After all, my friends, we were the early, big believer, and big investor, in Lenin's Bolshevik State.
We blunder early and we blunder hard.
Wilson, 1917:
"Does not every American feel that assurance has been added to our hope for the future peace of the world by the wonderful and heartening things that have been happening within the last few weeks in Russia? Russia was known by those who knew it best to have been always in fact democratic at heart, in all the vital habits of her thought, in all the imtimate relationships of her people that spoke their natural instinct, their habitual attitude towards life. The autocracy that crowned the summit of her political structure, long as it had stood and terrible as was the reality of its power, was not in fact Russian in origin, character, or purpose; and now it has been shaken off and the great, generous Russian people have been added in all their naive majesty and might to the forces that are fighting for freedom in the world, for justice, and for peace. Here is a fit partner for a league of honor."
Now Think Nixon shock...1972
Wilson, 1917:
"Does not every American feel that assurance has been added to our hope for the future peace of the world by the wonderful and heartening things that have been happening within the last few weeks in Russia? Russia was known by those who knew it best to have been always in fact democratic at heart, in all the vital habits of her thought, in all the imtimate relationships of her people that spoke their natural instinct, their habitual attitude towards life. The autocracy that crowned the summit of her political structure, long as it had stood and terrible as was the reality of its power, was not in fact Russian in origin, character, or purpose; and now it has been shaken off and the great, generous Russian people have been added in all their naive majesty and might to the forces that are fighting for freedom in the world, for justice, and for peace. Here is a fit partner for a league of honor."
Now Think Nixon shock...1972
"RE A LITTLE COMPARATIVE HISTORY THE APPROACH TO NORMAL RELATIONS
Since we have had so many Russian visitors, why not do a little blurb comparing Russia and China, for our mutual benefit?
I can't think of a better source than say George Kennan, Russia and The West Under Lenin and Stalin, say the part on page 187.
You will have to put on your thinking cap here and think China rather than Russia, and 'attacker state capitalism' rather than communism, for a moment in the quotes below.
Kamenev, the day before signing the Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement, 1921:
"...that the foreign capitalists, who will be obliged to work on the terms we offer them, will dig their own grave...Foreign capital will fulfill the role Marx predicted for it...With every additional shovel of coal, with every additional load of oil we in Russia obtain through the help of foreign technique, capital will be digging its own grave."
Lenin, 1922:
"Do not forget that in recent years the most urgent, daily, practical, and obvious interests of all the capitalistic powers have demanded the development, consolidation and expansion of trade with Russia. And since such interests exist, we can argue, quarrel, break off relations on some issues...in the end, basic economic necessity will force its way. We cannot be sure of the exact time...but we can confidently predict that progress will be made." " 2011 post
Here's another fun quote, specifically emanating from China, from the more recent past along the same lines:
'"(As for the United States) for a relatively long time it will be absolutely necessary that we quietly nurse our sense of vengeance....We must conceal our abilities and bide our time."--Lieutenant General Mi Zhenyu, Vice Commandant, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing.'
I can't think of a better source than say George Kennan, Russia and The West Under Lenin and Stalin, say the part on page 187.
You will have to put on your thinking cap here and think China rather than Russia, and 'attacker state capitalism' rather than communism, for a moment in the quotes below.
Kamenev, the day before signing the Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement, 1921:
"...that the foreign capitalists, who will be obliged to work on the terms we offer them, will dig their own grave...Foreign capital will fulfill the role Marx predicted for it...With every additional shovel of coal, with every additional load of oil we in Russia obtain through the help of foreign technique, capital will be digging its own grave."
Lenin, 1922:
"Do not forget that in recent years the most urgent, daily, practical, and obvious interests of all the capitalistic powers have demanded the development, consolidation and expansion of trade with Russia. And since such interests exist, we can argue, quarrel, break off relations on some issues...in the end, basic economic necessity will force its way. We cannot be sure of the exact time...but we can confidently predict that progress will be made." " 2011 post
Here's another fun quote, specifically emanating from China, from the more recent past along the same lines:
'"(As for the United States) for a relatively long time it will be absolutely necessary that we quietly nurse our sense of vengeance....We must conceal our abilities and bide our time."--Lieutenant General Mi Zhenyu, Vice Commandant, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing.'
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