Nobody in Russia Takes Pompeo, or Trump, Seriously Anymore

Andrei Martyanov(Checkpoint Asia) Wed, May 15, 2019 | 800 words 7,537  104

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Ok, US Secretary of the State Pompeo will travel to Russia to, quoting AFP:

The top US diplomat will meet Putin on Tuesday in the Black Sea resort of Sochi to “discuss the full range of bilateral and multilateral challenges,” the State Department said.

It is, of course, a positive development, once one considers alternatives, but as Russian media report (in Russian), while Iran, Venezuela and other hot issues are on the agenda, it is the issue of arms control which Washington is most interested in. Obviously State Department paints this seemingly noble effort with a broad brush, talking about multi-lateral negotiations (well, China, it’s you)—this is all fine and dandy, who would argue against that. Except, two teeny-weeny issues:Support Russia Insider – Go Ad-Free!

1. China’s Intermediate Range missiles—that means reach of any US base around China, Diego Garcia included, and that is a big no-no for the US in a scenario of China’s containment, but…

2. By far the most important issue for the US are those mysterious weapons nasty Russkies invented to prevent peaceful triumphant spread of democracy—those weapons will be discussed. Of course, to no avail.

Russia once trusted the US, in 1990s. We all know how it all played out, for Russia. So, do not expect Russia to be so utterly stupid as to even negotiate any latest weapon systems many of which…drum roll…are “ambivalent”. You know, exactly as the United States proclaims its “no first use” ambivalence supported by the vague justifications for the use of nuclear weapons, as the saying goes–two can play the game.

Oh you want a nuke arms deal? You mean like the one you just tore up?

Then, of course, nobody in Russia takes Trump (or his Pompeo envoy) seriously anymore. Trump is militarist and his overtures to Russia, from the inception, have nothing to do with desire to reach stable and just geopolitical equilibrium but a desire to “triangulate” and enroll Russia in US, most likely, last stand against China. People in Kremlin can calculate and do operate within reality-based paradigm, a feature everyone of any significance in Moscow knows is missing from current American outlook on herself and the world outside Washington D.C. 

No, of course, as I stated not for once, talking is better than fighting, but the truth is–today the United Sates simply has NO geopolitical currency left to pay for anything of value. Especially such value as Russia. Sanctions on Russia? Sure! In fact, not for once I and many other people in Russia stated–sanctions are good for Russia, they drive her modernization, while driving Russia’s liberasts–main source of info on Russia for US intelligence and “academe”—totally insane. Double win for Russia.Support Russia Insider – Go Ad-Free!

Russia certainly is not going to attack the US but she will never refuse a massive lead in military technologies which provide her with the revolver at the temple of American insane exceptionalists and neocons. Such as, and you guessed it already, Pompeo or Trump’s very own draft dodger and, as Rod Ridenour states in his book, one of many Trump’s very own Dr.Strangeloves, he surrounded himself with—I am talking about Bolton, of course. Who in their mind would even seriously discuss anything with these people? Meetings? Sure. Talking? Sure. But no arrangement can be made with the United States anymore, since it is increasingly non-governable entity with utterly corrupt political institutions at the very top. 

Two years ago I stated:

The only way of the United States out of present day pitiful state will be only with removal of most of current “elites” and “experts” who served them for so long. Thus America’s losing the faith in this kind of expertise is a good thing. The removal may happen only with Donald Trump claiming the victory in his epic battle with these “elites” in order to finally tell them what he was elected for: “You Are Fired!”

It seems the opposite had happened and no amount of spin can help to hide anymore the obvious fact that Trump’s human and political failure is just the symptom of a much larger underlying condition, a very American condition in essence, a complete loss of touch with the reality.       

UPDATE: Pompeo has now canceled the visit which is just as fine.