![]() I think you’re right that we should be thinking more strategically about this war, but in this case, the tactical successes or failures are going to be critical in understanding our strategic options. ![]() There are some reports of initial successes, but even the military experts who are watching it most closely are not yet drawing conclusions. What is the Ukraine we want to see in three to five years, and how do we get from here to there? The question becomes even more important if Ukraine experiences a sudden and unexpected so-called catastrophic success on the battlefield.ĮA: First off, let’s be clear that it’s far too early to tell how this offensive is going for Ukraine. It makes me think that much of our Ukraine debate has understandably been focused on the tactical and near term, but we need to shift to more of a strategic focus. Initial reports suggest that the Ukrainian military is having some success in pushing the Russians back in both the south and northeast. ![]() MK: Well, Putin’s biggest concern this week is not emulating Gorbachev but Ukraine’s new military counteroffensive. So it’s not hard to see why folks in Russia might view Gorbachev’s legacy differently than those in the West or in Eastern Europe. Today’s war in Ukraine is a legacy of the Soviet collapse. But it did have other effects: a decade of economic collapse inside Russia, turmoil in the region, and ethnic conflict in some places. And it was good for the world, reducing the risk of nuclear confrontation and superpower war. That was good for many reasons: It was good for the people of Russia and for the citizens of the states in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, who didn’t have to live under communist tyranny. His biggest successes-reducing late Cold War tensions as well as building arms control agreements and other bridges to Washington-were inextricably tied to the perestroika and glasnost that ultimately brought down the Soviet Union. In many ways, he did fail in his primary goal: modernizing and maintaining the Soviet Union. It is scary, however, that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping see Gorbachev as a failure and an example to be avoided at all costs.ĮA: Where you sit is where you stand! In this case, it’s not hard to see why Putin and Xi would view Gorbachev as a failure. I suspect and hope there will be future Gorbachevs in Moscow (and maybe in Beijing) when these autocratic systems run out of steam. The failure of the Soviet system’s ability to keep up left him with few good options. It’s worth pointing out, however, that he alone didn’t end the competition. With a different leader in power in Moscow, the Cold War might not have ended peacefully. ![]() Many in the West have lionized him as a hero-and for good reason. It is scary that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping see Gorbachev as a failure and an example to be avoided at all costs. But he was a hugely important figure in helping to end the Cold War, even if he had little control over what came after. Like the queen, it almost feels like an endnote to history to be talking about Gorbachev, as he’s very much an emblem of a prior era in world politics. End of an era, indeed.ĮA: Of course, there was another era-defining death last month, and I did want to briefly talk about former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Following the British monarchy is also a common American pastime, and Washington has lost the head of state of its closest ally. Matthew Kroenig: Yes, but not only in the United Kingdom. Not all Brits are monarchists, of course, but her death will probably hit many in the United Kingdom hard. Although the queen had little real power in international affairs, she was a consistent symbol for many in Britain and elsewhere, one that had endured through World War II, the loss of the British empire, the Cold War, and everything that came after. The Second Elizabethan Era, to be precise, after Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday afternoon that Queen Elizabeth II passed away among her family at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |