Not waiting for Hell to freeze over, Russia put the breaks on US interference, and expelled the various US-backed subversive organs. The Cold War came back with a vengeance, as US machinations in Russia's near abroad continued, notably in Ukraine.
Since the Ukrainian coup in 2014, Russia has been in US sights, but all the US can do is try to undermine the Russian economy, continue to expand NATO on Russia's border, play war games in Estonia, Crimea, etc. All this is painful for Russia, but better than becoming a US satrap.
Just how 'democratic' Russia is, is debatable but US meddling in Russian elections has been clipped. It reached its apogee in 2011, when McFaul encouraged Clinton to speak out in support of the Russian opposition and meet high profile dissidents. "We are supportive of the rights and aspirations of the Russian people to be able to make progress and realize a better future for themselves." And when McFaul came to Moscow as the US ambassador in 2011, one of his first actions was to invite the leaders of the various Russian opposition groups to the US embassy to meet with him.
Surprise! Putin and the Russian government responded by accusing Clinton of interfering in the domestic political affairs of Russia.
Did Putin or Lavrov ever meet with US dissidents during US presidential elections and tell them that 'we are supportive etc'? Now that would have constituted 'interference', not the lame charges of playing schoolboy pranks on the internet, as the post-2016 charges amount to.
Any Russian mischief there may have been can be chalked up to taking a bit of revenge for the countless real slights that Russia has had to endure, slights that not only led to the collapse of the Soviet Union, but to the consolidation of the ownership of almost all of Russia by a handful of oligarchs (facilitated by guess who?), and the transfer of Russia's wealth to western banks. There are enough angry, computer-savvy Russian patriots to blanket the entire US with trolls, without any orders 'from the Kremlin'.
America's one-party 'democracy'
So what accounts for the US hysteria? Could it have anything to do with the US deep state? Trump's hopes to deal honestly with Russia to solve the world's problems? His vow to bring the troops home from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria? For Americans tired of warmongering, arguably the real reason for Trump's astounding victory in 2016?
Yes. Trump was undermined in his plans right from before the word 'go', from September 2016, as soon as he won. The deep state was so terrified, there was even the threat of a coup against Trump the moment he was sworn in, with rumours of using Section 4 of the 25th Amendment of the US constitution, in case of a president who was deemed 'unwell'. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein discussed just that possibility in 2017, in the days after Trump fired FBI director James Comey.
More recently, in April 2019, Trump described the investigation by former FBI director Robert Mueller as "an attempted coup". And all this time, attempts have been made to impeach Trump, even as his popularity remains at a solid 42%, despite all the noise and name-calling. At the same pre-reelection moment, Nixon's approval rating was 50%, Carter's 35%, Reagan's 44%. Even though Trump's only success has been a tax cut for the rich, he appears set for reelection. Unless he's impeached, assassinated, whatever.
He's the closest thing the US has had to an antiwar president in over 80 years, since Hoover but the entrenched interests have proven too strong. The War Party isofficially in control in both pseudo-democratic parties, as Republicans and Democrats vote for economic war (and not only) against Russia, Venezuela, Iran, and anyone else foolhardy enough to buck US world hegemony. Democrats looking for evidence of conspiracy and collusion ought to turn their attention there.
Just where democracy is in all this, and where the conspiracy is, is not in the sights of US commentators and warmongers. Trump's many downsides have catapulted into office a few genuine reformers, unapologetic socialists, most notably Muslim congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. And there appears to be a shift in Democrats in the race for the presidency, with at least Tulsi Gabbard calling for a real 'reset' with Russia. Is there democracy in the US? Maybe, but don't hold your breath.
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