Natylie Baldwin

British journalist Philip Short has written a long, in-depth biography of Vladimir Putin. The timing of its publication was rather fortuitous, having been released just a few months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The book is one of the better ones about Putin, though it certainly has its flaws. Before going into the good, the … Continue reading “The Good, the Bad, and the Befuddling: A Review of Philip Short’s Putin“

I remember when I visited Crimea in 2015, I spoke to a retired Russian naval officer who was a longtime resident of the peninsula. He admitted that Russia had always viewed Ukraine as the little brother in the relationship and that perhaps Russians had underestimated how much some Ukrainians had resented that. I thought about … Continue reading “The Narcissism of Small Differences in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict”

Vladimir Putin is responsible for his decision to illegally invade Ukraine. But that doesn’t make it any easier to watch western governments and their mainstream media outlets with their self-righteous displays of concern about Ukraine. After virtue signaling an implied commitment to allowing Ukraine into the EU, it is now being made clear that it … Continue reading “How the West Sabotaged Ukraine”

The Soviet Union voluntarily agreed to negotiate an end to the Cold War with the US-led West in the late 1980’s and to bring its troops home from Europe. Shortly afterwards, the Russians threw off Communism and opened themselves up to what they hoped would be integration with the West. Polls and interviews with Russians … Continue reading “What if the West Had Tried a Different Approach Toward Post-Cold War Russia?”

An American Russia expert recently observed that diplomacy is not a reward for good behavior. Rather diplomacy is a necessary activity required for averting war. Skilled diplomacy requires one to understand the perceived interests of the other side and what shapes those perceptions. This helps both sides to arrive at a mutually agreeable resolution that … Continue reading “US Must Take Russia’s Security Concerns Seriously”

Establishment institutions usually start their implementation of censorship and the throttling of press freedom by going after individuals and outlets that are small and/or not well liked by a cross-section of the public.  The obscurity or general unpalatable nature of the target ensures the success of setting the precedent.  Most Americans have probably never heard … Continue reading “US Government Threatens Writers With Heavy Fines if They Continue To Write for Sanctioned Russian Outlet”

As the Biden administration has illegally bombed Syria and Iraq – two countries that pose absolutely no threat whatsoever to the United States or Americans – the familiar policy of militarism has been reinforced by yet another U.S. president. However, it was a previous president who, on his way out of office in 1961, coined … Continue reading “The Origins of the Military Industrial Complex and Its Historically Pernicious Influence on US War and Foreign Policy”