More than a decade after the disintegration of the Soviet Union,
the shadow of the Cold War still lingers on. It can be smelt when
the United States and Russia traded harsh criticism recently.
Addressing leaders of some former members of the Soviet Union at
the Vilnius Conference 2006 in Lithuania, a gathering of leaders of
the Baltic and Black Sea regions, US Vice President Dick Cheney
accused Russia of running against democracy, limiting human rights
and using its energy riches to "blackmail" the world. His remark
was regarded by some western diplomats the strongest criticism
against Russia from a senior US official ever since the end of the
Cold War. Moscow responded sharply when Gleb Pavlovsky, a senior
advisor to the Kremlin, declared: Russia has always believed that
the US is seeking for an enemy to maintain its status (as world
cop), now we can prove it.
The US has been using various means to expand its sphere of
influence since the Soviet Union dismembered. While pressing Russia
to change towards the direction it desires, the country has also
intensified the casting of influence on former Soviet members
surrounding Russia. By supporting pro-west opposition factions in
CIS countries, Washington also tried to exert political pressure on
Russia through "color revolution". Besides, the US-led NATO also
took the chance to push its regime closer to Russia by eastern
enlargement.
All these moves have kept on intensifying Russia's worry about
geo-political changes. As domestic economy got better Russia has
shifted from defense to "attack" by making use of its advantages in
energy and military fields. The shadow of the Cold War, it seemed,
began to gather secretly. US media labeled the Russian policy in
gas fight with Ukraine as an "Empire's counterblow", while business
daily Kommersant's front page headline said Cheney's
speech "practically established the start of the second Cold War".
Obviously, the US and the West are feeling increasingly uncertain
and uneasy in the face of the Russian re-rise and Putin's iron
politics.
Has a new Cold War really begun? Perhaps it's too early for a
conclusion. However, there is no denying that Cold War mentality
runs through the US-Russia "squabble". In fact, some westerners
have never shaken off their "Cold War outlook". In their eyes, the
end of the Cold War just means a success of the West, a success of
western ideology and political system, and post-Cold War era means
continuously increased western influence.
After the "September 11", the US policy adjustment on national
security also followed such concept, as anti-terrorism is closely
linked with the pushing of American-style democracy worldwide. Some
Americans entered the 21st century with such mentality, and are
greatly alarmed by the re-rise of Russia, especially by its stance
of not resigning itself to being weakened and its playing of cards
regardless of western "game rules".
However, even the Cold War returns, it is unlike the past one. A
fundamental change has taken place in the form of confrontation
between the two powers. In the past it assumed the form of
confrontation between two military groups, and a balance of nuclear
deterrence; but now it chiefly shows in infiltration and
anti-infiltration of values, frictions in national interests and
fight for positions in the world's future political map.
Under the backdrop of economic globalization, interests of the
two sides are deeply intermingled, and they need cooperation in
many fields such as trade and economy, finance, energy and
anti-terrorism. It's impossible for the US to organize again an
alliance against Russia while Russia is incapable of overall
confrontation with the West and the US. Therefore, despite fierce
argument or even wrestle, the two sides will be more engaged in
frictions amid consultations and competition amid cooperation, that
is, vying with each other yet without breaking off.
(People's Daily Online May 16, 2004)
