I experienced conflicting emotions as I read Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent declaration of a new Cold War in a speech to the Valdai Club of Russia experts. The Russian leader blamed the U.S. for what he sees as the collapse of the global security system and warned America not to mess with Russia.
At many points in the speech, I found myself nodding in agreement — but it's impossible to buy the entirety of Putin's message, because he is the wrong messenger.
While the U.S. unilaterally declared itself the winner of the Cold War, Russia never recognized its defeat, even semi-officially: For former President Boris Yeltsin, the Soviet Union's collapse was a release from the crippling communist ideology that prevented Russia from rejoining the civilized world. To me and many of my friends, that made it a win, not a loss.