At the Valdai Forum, Putin said that neoliberalism stifles national sovereignty and traditional values and erodes national cultures, thus eliminating diversity.  “There is no room for difference in the neoliberal order. It seeks to flatten diversity rather than celebrate it.” Washington’s unipolar system “only serves a small number of powerful elites.”  Now that Putin has come to these realizations, perhaps he will replace his neoliberal central bank director.

Putin thanks Washington for the economic sanctions that forced Russia off the mistaken path of globalism. “The sanctions have forced us to look inward, to focus on developing domestic industries.”  Globalism is a one-way street to economic death.  For Americans the consequence was the offshoring of American industry and middle class jobs, pressure on state and local budgets, and the loss of a trained work force.

Putin says that he respects Western civilization–probably more than do graduates and professors of Western universities. The problem is not Western culture. The problem is with the aggressive policies of Western governments.  Putin is puzzled that such weak political and military countries are so aggressive toward such a powerful unified country as Russia.

Putin said Trump was a capable leader who has shown courage and resilience.  Putin declared willingness to work with Trump to normalize relations and put them on a more constructive path.

Now that both powers have capable leaders perhaps the world can escape from war.  Peace is possible if Trump can escape from the US military/security complex and the warmonger neoconservatives.

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Paul Craig Roberts is a renowned author and academic, chairman of The Institute for Political Economy where this article was originally published. Dr. Roberts was previously associate editor and columnist for The Wall Street Journal. He was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy during the Reagan Administration. He is a regular contributor to Global Research.

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