7/13/2023

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            I am disappointed that in the media coverage of your meeting with the NATO gang, I didn’t see the word “peace” mentioned. I did find one reference to it in the CNN reporting which noted, “NATO leaders must also worry whether the renewed prospect of alliance membership for Ukraine – even without a date certain – will give Russia a fresh incentive for ensuring the war never ends with a formal peace agreement.” Did anyone talk about ending the war or was the conversation only about which weapons Zelensky was going to get?

            While I am grateful that you are do not want to escalate the war to avoid getting US troops involved, I think you could do more to tone down the rhetoric & acknowledge the humanity of the Russians, including VVP. I am deeply troubled by the idea of the G7 nations are providing “a permanent flow of arms” to Ukraine & the consequent “expansions in defense industries in Europe and the US.” How many times do I have to remind you of Ike’s warning about the dangers of a military-industrial complex?

            I prefer the rhetoric I hear coming from ASEAN where Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is talking about “inclusive dialogue to achieve peace that is durable.” She’s demonstrated her commitment to the effort by carrying out 110 “intensive and inclusive” engagements with stakeholders in person, virtually and by phone, in the last seven months. I wish I were hearing something like this regarding the Ukraine/Russia situation. Perhaps you need to put a woman at the head of the whole thing.

            According to the designers of the “Crucial Conversations” framework for addressing conflict, it’s important to seek mutual purpose by looking for common ground, even when it seems impossible. I appreciate that you are planning to do that with Xi Jinping sometime this year. Please consider doing it with VVP.

WINTA!

BYBS,