How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Cold War II
GWOT films also have a problem making the terrorists into the villains. Perhaps it’s because we can’t imagine them smart, cultured, or advanced enough. A terrorist equivalent to Dr. No or Goldfinger just doesn’t seem probable. Even when terrorists are the villains, they turn out to be mere proxies devoid of evil agency. Take, for example, this summer’s Iron Man (2008). Tony Stark becomes Iron Man because he’s captured by terrorists who want him to make them his cataclysmic Jericho missile. It turns out, however, that the real villain isn’t the terrorist Raza, but Stark’s double-dealing, corrupt, and amoral business partner, Obadiah Stane. The film’s message is that the real enemy isn’t terrorism but unfettered capitalism. The terrorists and Iron Man are merely pawns of corporate greed, apparently just like the rest of us.
Some will say the lack of heroic GWOT films is because America-hating liberals control Hollywood. Maybe, but that excuse isn’t good enough. The real problem is that the GWOT fails where the Cold War excelled: simplicity. The GWOT is just too hard to narrate. The Cold War was a battle of good vs. evil, the villains were easily identifiable, and perhaps most important they looked and for the most part acted like us. In this sense Robert Gates’ sentimentality for the Cold War as a “less complex time” and Niall Ferguson’s longing for the Cold War because “Soviet wickedness made politics so much simpler” are culturally apt. Not only did the Cold War make politics simpler. It made heroes, villains, and plotlines simple too.
The Russians are also desiring a simpler time. Soviet Russia too held up America as a litmus test for its own success. Noting American hypocrisy, unemployment, decadence, racism, and poverty were staple tropes in Soviet propaganda. Take for example the famous Soviet children’s story Mister Twister (1933). Adapted to animation in 1963, Mister Twister chronicles the decadence and racism of Mr. Cook, a former American government minister and banker, on his visit to Leningrad. Mr. Cook is appalled by the presence of a black man in his hotel, and he is sent into a fit of anxiety as the hotel mirrors multiply the African’s presence. Finally, after some desperation and a lesson in Soviet ethics, Mr. Cook learns the errors of his ways and embraces Soviet multiculturalism. The film’s message served as an ideological ace in the hole for the Soviets. “Sure, we have our problems,” the Party said, “but at least we aren’t the decadent, racist, and hypocritical Americans!”
This sentiment continues today. In fact, one can say that Putin’s entire second term was an effort to relive the bygone days. What better way to restore glory than by creating the specter (real or imagined) of a vulturous United States waiting to pick the Soviet carrion clean. Any challenge to the Kremlin’s domestic or foreign interest was quickly cast as the nefarious machinations of the United States. One need only consider the currency of Soviet nostalgia. Indeed, the revival of the grand U.S.-Russia struggle struck a particular cord among Putin’s young, anti-colored revolution shock troops, Nashi. The fact that many Nashists are too young to remember the Cold War was like an untapped xenophobic spring. Opponents to the Kremlin were depicted as agents of American imperialism. Now with the threat of “colored revolution” declared vanquished, Nashi is having difficulties coming up with a new enemy and purpose. Perhaps the Georgian War will give them new vigor.
Revel, don’t repress
The Russian and American publics are poised to embrace Cold War II. A recent poll showed that about a quarter of Russian respondents felt that the United States was to blame for the Georgian War. Russian anti-Americanism appears to be increasing. Noting American hypocrisy is cool again as this joke swirling around Moscow attests:
American journalist is interviewing American housewife:
Well, Mrs. Smith, you’re sayin’ you have a happy family?
Oh, yes! My husband and I — we have four sons — and we are happy!
Where are they?
My youngest — John — he’s in Iraq now. The second — Mike — in Afghanistan. Third — Bill — in Kosovo and the fourth — Jack — is training to go to Iran.
So, they are serving the country to defend democracy. Well, where’s your husband?
Oh, now he’s traveling ’round the world giving lectures.
What is the topic?
I don’t know exactly — something in politics — seems like “How to prevent Russians from occupying other countries.”
In America, the response to the Georgian War proved once again that Russia as whipping boy is still an effective means to rally the masses. John McCain’s tough talk toward Russia was a campaign booster. It is no coincidence that his bump in the polls coincided with the reemergence of the Russian military menace. As a result, 55 percent of Americans believe that McCain is “best qualified to deal with Russia.” Obama, who was slow to jump on the Russophobic bandwagon, only captured 22 percent of respondents’ faith. If McCain wins in November he should send Medvedev and Putin a box of chocolates in gratitude.
If the Cold War had and continues to have so many benefits, why deny Cold War II? Why repress what you really desire? The Cold War was the best of times and the worst of times. Both Russia and the United States were at the pinnacle of power that was ironically secured in their mutual adversarial existence. The Islamic enemy, on the contrary, only reveals our sentimentality, our weakness, and our hesitance. The Russians, however, are a real enemy easily amendable to political and cultural simplicity. They are an enemy we can talk to. One that reflects our own fantasies about ourselves back to us. Russians and Americans, embrace your symptom! Embrace your mutual paranoia, your inability to evaluate yourself without your dark other! The Cold War has so much more to give. Why continue to repress a good thing? Treat yourselves.
I stopped reading once I got to the part about how the anti-America films failed for complicated internal reasons instead of the reality that Americans are tired of Hollywood garbage insulting us, our troops and our motivations. If the author can’t admit basic truths in his supporting arguments why listen to the arguments?
I am begining to believe that the Cold War did not in fact end, because if you look at the things that make us great, freedom of expression, the capitalist system of rewarding people for work, all have been weakened, our politicans are all left leaning liberals, even those pertaining to be on the right, Mr Sarkozy is a very good example as is David Cameron. We have a choice between hard left and soft left in who we can vote for, while basic freedoms have been eroded in a methodical way, some by Islamics and other by left leaning PC elites, or people who have been perhaps unknowingly but maybe not turned into communist tools.
Most of us no longer feel that we have anything to fight for in Europe.
Personally I think that my government (the EU) hates me and everything I stand for, our regional government is now teaching our kids that the UK gained from slavery in the 18th Century, but ignoring the British crusade against slavery in the 19th. Would I fight for the EU or what is left of my country under the people that run it now, or send my children to fight for them, nope they can go to hell.
A very very good time for the Russians to make their move, sitting there appearing to be dormant. And if Obama is the leader of the free world, then god help us, well I suppose I should expect to meet god before my natural life span ends. No the Russian strategy was perfect, infect the EU and weaken a major part of the West, they have truly succeeded.
You know why presidents of five former Estern Block countries had expressed a joint statement about Georgian crisis?
Because in our part of Europe we KNOW what reviving russian imperialism mean. We have enought historical experience with that thing for CENTURIES.
Go ahead. Call me “russophobe”.
Your Russaware!!!
Kirk, you wrote:
“I stopped reading once I got to the part about how the anti-America films failed for complicated internal reasons instead of the reality that Americans are tired of Hollywood garbage insulting us, our troops and our motivations.”
Yes, we sure wouldn’t want to read anything that challenges our preconceived assumptions, would we? My God, we might actually LEARN something. Go back to watching Fox “News.”
“You know why presidents of five former Estern Block countries had expressed a joint statement about Georgian crisis?
Because in our part of Europe we KNOW what reviving russian imperialism mean. We have enought historical experience with that thing for CENTURIES.”
Wrong answer, Doktor.
Historical experience shows that as long as people of unknown five countries are unable to look at the reality – they will be f*cked every time they think Great Germany or Great Turkey (not saying about other Great Greats) would protect them from Russian Bear. What GG and GT were/are wanting from these “countries” (that exist or appeared because of Russia) – to use them to poke RB. It’s naive to think that these “countries” would stay untouched when GG/GT are clashing with RB…
“Go ahead. Call me “russophobe”.”
You are not smart enough for that title, Doktor
Cold War? What Cold War? Just ask the newly displaced residents of Georgia, as well as the surely trembling citizens of Ukraine, whether they feel the chill. I’m-a gonna take a not-so-giant leap, here, and say I bet they’re feeling nothing but heat.
I think the odds are 4 to 1 that the elite in United States and Russia are in bed with each other.
And, if they are, Cold War II will be a great idea .
Irony: when a post’s central thesis – that Americans long for the Cold War because it more easily fits into their simpleton view of the world – is immediately supported by idiotic comments.
I don’t “know why presidents of five former Estern Block countries had expressed a joint statement about Georgian crisis”, but the only common thing between them, not shared by other countries, is that they all helped Germans to round up their Jews during WWII.
Coincidence?
The story that Michael Totten tells is a little more complex than the one you link to at Open Democracy.
Towards the end, they did make films and songs that portrayed the Soviets in a brighter light, like Stings song about how they have children too.
ITS ALL A CONSPIRACY!
ITS ALL A CONSPIRACY!!
poul:
Oh yea, we Poles build the Auschwitz and murdered 5 milion Jews here.
And yes, Jewish kids are our national snack.
Color me a Russophobe, too, while you’re at it. Sounds like this author took notes of the OIC’s ‘Islamophobe’ tactic and applied it to folks who take issue with Russia’s erratic, tyrannical and aggressive behavior over the centuries. Well here’s a news flash–it’s not a phobia if the object of that fear is justified. Are the people in Poland, the Baltic States, Georgia, Ukraine, eastern Europe and elsewhere on Russia’s periphery all ‘Russophobes’?
It’s not hard to understand that Russia is at its heart a paranoid schizophrenic with passive/aggressive tendencies. If your country is in the unfortunate position of bordering Russia, then that state can either be a vassal or an enemy, nothing else. Russian nationalistic hysteria is reaching a fever pitch these days in Moscow under Czar Putin’s reign, so this Russophobe’s forecast is for more of the same.
I’m actually starting to miss that Yeltsin guy.
Kirk, you stuck it out longer then I did. Anyone that thinks Nations have personalities is a tad out of plumb. Then to try and perform psychoanalysis on a nation shows there are issues there.
Back in the day, someone that tried that on a polsci paper would have gotten an “F” and been directed to a less rigorous field of study.
Journalism ( Communications majors hadn’t been invented yet. Journalism was the party degree) or Agriculture.
Is guess some would call that ‘change’.
“Bachelor’s degrees make pretty good placemats if you get ‘em laminated.”
Jeph Jacques, Questionable Content, 01-04-07
DoktorNo:
You know why ….? …Because in our part of Europe we KNOW what reviving russian imperialism mean. We have enought historical experience with that thing for CENTURIES.
There is a Russian saying: “A once scared crow fears every bush”.
You may lack analytical capability to judge adequately about what is going in the world. Your may not understand the difference between 1939 and 2008. But why the others are supposed to share your paranoia?
If your country is in the unfortunate position of bordering Russia, then that state can either be a vassal or an enemy, nothing else.
Norway, Finland, Sweden, Turkey, Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, China, Mongolia, North Korea, Japan are they vassals or enemies?
Neither.
Russia respects any state which respects Russia and Russian interests.
Russia can not approve anti-Russian policies and respect russophobic attitude, whoever demonstrates it, a state, a regime or an individual. We are nor a nation of masochists.
Javelin:
Towards the end, they did make films and songs that portrayed the Soviets in a brighter light, like Stings song about how they have children too.
Javelin, it looks like you do not believ that Russians have children too? And love them like the Sting sang?
Susan Katz Keating wrote:
“Cold War? What Cold War? Just ask the newly displaced residents of Georgia, as well as the surely trembling citizens of Ukraine, whether they feel the chill. I’m-a gonna take a not-so-giant leap, here, and say I bet they’re feeling nothing but heat.”
You can also ask the newly dead residents of Tshinvali what they are feeling.
I have spent most of my adult life in America fearing a war between the USA and Soviet Union. As a child I remember drills at my elementary school where we hid under the desk in preparation for a potential nuclear attack. When the Soviet Union colapsed no one was more relieved than I. For years afterward I dreamed that Russia would continue with it’s newly emerging democracy and eventually become a member of EU.
BTW comparing the overall mental attitude of a nation to the movies it watches is quite laughable. I have enjoyed many western movies in which the “bad guy” didn’t speak Russian. I also saw the movie “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” is which the alien clowns sprayed popcorn on their victims in order to subdue them. I guess I must be a “Clownaphobe” or an “alienaphobe.”
It’s a brilliant analysis. I would add my own (psychoanalytical) explanation why War with terror does not produce anything like that. Because real Evil Empire must be 1) Governed by real Evil King (Evil Father) and 2) That King must try to return us under his power. Freedom means a constant process of resisting to that Evil King. Russia is fine because it is an Empire (like British Empire) with an Authoritarian rule. Terrorism has neither a person of the Evil King, nor an Evil State behind it. Some not too successful attempts were made to designate Bin Laden and Syria for those roles, but clearly they don’t fit well. Thus liberation from Evil King of terrorism is impossible and hence public shows no enthusiasm.
Uh-huh-, uh-huh, the Cold War was all just an American fantasy, and it’s re-birth has nothing to do with Russia’s invasion of Georgia, and its attempt to get its paws on vital oil pipelines. Nup, nup, nup, it’s all just a Hollywood fantasy.
pajamsmedia is really becoming pathetic, of late.
The Russians have always been the sick man of Europe. They hate it, they have a racial need to prove that they are really not the second raters that, deep down, they know they are. Remember, this is the nation of empire builders who butchered more of their own people and subject peoples than the Nazi’s did. This is the people who gave us, and the North Koreans, the Gulags.
They always take what appears to be the easy road. Freedom and self determination is hard, so they always gravitate to the strong man, whether it be the Tzar, the Party Secretary, or the ex-KGB apparatchik. They want your stuff, and your technology, but not your contaminating ideas.
Only the Russian displays the ability to hold two, completely contradictory world views at the same time. It is, in fact, a universal characteristic of Russians. Publicly they display the world view they would like to have, or the one they think you want them to have. Then there is the one they really believe; that one is the one that has Valdimir Putin in power for life and the one where they are nostalgic for the greatness if the USSR. Nostalgic for that murderous era of national psychosis, when they are all atarving and in thrall of a future that never delivered the worker’s paradise.
Some of us know what Putin and the Russians are really up to. We remember Stalin and Breshnev. We remember their American fellow travellers too. We also remember what is required to defeat them.
If you thought that the war against Islam is a long one, then remember that the Russians have been at this since the 13th contury.
New cold war? Hell, the first one never ended.
Ok for all you Pajamas Media readers reading Sean Guillory, Richard Fernandez and wondering who the heck is this “Kim Zigfield”, there is now a blog devoted to the mystery of this Scoobie-Doo like character, who openly states that her goal is to smear online anyone who would dare have different opinion about Russia.
And I know Kabud is going to come out and say I’m FSB in the next comment. What a weird old man.
Steve Nelson
“Kim Zigfeld”‘s russophobia is not the worst thing about “her”.
Much worse is that “she”, while claiming her “first hand expertize” in Russia’s problems, is totally ignorant about Russia, extremely in-objective and generally not smart. Digging the Internet garbage sites to find something “stinky” about Russia, adding “her” own stupid comments, blaming “the proud KGB spy” for all the problems in the world, and ending up with the mantra “Russia will follow the fate of the USSR” is the recipe “she” uses to cook “her” unsophisticated articles. The characteristic of “her” level as “a political writer” is the series (category) of “her” materials dedicated to Maria Sharapova, the famous Russian tennis player, who got the privilege from “Kim Zigfeld” to be an almost equal to Putin object for “her” bile-burp criticism.
http://larussophobe.wordpress.com/category/sharapova/
It is a shame that this democracy fighter has censorship on her sites and is banning the commenters criticizing her from posting their comments there.
What is good though, Kim Zigfeld tries to behave on this site. She avoids posting here the stupidest materials she poste on “her” La Russophobe and the Publius Pundit sites.
The Anti Jihadist,
“Russia’s erratic, tyrannical and aggressive behavior over the centuries. Well here’s a news flash–it’s not a phobia if the object of that fear is justified. Are the people in Poland, the Baltic States, Georgia, Ukraine, eastern Europe and elsewhere on Russia’s periphery all ‘Russophobes’?”
over centuries? quick quiz – when did poland occupy russia and for how long?
being ignorant is not an excuse for malevolence.
DoktorNo,
“Oh yea, we Poles build the Auschwitz and murdered 5 milion Jews here.”
i said helped. vast majority of jews killed in asschwitz were rounded up by poles and passed to germans. they liked it so much, they continued to kill jews even after germans lost:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kielce_pogrom
B Dubya:
“Some of us know what Putin and the Russians are really up to. We remember Stalin and Breshnev. We remember their American fellow travellers too. We also remember what is required to defeat them.
If you thought that the war against Islam is a long one, then remember that the Russians have been at this since the 13th contury.
New cold war? Hell, the first one never ended.”
neoneo:
B Dubya, what do you feel when you read or hear something as follows : “you belong to evil American empire which has legacy of slavery, racism and genocide of native Indians. You did it earlier, you continue doing it in another form. You had instigated Vietnam war just only 40 years ago. We, all the civilized people will fight with evil American imperialism until it is completely destroyed. We will be marching through your cities with a slogan:
We will fight,
We will win!
Ho Chi Mingh!
Ho Chi Mingh! “
Does it sound fair to you? But, does this sound familiar to you Dubya? Yes, it is a piece of Left sentiments popular ammong US intelligenzia and European youth. But this mirrors what you say about Russia one to one, and it is as ethical and sober as what you say.
Well, before I started reading PM threads about Russia I had an opinion that moonbats and lunatics exist exclusively on the left. Now I see that I was wrong. I find that you and the left have the same moral compass and you both make me to feel sick.
Tell you what Neoneo. Take a look at the Russias in 4 years, and then come tell me what a lunatic I am.
I just report the trends, folks. History really does teach us, if you care to read and learn. What I write is not always pretty, but it has a basis in historical fact and recently observed behaviors.
One of the hallmarks of the 20th century monsters of genocide was their contunued use of the Big Lie, repeated often enough that the weak minded and useful tools were able to believe it. The use of moral relativism is simply a recent refinement of that strategy, totally embraced by the resident culture of treason here in the United States.
The Russians have no such thing as even benign intent towards the west, especially not towards the United States. Forget that at your peril, because even their collaborators won’t flourish in the world they would like to make.
My guess is you should rethink your idea of lunacy. It’s clear that you aren’t able to itellectually encompass the entire depth of the concept.
The standard ad hominem response from a typically crippled intellect is what you folks are noted for, Why should you be any different from your fellows?
Hi B Dubya,
). I know that there are many Russians who love US as well. If they did not, they would not voluntary demolished their empire in 1991 and started seeking contcts with the west. It is only Russian inclination towards the West led to 1991 revolution, please do not forget the history.
Thanks for your response. You write: “The Russians have no such thing as even benign intent towards the west, especially not towards the United States.” You are wrong on that. I am a Russian and I do love the US ( and somehow I love the PC Europe too, but a little less then US
But the number of Russian supporters of US values will significantly decrease after this incident with Georgia and one sided position of US. Personally, I will not back up, for I distinguish between the spirit of Freedom that guides US and the intellectual impotence of the current US administration.
Till the time of this crisis in Georgia I have been looking at Russians as uncivilized rude morons who are in bed with the evil like Iran and Syria. Yes, just like you, I too see the trends! But this Georgia war somehow has changes my stereotypes. It is a completely differet trend. This is the first time in about 108 years when Russians stand for the good at the time when the West stands for the evil (for the evil dictator S-u-c-k-ashvilli , I mean). It has been always the other way around till this time.
Russian had realized the fact that their ideology has sinful and evil nature in 1991 and they had voluntary demolished the empire of evil. They were looking for moral guidance to the West and they did trust to the west till now or perhaps till war in Kosovo or Iraq.
Now only they have realized that they can no longer outsource their moral thinking to the West, because the quality of the foreign product sucks
. The present uprising against Western moral influence indicates that Russia is capable of making independent moral judgment, and stand at the site of the right and to defend the poor and needy, even if the kings of this world do not like that. (Thanks to Lord Jesus for this). It indicates that Russia is slowly becoming a Christian country, with true Christain values while US and EU slide towards corruption and abomination of the power greed of this material world. The West clearly shows signs of moral corruption and hypocrisy in its stance towards Russia and I know that God hates the corrupted ones.
However I like the Western mentality personally and however I dislike Russian mentality I can not go against my consciousness and say that Russia has done the wrong (by defending S. Ossetia from slaughter) and US has done the right by supporting a fascistic homicidal maniac who learned all his tricks from Putin and George Bush. I see that Russia is rising from the moral pit where it was while the West is descending to moral pit. I wish that West were on the right side, but unfortunately it is not. And God hates the transgressors.
I do not think that my responce is ad hominem . I criticized your point first, and based on that I compared you to the other lunatics from the left. Ad hominem would mean that I criticize you personally first and based on that I claim that your point is wrong (please see the wiki on definition of ad hominem).
May peace and love and wisdom of Lord Jesus be with you. May he guides your moral judgemets.
“Russia’s erratic, tyrannical and aggressive behavior over the centuries”.
What all this is about? There was nothing in Russia behavior more aggressive than the behavior of the other political players of the time. Russian Empire expanded by two ways:
1. exploring and settling on the sparsely populated territories of the Urals and Siberia. Which is what British and Americans did on the territory of the modern USA and Canada. The only difference was that Russians did not kill local tribes and did not push them into reservations.
2. Making alliances with some nations and absorbing them into the Empire on the terms of providing them protection from other powerful pretenders on their territories. That was Ukraine, which had to choose between Russia and Poland, and Georgia, which was asking for Russian protection from Turkey and Persia.
3. Conquering some other nations, mostly by taking them from other conquerors, like Estonia and Latvia (taken from Sweden), or Armenia, Moldova, the Black Sea Western and Northern coastal areas (taken from Turkey). In the Middle Asia Russians were advancing towards the British, who were trying to expand their possessions in India and Afganistan to that area. So, there was nothing unusually aggressive or tyrannical. In fact Russian colonialism was softer and more humane and tolerant to the local population than the ones of the Western powers.
The Communist period was a rather aggressive one. But that aggressiveness was not “for centuries”, just about 40 years past WWII. The USSR was ideologically driven and tried to impose Communism on the other nations. Communism in Russian understanding would be a good system to make the whole mankind happy. So, they acted not from evil but from good intentions. Again, some things were dictated by the existing state of Cold War, which was yet a WAR. So, Russians from war-time strategic consideration could not yield Hungary in 1956 or Chzeckoslovakia in 1968 to the West. Like the Western powers would not allow Portugal to fall into Communist hands in the result of the Revolution there in 1974.
I do not see how Russians can be more aggressive than Americans, Britons or French.
I know it’s not said in a polite company, but it is interesting to know, how this dislike of Russians correlates with dissatisfaction with the results of WWII. With all those very democratic new States, whose population eagerly joined SS.
Contradictions to the “New Cold War” Theme
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/58661