Ha insegnato linguistica all’Mit di Boston. Il suo ultimo libro uscito in Italia è 11 settembre. Dieci anni dopo (Il Saggiatore 2011).
Dear ……,
Thanks very much for all the material you’ve sent.
Ukraine is a complicated issue. Its roots lie in the Gorbachev-Bush discussions right after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Gorbachev made an astonishing offer. He agreed to allow unification of Germany, and its membership in NATO, a hostile military alliance. In the light of recent history, this was a most astonishing concession. There was a quid pro quo. President Bush agreed that NATO would not expand “one inch to the East” – the phrase that was used — meaning to East Germany. Instantly, the US expanded NATO to East Germany. Gorbachev was naturally outraged, but when he complained, he was instructed by Washington that this was only a verbal promise, a gentleman’s agreement, hence without force. If he is naïve enough to accept the word of American leaders, it is his problem. Clinton was elected and expanded NATO further, right to Russia’s borders. It’s as if the Warsaw Pact had incorporated Mexico and Canada.
The West cannot perceive any of this, because of the tacit assumption that We Own the World.
Incorporation of Ukraine within a western alliance would be an extraordinary threat to Russian security. It’s quite interesting to read current western commentary. Putin is threatening Ukraine by mobilizing forces within Russia, and by supporting pro-Russian elements in Ukraine, on Russia’s borders. The US and its allies are not threatening anyone by mobilizing forces in Eastern European countries adjoining Russia and Ukraine and supporting pro-Western elements in Ukraine, on Russia’s borders. Again, all obvious, on the assumption that We Own the World.
Putin’s takeover of Crimea was doubtless a criminal act, in violation of international law. It’s not the only case, of course. For example, Russia has a far stronger case than the US in taking over Southeastern Cuba 110 years ago at gunpoint, including Cuba’s major port, and refusing to turn it back to Cuba after Cuba finally gained independence in 1959. Washington’s only justification is that this crime contributes to the US program of terror and economic strangulation of Cuba. But such truisms cannot be comprehended in highly indoctrinated societies, like the western democracies.
There’s a lot more to see, but these seem to me essential features.
About my participation in some kind of discussion of the matter, I’d like to arrange it, if possible. Not easy. My schedule, as you know, is extremely difficult, with barely a gap. But perhaps something can be arranged.
Best regards to You
Noam