Missile Defense

I've already suggested a journalistic exercise, and I can reference the postings that refer to these things again.

Just now, let me ask this.

. How many times have Russian staff people, around NY or DC, tried to discuss "little things" only tangentially connected with peace and war, with knowledgeable Americans, where there were clear differences?

For example, talking with authors of books, not just about things that were positive, but also about ways the books did not make sense, or seemed distorted or seemed strange, in russian eyes?

I think a lot might be learned, on both sides, about the mechanics of peaceful and productive conversation. Especially if the negatives were frankly, clearly discussed.

If a CIA officer was invited to the conversations, that would be fine !

I think many, if not most, of the communication problems that are chronic between our two very different cultures could be ironed out in that way but it would be essential to talk about differences without apology, and clearly, not just about sympathies.

Let me list some books I've thought about today -- too many for you to read, but if each was read by another person, who talked to you for five minutes about it, you might learn essential things, and get contacts with essential logical-social patterns. I haven't finished typing the list.

But they are all hard books for Russians. And if Russians had good communications with ten of these authors (and therefore, if sympathy was real, with people they knew) some fundamental "secrets" of our cultures would be "penetrated" from each sides point of view.

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