US & Russia: Allies Again?

Sixty years ago, the Soviet Union was fighting virtually alone against Fascism in Europe (see page 49). Then came Pearl Harbor, which “changed everything” and brought the US into the War both in Asia and Europe. Four years later, US and Soviet troops met as friends and allies on the Elbe river.

Today, after an attack even more horrific than that of December 7, 1941, the US and Russia again find themselves thrust into an alliance in a worldwide war against a horrible “ism.” Sixty years ago, the fight was with Fascism; today it is with Islamic Fundamentalism. As the Russian saying goes, “protiv kovo druzhit budem” (who are we going to be friends against)?

It has always been our central editorial imperative at Russian Life to help Americans better understand Russia and Russians. So we felt it particularly important for readers to hear the views of influential Russians about our current international situation. Toward this end, in mid-October, Russian Life Executive Editor Mikhail Ivanov sat down with Yevgeny Bovt, deputy editor in-chief of Izvestia daily, one of Russia’s most authoritative newspapers, to talk about how the tragic events in America look from Russia and how they have affected Russian-American relations.