifically warned against); would you say that they were anti-American?

[Williams]

I’ll try to explain this as simply as possible. People that want to say the US is the most evil country on Earth are nuts.

And the convoluted logic like the Founding Fathers are on your side. Also nuts.

You don’t know enough history or have enough perspective to blow your nose.

And now these same nuts are turning on Trump.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

People that want to say the US is the most evil country on Earth are nuts.

Don't be disingenuous; that's not what AC said. To wit: "I contend that the United States of America has been at least as dangerous and evil in my lifetime as any other country in the world."

"At least as dangerous and evil...as any other country" is not "the most evil country".

[Williams]

More word games by nuts.

I think that as you turn on Trump you’re being exposed to most people.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

I think that as you turn on Trump you’re being exposed to most people.

Facts not in evidence.

But since you've gone this far, it must be said: if you care more about Trump's reputation than [insert significant issue here, be it greater escalation in foreign wars, Epstein's clients being exposed, and so forth], you are in fact in a cult.

Politicians aren't your friends. Donald Trump is not your friend.

It's okay—necessary—to call them out when they lose the plot. (Because any variation of "Trust the Plan™" is utterly worthless after the whole QAnon debacle.)

[Williams]

Let’s be clear, you are not my friend. You seem to want to go against Trump because you have your own issues. You’re also making up lots of run on nonsense. Just get lost, all this nuttiness is not helping FR.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Let’s be clear, you are not my friend.

I never claimed to be. But you seem to be acting as though any criticism of Trump is a deep affront to your person.

You seem to want to go against Trump because you have your own issues.

Give specifics instead of baseless ad hominem: I want Trump to actually succeed on what he ran on. Getting us further involved in the Ukraine war, for example, was not one of them.

You’re also making up lots of run on nonsense.

Like what?

Just get lost, all this nuttiness is not helping FR.

Ah, because "nuttiness" is the only reason FR's Freepathons keep taking longer and longer with each passing year, I'm sure.

[TexasGator]

“”At least as dangerous and evil...as any other country” is not “the most evil country”.”

Tied for most evil.