I read blog posts from my mentors and former professors regularly. Particularly I still read Dr. Saideman's Blog (Saideman's Semi-Spew) on a routine basis. Usually some good stuff to think about and much that I find humorous in the presentation. Yesterday he posted about a presentation he gave at a NATO Association of Canada conference. Apparently the Russian representatives in the room were not thrilled with Steve's presentation.
One line caught my attention. "Anyhow, I realized that the Russians do a fine job of making me take hardline stances--that the cold war is back and we might as well remember the old playbook of tripwires and credible commitments." So, I asked myself is the Cold War back? For my two cents, I am not sure, particularly as I have been stressing to students for about 15 years the need to remove ourselves from Cold War mentality in determining security threats, security needs, and strategic planning. Then I thought about my critique of U.S. foreign policy and strategic decision-making in the last 20+ years and realized that indeed most of the decision makers are Cold War bred. So I ask now, did the Cold War ever end?
One line caught my attention. "Anyhow, I realized that the Russians do a fine job of making me take hardline stances--that the cold war is back and we might as well remember the old playbook of tripwires and credible commitments." So, I asked myself is the Cold War back? For my two cents, I am not sure, particularly as I have been stressing to students for about 15 years the need to remove ourselves from Cold War mentality in determining security threats, security needs, and strategic planning. Then I thought about my critique of U.S. foreign policy and strategic decision-making in the last 20+ years and realized that indeed most of the decision makers are Cold War bred. So I ask now, did the Cold War ever end?
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