Program on the events that have undermined relations between the Russians and the United States. What might be the out come? What is at stake? Who is the aggressor?
Professor Mearsheimer will address the causes of the crisis and how it has poisoned relations between the United States and Russia to the detriment of both countries and disaster for the Ukraine.
Mr. Rozoff will speak on the transformation of NATO from a defensive alliance into a component of U.S. Foreign Policy, intent on neutralizing Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent.
Q&A provides additional perspective and analysis on why the Russians see what the U.S. is pushing as an existential threat. A bit of historical background mentioned is that by the time of the Allied invasion, the Soviets had destroyed over 90% of German military, suffering 8 million soldiers lost, 3.5 million POWs murdered by the Germans and some 16 million civilian deaths. Russia was destroyed while it's population devastated; it was a threat only to the U.S. ideological model of unfettered Capitalism. Yet without missing a beat the U.S. declared the Soviets the new enemy while some top officials in the U.S. military planned and advocated to attack with nuclear weapons as soon as sufficient numbers were available. Soviet development of their own bomb became a deterrent to that end.
Yet the Russians are afraid of a U.S. first strike. They have said so. They witnessed the ruthlessness of the planets foremost "Liberal Democracy" as it has mutated into Fascism's leading brand. Russians remember their history even if we do not. Professor Mearsheimer comments to that fact during the Q&A.
Evanston Neighbors for Peace Evanston Public Library, Adult Services
Dr. John J. Mearsheimer, Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science and the co-director of the Program on International Security Policy at the University of Chicago
Article in Foreign Affairs Magazine: http://mearsheimer.uchicago.edu/pdfs/Getting%20Ukraine%20Wrong.pdf
Rick Rozoff, anti-war activist and manager of the STOP NATO website.