The “New Cold War” and the American Sense of History

Abstract

In order to derail the U.S.-Russia partnership, the Lobby has sought to revive the image of Russias as an enemy of the United States. The Russophobic groups have exploited important differences between the two countries’ historical self-perceptions, presenting those differences as incompatible.

It’s time we start thinking of Vladimir Putin’s Russia as an enemy of the United States.

(Bret Stephens, “Russia: The Enemy,” The Wall Street Journal, November 28, 2006)

If today’s reality of Russian politics continues … then there is the real risk that Russia’s leadership will be seen, externally and internally, as illegitimate.

(John Edwards and Jack Kemp, “We Need to Be Tough with Russia,” International Herald Tribune, July 12, 2006)

On Iran, Kosovo, U.S. missile defense, Iraq, the Caucasus and Caspian basin, Ukraine—the list goes on—Russia puts itself in conflict with the U.S. and its allies … here are worse models than the united Western stand that won the Cold War the first time around.

(“Putin Institutionalized,” The Wall Street Journal, November 19, 2007)