@tom_andraszek

I acknowledge it’s true, both from your Harvard document & other documents I’ve read on this, that there was never any formal treaty or agreement between the #US & the #SovietUnion which forbade any eastward expansion of #NATO post #German unification.

Reality is, though, that Hedges isn’t “repeating #Putin’s lie about a broken *promise* not to expand NATO beyond the borders of a unified Germany” simply because it wasn’t a lie!

While I am fundamentally NOT condoning Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, it is nonetheless verifiably true that verbal promises *were* made to #Gorbachev by Secretary of State James #Baker during a Feb 9, 1990 meeting:

I draw your attention to the section of this ⤵️ Politifact document entitled: "Not shift 1 inch eastward"

[Extracted from https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/feb/28/candace-owens/fact-checking-claims-nato-us-broke-agreement-again/]

“After explaining why the U.S. wanted the reunited Germany to stay within the framework of NATO, Baker told Gorbachev that "if we maintain a presence in a Germany that is a part of NATO, there would be no extension of NATO's jurisdiction for forces of NATO 1 inch to the east."

"I put the following question to (Gorbachev)," Baker recounted in a letter to German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. "‘Would you prefer to see a united Germany outside of NATO, independent and with no U.S. forces, or would you prefer a unified Germany to be tied to NATO, with assurances that NATO’s jurisdiction would not shift 1 inch eastward from its present position?’"

Those comments, along with similar remarks from Baker’s European allies, like Genscher and Kohl, were part of what researchers at George Washington University’s National Security Archive called a "cascade of assurances" offered to the Soviets.

But Baker and other officials involved in the events have denied that the conversation ever turned on expanding NATO to other countries.”

Vlad Vexler

Why Russia Rejected Freedom (Gorbachev)

17 min video

A compelling history of the Gorbachev and his handling of the end of the USSR and of the man himself compared to the current leader of Russia.

https://youtu.be/VEz5VsVLp4s

#Russia #Gorbachev #USSR #Putin #history

Another MP and dissident, Yaroslav Kendzor, explains why. He says that after the failure of the 1991 coup in #Moscow against #Gorbachev, many #Soviet republics decided to break away.

However, in almost every parliament, the communists had a majority, and #Ukraine was no exception.

Therefore, before voting for the Act of Independence of Ukraine, it was necessary to obtain the support of the Communists, who did not want the collapse of the USSR and the creation of other sovereign states.

Momentous events happened 32 years ago #OTD in the aftermath of the 1991 #Soviet #GKChP coup: two days after #Gorbachev 's return from his house arrest in #Foros in #Crimea , he resigned as the general secretary of the #Communist party, the #CPSU

In #Kyiv (back then Kiev) the Rada of #Ukraine adopted the #Independence Act and called for a referendum in support of it - the country is marking its main state holiday today

The hardest ending to get in Street Fighter II is also the most rewarding. #crtgaming #SNES #gorbachev

@OlyaOliker @togoepfert "if Moscow, which has long been vocal about Ukrainian NATO membership being a red line, views admission itself as an act of war." NATO was founded to combat #moscow . What is the reason of being still alive since 1991? Was there any reason for #Gorbachev or #Yeltsin or even #Putin in the early 2000ths to *trust* NATO not to see Russia still as a potential enemy? Might this be one of the reasons that we failed to ensure peace in europe?

Another piece exploring the myths about promises to #Gorbachev regarding #NATO expansion. https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-expansion-russia-mislead/31263602.html #Ukraine #Georgia #SovietUnion #Putin

@jdnicoll
I have another idea for en alternate history with an enduring Soviet Union:

Instead of the Glasnost process leading to collapse under the weight of corruption and the strength of resistance to oppression, alternate Gorbachev purges the corruption -- first in Poland, as a test case -- and reforms the economy and government to become sustainable.
/1
#AlternateHistory #SovietUnion #Gorbachev

Margaret #Thatcher opposed German #reunification, going so far as to ask #Gorbachev to increase #USSR troops in East #Germany in an attempt to stop it happening.
History is weird, but it's also strange how we either knew nothing of this, or simply forgot it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6UXMUbsiT8&ab_channel=HistoryMatters

Wish they’d elect a #pope like #Gorbachev. Let me explain: Guy rises through the ranks and once in power at the top of the institution, declares its #dissolution. Ends the #nonsense, returns the stolen #assets and pays #restitution to the abused children. Wouldn’t that be great?

#ReligionPoisonsEverything #ChristopherHitchens

Is the "imminent" #arrest of #donaldtrump the "spark" which lights a #second #civilwar in the #unitedstates?

Remember, the #us as we know now is the #incarnation of the #first #civilwar of the 1860s, when as now, "existential" questions were "resolved" by force.

The combination of #race, #roevwade, and #rage of those "left behind" by #globalization and the #services #boom is a "lethal" #cocktail, that can burst any moment.

Is #joebiden another #gorbachev?

https://rammohansusarla.in/2023/03/19/is-the-united-states-headed-for-a-civil-war/

@icij @hrw The way that #RonaldReagan #GHWBush and #DonaldRumsfeld were able to develop such close ties with Russia and #Gorbachev was through the common intrest of predation. Russia needed money. The U.S. needed access to Russia's mind control program intel, hence the unholy alliance was formed. Star Wars was used as a cover. I was trafficked to Russia my entire childhood. Like I said, Putin has receipts. #46 admin needs to tell the #truth, stop escalating, scapegoating @icij @hrw #pandorasbox

Wish they’d elect a #pope like #Gorbachev.

Let me explain: Guy rises through the ranks and once in power at the top of the institution, declares its #dissolution. Ends the #nonsense, returns the stolen #assets and pays #restitution to the abused children. Wouldn’t that be great?

#ReligionPoisonsEverything #ChristopherHitchens

@timforgot I've always seen #Russia as a #fascist state rather than just going through a fascist period. #Gorbachev was less fascist than the rest but he had a much #broader world view.

Is #joebiden another #gorbachev?

It sure looks like the #unitedstates is approaching an "inflection" point with the #debtceiling #crisis, #tyrenichols video, and the never ending #culture #wars with #roevwade and all that.

Will #biden be the #healer or the #helpless #president unable to prevent the slide of the #us into #anarchy?

I suppose we would know by #fall2023.

https://rammohansusarla.in/2021/12/06/is-joe-biden-another-gorbachev/

No such event or agreement ever took place. #Sarotte determined this by looking through archives of #RUSSIAN documents. As well as #US archives. And speaking with the players, including #Gorbachev and then Secretary of State #JimBaker.

It had been archived at the wayback machine, repeatedly all the way back to 2014. However, I just checked and all archive records prior to the Foreign Affairs paywall having been introduced have NOW BEEN REMOVED.

I wish they’d elect a #pope like #Gorbachev.

Let me explain: Guy rises through the ranks and once in power at the top of the institution, declares its #dissolution. Ends the #nonsense, returns the stolen #assets and pays #restitution to the abused children. Wouldn’t that be great?

#musk #hitler #gorbachev #needsOCR

Any of these you? Talk to me!

(in no particular order)

#Marvel #Avengers #Hawkeye #ClintBarton #KateBishop #JeremyRenner #MayorOfKingstown #Rennervation

#Fanfic #Phlint #HappyTowerTime #PhilCoulson

#DiamondPainting #DiamondArt #Etsy

#Healdsburg #BuyNothing #PayNothing

#Gorbachev #Gorbachev1973

#DatingWhileWidowed

2/

#OTD 1922 To mark the foundation of the #USSR, the @guardian has put together a fascinating selection of photos and propaganda pictures from each epoch: #Stalin and his disappearing comrades, #Vietnam, #Afghanistan, #Gorbachev and #Chernobyl.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2022/dec/05/the-soviet-union-100th-anniversary-in-pictures