Should the U.S. have supported the coup in Ukraine?

[The Magistrate]

6. As The Man Said, Sir

"Reality is that which, when one ceases to believe in it, continues to exist.'

Whether you approve of normal practice or not does not change the fact that it is normal practice. Once should expect what normally occurs to occur, and not affect to discover it or pretend it is some dark secret being revealed which people ought to be shocked at.

It is evident you understand there is a long-term consensus policy over several administration to extend western influence eastwards. I have never considered it a particularly good policy, but it is the one in place, and is likely to remain so. With the exception of Belarus, just about every jurisdiction in the western portion of the Soviet Union or in the former Warsaw pact has opted for decisive separation from Russia, and in doing so have sought some protection from a re-imposition of Russian control, whether economic or military. Ukraine does form an interesting case, largely because so large a proportion of its native populace was killed off, and because of overt colonization by population transfer and Russification in recent generations. A poll among people of Ukrainian descent only would likely have a much different result than a general survey on the question of ties to Russia. Persons of Russian descent in former Soviet and Czarist colonies do indeed feel a bit unwelcome.

I repeat that nothing in the taped call establishes anything out of the ordinary was being done by Ambassador Nuland. Establishing a line of communication, a way that an embattled and clearly losing chief of state can climb down without too much chaos and disruption, is the sort of thing diplomats do, and are expected to do.