There’s Much You Don’t Want To Understand

“I believe in … your desire for justice and opportunity. I believe in the greatness of the Russian people … I believe in your right to make a civilization worthy of your dreams and sacrifices.”

Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., used such beautiful words, but for some reason, it is hard to believe they are sincere — and not even because he had become a notorious political figure on the basis of his constant criticism of our country, first anti-Soviet and now anti-Russian.

What is worse is that he and the other members of the U.S. political elite show a stunning lack of understanding of the processes taking place in our country, or do they not want to understand them and accept them as reality?

I do not want to argue rudely with the U.S. senator, as did readers of his article on the Internet. No. The senator is a respected politician in his country, and that is especially sad — even outstanding representatives of the American elite perceive reality so inadequately.

I do not think the reason for this lies with John McCain having spent more than five years in a Vietnamese prison as a prisoner of war, seeing only the proverbial “hand of Moscow” and the KGB in the eyes of the Vietnamese, not the pain and suffering caused by U.S. bombing.

In my opinion, the reason lies somewhere much deeper. He considers himself a true American patriot and is protecting America’s interests, but this has nothing to do with protecting democracy and fighting against tyrants all over the world.

Behind all this are U.S. economic and financial interests — the rustle of dollar bills and the American understanding of a country’s authority based solely on economic dominance and declaring itself first and foremost in the world. But that time has long passed. The world has become multipolar, but those used to living differently are not yet aware of this: hence the didactic tone, the lectures, and the imposition of their way of life and thinking.

I met Sen. McCain when I visited Congress in connection with the Magnitsky case as a member of the Russian Federation Council delegation. He made a good impression — a clever man, firm in his convictions. It is a pity that in this case the word “convictions” should be replaced with “errors.”

Back then, we had offered to conduct a joint investigation of the accountant Magnitsky, whose tax evasion schemes enabled billions of dollars to leave Russia. Incidentally, at that time, a question was raised as to why an ordinary, though capable, accountant was being called a lawyer and practically a human rights activist. The American so-called Magnitsky Act refers to him as such.

In response, we got shut down. They said that it was all clear to them, “Your opinion means nothing to us.”

I must say that since then I have repeatedly offered commentary on various international events to the U.S. media with a point of view that was different from the U.S. position. In response, I received a polite and firm “no.” So much for freedom of speech!

Unfortunately, the situation is repeating with alarming frequency. Does not what is happening now in Syria seem practically identical to the events in Iraq with its “nuclear weapons” or Afghanistan and Libya? How can the situation there be stabilized today? How can the influence of al-Qaida and other radical terrorist organizations, having grown as a result of ill-considered use of force, be stopped?

“Your opinion means nothing to us.” Unfortunately, that is the sentiment of Sen. McCain and his colleagues, who are smart people and respected by their voters. They do not want to change their views and they consider themselves to be the final authority in deciding the destiny of this turbulent world.

“I believe in … the Russian people,” writes the U.S. senator. I also believe in our people, their wisdom and ability to improve and overcome difficulties in their path, in their kindness and deep moral roots.

That is why I am sorry that you are changing so slowly and that there is so much in this world that you do not want to understand. I am inclined not to believe you, and I have outlined the reasons why above.