Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God
(Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 5:9)
Dear friends,
It is with immense sadness that I have to report that Stephen F. Cohen passed away yesterday in his home in Manhattan at the age of 81.
There are a few media outlets who have already reported this. Most of them discuss Stephen F. Cohen’s political ideas and his books, which is normal since he was a historian of the Soviet Union. But I won’t do that here.
What I want to say about Cohen is something very different.
First, he was a man of immense kindness and humility. Second, he was a man of total intellectual honesty. I can’t say that Cohen and I had the same ideas or the same reading of history, though in many cases we did, but here is what I found so beautiful in this man: unlike most of his contemporaries, Cohen was not an ideologue, he did not expect everybody to agree with him, and he himself did not vet people for ideological purity before offering them his friendship.
Even though it is impossible to squeeze a man of such immense intellect and honesty into any one single ideological category, I would say that Stephen Cohen was a REAL liberal, in the original, and noble, meaning of this word.
I also have to mention Stephen Cohen’s immense courage. Yes, I know, Cohen was not deported to GITMO for his ideas, he was not tortured in a CIA secret prison, and he was not rendered to some Third Word country to be tortured there on behalf of the USA. Stephen Cohen had a different kind of courage: the courage to remain true to himself and his ideals even when the world literally covered him in slanderous accusations, the courage to NOT follow his fellow liberals when they turned PSEUDO-liberals and betrayed everything true liberalism stands for. Professor Cohen also completely rejected any forms of tribalism or nationalism, which often made him the target of vicious hatred and slander, especially from his fellow US Jews (he was accused of being, what else, a Putin agent).
Cohen had the courage to take on the entire ruling elites of this country and their messianic supremacist ideology by himself, almost completely alone.
Last, but most certainly not least, Stephen Cohen was a true peacemaker, in the sense of the words of the Holy Gospel I quoted above. He opposed the warmongering nutcases during the Cold War, and he opposed them again when they replaced their rabid hatred of the Soviet Union with an even more rabid hatred of everything Russian.
I won’t claim here that I always agreed with Cohen’s ideas or his reading of history, and I am quite sure that he would not agree with much of what I wrote. But one thing Cohen and I definitely did agree on: the absolute, number one, priority of not allowing a war to happen between the USA and Russia. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Stephen Cohen dedicated his entire life towards this goal.
If the Nobel Peace Prize meant anything, and if it was at least halfway credible, I would say that Stephen Cohen deserved such a Nobel more than anybody else on this planet. Instead, he will get his reward in the Heavens.
In Russian we have an Old Testament inspired saying: “город стоит, пока в нем есть хоть один праведник” roughly meaning “a city will stand as long as there remains even one righteous person inside“. I can’t help it but feel that the “city” of the United States has just lost such a righteous person. Yes, there are still a few righteous people left in this “city”, but we all sure lost one of our best contemporaries.
To my immense regret, I never met Professor Cohen personally. And yet, when I heard the news of this death this morning, I felt truly heartbroken. My main consolation is that Cohen died before November and what will inevitably follow. I believe that God took him away from us to spare him the pain of seeing his country collapse under the repeated attacks of pseudo-liberal neocons.
It is pretty obvious that in our crazy and ugly times, Professor Cohen will not get the recognition and gratitude at home he so much deserves (if only because US pseudo liberals are much too busy bawling about Justice Ginsburg’s death). And while Stephen Cohen is well-known in some Russian circles (he had many friends in Russia), he is hardly a household name for most Russian people. But I am confident that, assuming humanity survives a little longer, Professor Cohen will be recognized as the righteous person he was, both in the USA and in Russia.
Somewhere, I also believe that we, as a society, simply don’t deserve to have such a righteous man amongst us. Cohen is now in much better company.
Thank you, dear Steve, for your kindness and courage. I shall miss you very, very much!
The Saker
I very much agree. Thank you, Saker, for expressing it in words.
well said, saker. i too felt deep sadness upon learning the news. cohen was always a voice of truth & reason & as you say compassion. i have to believe he will live in the hearts of those continuing to hold truth.
Indeed, a most enchanting person and delightful mind! His interviews and perspectives always felt like such an unreal show of character and intellect in this sea of lies, shallowness and conformism that is the USA. Can only imagine his daily suffering from his fellow “citizens”. He will be sorely missed especially in the chaos that is unfolding. May he rest in peace.
Our journey to peace and tranquility is littered with the bodies of our fallen, each and every one of them brave in their own way. With the passing of Steve Cohen, we have lost a forceful voice on the side of peace, pilloried he may have been at times for his unbroken stance of peace with Russia. May he rest in peace.
Auslander
This is a beautiful eulogy; so kind and full of humanity. Thank you.
I second that. The most beautiful and heartfelt eulogy I have read.
It is sad when such people with a blessed spirit of peace are passing away.
May you rest in peace and love, Stephen F. Cohen.
I enjoyed listening to the many interviews & podcasts he gave over the years he was a real Russian expert & not one of those neocon talking head guests the MSM usually have on.
I’d like to add my voice to those agreeing with every word you have written here Saker; my first reaction on seeing this news earlier today on RT was “Oh No,”.
I used to listen to his podcast interviews with John Bachelor when they were available, and always was struck by something else, his lurking sense of humour. He was ready to be wryly amused – by his own attitudes as much as anything.
He was a voice of reason, unprejudicial and balance, and yes, kindness.
R.I.P. and condolences to his loved wife.
Aside from the notable fact that Cohen was not ideologically possessed he also didn’t suffer from TDS, a prerequisite if one wants to do any kind of analysis.
Here in Canada we used to have a phenomenon called “Red Tories”. They were conservatives with a public-minded orientation. The neo-liberal and neo-con conservatives have since erased them from the political landscape.
Stephen Cohen was the sort of faithful liberal that has also, mostly, been erased from the political landscape. But lots of us remember and respect him even when we don’t agree with this or that view of his.
It was transparently obvious that he had an affection for Russian culture and civilization which meant that he was always worthwhile investigating. It’s just as transparently obvious that our current MSM political landscape is mostly populated by people who are of the opposite view; they hate Russia and have a comic book view of things.
Memory Eternal.
Excellent obituary, Saker. You touched on Stephen Cohen’s great qualities.
He was a good man, a man of character and values, a man of intellect who communicated with calm and civility.
It is a great loss for Russia and Russians. It is a great loss for America and Americans.
He more than equalled all the Russophobes in academe and think tanks and the media. His lone voice was too much for them to allow him broadcast time, public participation and popularity. They spent decades trying to marginalize him.
It’s sad moment in our lives to see his passing. We have lost a man of immense character.
Professor Cohen, rest in peace. You lived an important life. We thank you for being Stephen Cohen, a unique man.
Saker – you said all that needed to be said. Thank you.
Larchmonter – beautifully put.
Mod: Insulting comment deleted. Folks… would everyone please re-read the Moderation Rules, especially point #2. Thank-you
It’s true the man did not succumb to the messianic philosophy and it’s natural consequence: cancel culture. The kind of pressure and attacks both he and friends withstood was something most readers here would not be able to withstand. This why he also disagreed with any free passes towards CCP China with its extreme intolerance for criticism and deviation from their orthodoxy, nor those that would compromise themselves to such a degree as to turn a blind eye towards them.
So profoundly sad to hear this news and what a wonderful eulogy TS!
Humanity just lost such a courageous warrior who tirelessly fought for peace, honesty, and common sense. People like this are such a rare commodity in the west these days.
Indeed, these are the proverbial voices in the wilderness as the Neocons continually strive to re-invigorate the cold war and to feed the ravenous and obscene war machine. Such truly rare commodities are the likes of Cohens, the Hudsons, and the PCRs…what a profound tragedy it is when we lose one.
Methinks whatever the result of the November elections it would not have sat well with Stephen, so at least he will be spared from witnessing the nauseous kabuki theatre and the tumultuous debacle that will result regardless of whether the blue or the red war machine ‘wins’.
Stephen, I salute you as one of humanity’s most noble heroes.
Col
Beautifully put. Couldn’t agree any more. RIP Prof. Cohen.
Just as Mother Teresa slipped away on the same day Princess Di’s death occupied the popular mind…so in humility did Prof. Cohen.
If you have ever been shunned, like being a new kid in an American high school, you will understand the psychological torture that this man endured. I like to believe that his wife sheltered him from much of the emotional insanity which was slung his way.
It is sad he died ( another truth teller gone!!!) but I’m glad he did not have to witness the carnage to come…the cruelty ….the lack of mercy towards one another.
I didn’t realise he was that old! Tragic news.
How many intellectual elders are we still going to lose.? And what will become of us- the younger ones- when they are all gone?…who will explain things to us? Who will warn us of dangers ? The lights will go out one by one, and we will become like orphans, stumbling in the dark…
Thank you for this beautiful obituary Saker.
That’s exactly how I saw it: a guiding light to us all blinking out and leaving the Western Enlightenment to dim yet again as these luminaries are sadly not being replaced.
The “liberal” news outlets in the US must be pointedly ignoring Professor Cohen’s passing (I’ve seen no mention from CNN, MSNBC or HuffPo) while all are working overtime trying to canonize Justice Ginsberg. Why bother with eulogies to a truthful man of peace and mutual understanding when more votes can be whipped from the base by wailing on political strife both real and imagined.
This is upsetting news. Dr. Cohn was a true intellectual who stated the facts, not shadowed by propaganda or bias. We will miss him
This is upsetting news. Dr. Cohen was a true intellectual who stated the facts, not shadowed by propaganda or bias. We will miss him
I am very sad to hear this news.
Cohen was truly a voice crying in what has become an intellectual and ethical wilderness.
I have little doubt that Cohen will b given short shrift by mental midgets in the US mainstream media, and elsewhere. They will use all kinds of linguistic chicanery to try to trivialize Cohen, his achievements, and distort his actual views. Some of them will label him naive.
I am glad to see this appreciation at the Saker blog.
(I am also an admirer of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. So, that is not a zero-sum game.)
Katherine
Wonderful words Saker, thank you.
Emeritus Professor of Russian Studies at New York’s Princeton University, Stephen F Cohen may you long Rest in Peace. May your honesty inspire others, it certainly inspired me.
Biographical note:
Cohen’s wife, now widow, Katrina vanden Heuvel, has a very interesting family background and political pedigree.
Her father was William vanden Heuvel:
Wiki: “An early protégé of Office of Strategic Services founder William Joseph Donovan, vanden Heuvel served at the U.S. embassy (1953–1954) in Bangkok, Thailand as Donovan’s Executive Assistant. In 1958, vanden Heuvel served as Counsel to New York State Governor W. Averell Harriman.
In 1962, he became U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy’s assistant, and was involved in Kennedy’s 1964 and 1968 political campaigns. As special assistant to Attorney General Kennedy, vanden Heuvel played the key role in court, orchestrating the desegregation of the Prince Edward County school system, which expanded the scope of the landmark decision, Brown v. Board of Education.[6] ”
Vanden Heuvel’s mother was Jean Stein, the daughter of Jules Stein, a musician with pals in the mob who became the founder of the superagency, MCA during Prohibition. Those who have read Gus Russo’s Supermob will know that Stein was intimately involved with the Jewish mob that took control of California and Hollywood in the postwar era. MCA/Stein called virtually all the shots in Hollywood. he was immensely powerful in the California Democratic Party.
Once I learned her background it was amazing to me that Katrina vanden Heuvel ended up as editor of The Nation. To me this suggests that The Nation was always politcally compromised.
I have always been curious as to how Stephen Cohen met Katrina vanden Heuvel, and how he came to terms with the family political picture—what he thought of it. He has to have known that his wife’s grandfather was a mobster, a very smart one, the kind that didn’t get caught but instead successful went “legit” (hence “Supermob”). (Stein passed on leadership of MCA to Lew Wasserman, an even bigger Macher when it came to controlling what happened in Hollywood, CA, and the USA.)
Katherine
Important information Katherine! Thank you. Sadly, this reflects on how massive is the entrenched corruption infesting this country.
In any case, Cohen and Vanden Heuvel, seemingly, had enough power and independence to counter, somewhat, the establishment’s overwhelming Russia narrative. Perhaps, they were and are, some of the last, within that establishment, to offer us peons a morsel of truth. I am deeply suspicious Cohen met a premature unnatural death. (that would be my visceral suspicion) Yet no way to confirm. Just my humble opinion. Elimination of counter narratives as the motive.
We have lost in Cohen, a valuable source of wisdom and knowledge vis-a-vis Russian History and civilization at a time when the value of it has increased significantly. Perilous times indeed.
Katherine,
Thank you very much indeed for the invaluable information about Katrina vanden Heuvel.
Concerning your questioning “… I have always been curious as to how Stephen Cohen met Katrina vanden Heuvel, and how he came to terms with the family political picture …”. In one of his many interviews that I have eagerly watched over the years, I recall Cohen once commenting, in his typically conciliatory fashion, how he and his wife held different political views, implying a friendly modus vivendi. My own (perhaps unjustified … I hope…) first reaction was to feel deeply sorry for this great scholar and a man of golden hearth, thinking how he could not find a full emotional refuge even at his home nest, having to compromise there with a domineering tribal woman. Not my idea of home and family.
Thanks K for this dig up. Sometimes I wondered if it’s too good to be true, is it? It’s the same old play, controlled opposition. Otherwise you end up like Assange or Snowden, who still may or may not be all they claim.
What makes it even murkier is that vanden Heuvel is member of the Council of Foreign Relations (Prof Cohen was once member of the CFR but quit).
Contrary to Dr. Paul Craig Roberts…
John 12:24
RIP Stephen Cohen
How many of You have actually read his last book?
“War with Russia?” 2019.
Apparently, I have.
That doesn’t surprise me . You like to stay informed.
I haven’t read his last book.
What is the title?
I have read his essays and commentaries and listened to his interviews when someone had the good sense to invite him on a news show.
Katherine
I wonder if his work will now become more important post-humously?
When an artist dies his paintings become more valuable. Cohen’s work is definitely topical for this day and age. He left us quite a legacy…(and it wasn’t just books- interviews, podcasts, essays..). Hopefully more people will heed his warnings.
War with Russia is the title of the book . Stephen totally debunks the ‘Russia Collusion’ nonsense and places the blame on the intelligence agencies hence his depiction of ‘intelgate’.
“War with Russia?”. Yes, I’ve read it. Essentially a series of essays that follows his podcast discussions with John Batchelor over the past decade. For those of you (like me) who are wary of academic writing, fear not, it is an easy joy to read. I can’t recommend it too highly.
Wrong answer the book is primarily about Russia-Gate and the BS that was fed to the general public by the Intelligence community and the crazed Democrats . It started in 2016.
No my friend, you are wrong. From the book’s opening chapter, “To my readers”, Professor Cohen says: “The contents of this volume, however, were not originally intended to be a book. Nor were the words initially written. They began as radio broadcasts. In 2014 the host of The John Batchelor Show…offered me a weekly segment…”. Please note the date: 2014, not your 2016. It was the Ukraine war (and their concern about its potential consequences for relations between Russia and the USA) that initially motivated Professor Cohen and Mr Batchelor to begin their conversation. Not ‘Russiagate’, that came later. This is made explicit in the subtitle to Professor Cohen’s book: “From Putin and Ukraine to Trump and Russiagate”. So, may I respectfully return your question: have you actually read his last book?
Yeah I read the book when it first came out . I was going by memory and what you wrote is correct except the ten years part . The crux of Stephen’s message still remains ‘Intel-Gate’ in my opinion . So thanks’ for your reply and my apologies .
Sadly missed Thanks for the post!!
Amen
Two people died today who meant much to me: Mr. Ramon Scott, a childhood friend and the very capable mayor of my little home town of Pollock, Louisiana; and Dr. Stephen Cohen. Mr. Scott served his little village well; and Dr. Cohen served the cause of peace and suffered for that service. May both men rest in peace.
Well said Mr. Saker.
First Toots Hibbert and now Stephen F. Cohen…much inspiration and rationality has disappeared in the last week. And so we plod along…
RIP Steven Cohen
So truthful words , so accurate description , a dignifying eulogy for a humble man whose name , as a barrier atempting to halt our extinction , will remain in history au par with Von Stauffenberg. If we survive.
So truthful words , so accurate description , a dignifying eulogy for a humble man whose name , as a barrier atempting to halt our extinction , will remain in history au par with Von Stauffenberg. If we survive.
We lost a voice of reason today. Not too many of those around, unfortunately.
The first time I saw Stephen Cohen was on the Fareed Zakaria show and I though ‘wow, Fareed Zakaria is a guy who talks like a neocon but likes to have people with diverse opinions on his show’. Well, I just got lucky because Stephen Cohen was never invited back. Zakaria now sticks with his hand picked, like minded guests such as Richard Haas and some woman from the Atlantic Council.
In any case, Stephen Cohen was one of the few voices worth listening too because I didn’t feel like I was being indoctrinated by clones reading from the same script.
FWIW Ruth Bader Ginsberg who died at the same time was a liberal who I felt was intellectually honest and would occasionally cast a lonely vote with Clarence Thomas against expanding state power against individuals. Kagan and Sotomayor are shameless partisan hacks.
R.I.P, Mr. Cohen.💓
You are greatly missed already.
He was a voice of reason.
Oh, this is such sad news. The world has lost a truly good man, a humble hero. In short, an Everyman. Your words of tribute are very eloquent Saker. Thank you for them. I would only add that his courage and honesty were always leavened with a gently dry and warm sense of great, good humour.
Стивен Коэн, “глас вопиющего в пустыне”
Steven Cohen, “voice of one crying out in the wilderness”
This is sad news. The loss of Stephen Cohen is going to leave a real void here. His was a lonely voice trying to nudge American policy toward realism and professionalism, using his knowledge and analytical skills. It was a valiant effort, but didn’t make much progress with the U.S. establishment.
Incredibly sad news. I’ve followed his work for several decades now, and his intellectual honesty had a great influence on me. Back when some of us were just waking up from the undeserved adoration of the West, he was like a lighthouse in treacherous waters – guiding and illuminating, and most of all, confirming that understanding a topic was much more important (and rewarding) than issuing judgements. A huge loss and hugely missed. Sleep eternal sleep on a bed of softest feathers.
I meant to post Caitlin J’s piece about Mr. Cohen – https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2020/09/19/stephen-cohen-has-died-remember-his-urgent-warnings-against-the-new-cold-war/
I contains a clip of his great take-down of that opportunist Max boot (or something).
I respect your words regarding Mr Cohen.
We have another threat in our world perhaps larger in consequence than the confrontation Cohen spent his life preventing. That threat is the unprecedented rise of the man named Macron. He leads a nuclear power and is hell bent on world domination by placing himself as the arbiter of peace between US China India Russia.
Salutè Stephen Cohen!
Stephen Cohen was a true peacemaker, in the sense of the words of the Holy Gospel I quoted above.
Absolutely, the Saker. And that was why I enjoyed listening to his views and admired him. Great loss indeed.
Very sad day Indeed but very comforting words from the Saker. I enjoyed listening to Prof Cohen whenever I could get to hear him. I admired his commentaries during the Ukraine coupe. Whilst not entirely accurate it was the most honest from any American.
His calls for US and Russian dialogue amidst the psychopathic dishonesty out of Washington must have been very difficult for him. He was very courageous as stated by the Saker. God bless you Prof Cohen!
He was to the Russians what Peter Handke has been to the Serbs: A lone voice of reason among the crazy.
Thank you Saker for the moving tribute. May he Rest In Peace.
RIP Dr Cohen. You are missed already.
Beautifully done.
Yes truly a great person. Loved listening to him on the John Batchelor show most weeks, particularly during the height of the Ukrainian crisis, sharing his dispair, in what he viewed as crazed people marching the world towards a nuclear holocaust.
RIP Stephen very sad indeed.
My beautiful, breezy Sunday morning in N/E Tennessee turned dark upon hearing of Prof. Cohen’s passing.
Listened to him on Tucker Carlson and was virtually mesmerized by his wisdom and grace.
May he Rest In Peace and May perpetual light shine on him forever.
Beautiful man; beautiful words. Thank you, Saker.
I too am very sorry to learn of Stephen Cohen’s death. He certainly influenced me when I was doing my PhD on the Soviet Union in the mid-1970s. I tried to keep abreast of his articles for The Nation and occasionally litsen to his regular consersations on a rado show.
He certainly withstood all the calumny and hatred and continued calmly to analyse events as he saw them, with great sense. I too did not agree with everything he wrote or said but it was always a pleasure to listen to a voice for peace and sanity.
I teach International Relations at a major public university in the United States and in my classes on US-Russia relations I always include Cohen’s essays on the ‘New Cold War.’ I always ask my students to compare the work of Cohen to, say, Michael McFaul, who was Obama’s Amb. to Russia and author of ‘From Cold War to Hot Peace’. The students ALWAYS say that Cohen makes a much stronger argument than McFaul. No one ever defends McFaul. I’m very sad about this news.
Thank you Saker for your fitting eulogy for this wonderful man. Cohen was a true American and represented the best of the (as you noted true liberal) academic and intellectual tradition of this country that is (or has disappeared) before our very eyes. I almost feel like he is a relative because I would tune in to the John Batchelor program every week to find out what was really happening in Ukraine (especially 2014-2015) and between Moscow and Washington. If I wanted to know the truth of what was happening in Ukraine it was The Saker’s blog and Stephen F. Cohen on the radio. He will be missed.
Vechnaya Pamyat!
„If I wanted to know the truth of what was happening in Ukraine it was The Saker’s blog and Stephen F. Cohen on the radio. He will be missed.“ That‘s exactly what I had on my mind.
My gratitude to both the Saker and Prof. Cohen. Both were crucial for my thinking. I‘m surprised to learn that the Saker never met him in person, but I remember the Saker to post links to the Pieter Lavelle show where Steven was a frequent guest, and always impressive. Thank you, Saker, for your words.
To know Cohen through his books was electrifying; I first met that mind in his biography of Bukharin that ached with humanity and insight. 81 is a good age, but that mind deserved twice as long — I hope others will aspire to his courage, clarity, and quality of mind.
Chuba above mentioned Mr. Cohen not being invited back to Fareed Zakaria’s show. The same thing happened to him on Amy Goodman. He was too brilliant, as Goodman was describing the “moderate rebels” in Syria, Cohen said: “You’ve stopped calling them terrorists, haven’t you, Amy?” Nobody even tried to “argue” with him.
Of course, he couldn’t be invited back after that. Which is a typically shameful trick of neoliberal “alt” media, whose audience desperately needs to hear the perspective and objectivity Cohen so skillfully provided. He was the kind of guy that the average American “liberal” could respect, and he tried to help the listeners use their critical thinking skills. The “Left” seriously needs to relearn rationality and common sense, now more than ever! Who will have the courage to take Cohen’s place? (can’t think of anyone)
Cohen may not be so well known now, but his reputation and status will only grow. You put it well, Saker, a giant — or a Colossus, towering mightily above the puny brainwashed mental midgets that pass for experts.
Thanks for a beautiful eulogy, and to the commenters here, thanks for the gift of precious and rare (these days) feelings of hope, in perhaps the most heartfelt requiem on the ‘net one could hope to read.
Beautifully written. I enjoyed many of his talks via YouTube. A man of integrity that inspires me to be a better man. God rest his soul.
I watched this man a number of times on TV and read articles he wrote. What struck me about Stephen Cohen was how utterly SANE he was… What a sad world we live in when sanity has become so rare. We have become less by the silence of his voice.
Here is a long interview of Cohen that covers his life and beliefs
http://oralhistory.harriman.columbia.edu/interview/4
Wholeheartedly echo your views & sentiments Saker. Such a loss. I found his sanity in the podcasts with John Bachelor a comfort during the worst of the Ukraine-Donbas war.
That was a beautiful tribute and 100% accurate.
Mr. Cohen’s was one of the few pure peacemakers able to not only get his message to Americans, but not to be cowed by warmongers or “Russiagate” morons.
I too am very saddened to hear of his passing and hope his memory is a blessing to our nation and the world.
Amen.
He helped me with my post-retirement goal of a trip to Russia despite not knowing me from Adam. That led me to a second trip 2 years later and a third trip 9 months later. I never met him face to face but he usually responded to my emails so I felt like I did meet him in real life. I never missed his interviews with John Batchelor from 2015 until the last one just before the stupid lockdown. This is a huge loss for Humanity. Steven, we will remember you always. I will see you in the Great Beyond.
@The Saker Thank You so much for sharing about Mr. Cohen. I have watched him since i was 19 yr an would stop whatever to see him speak. I was drawn to him. Your sharing the personal side is huge (55 yr old now). I will miss him.
RIP Mr Cohen. Your shoes can not be filled. ray in texas
I have heard him several times on Coasttocoastam (late-night radio show), and remember him as successfully explaining issues pertaining to Putin, Ukraine, Syria, &c with complete lack of condescension toward those who might have not spent their career studying said issues. I give host George Noory credit for exposing such grat knowledge to the audience of his popular show.
Quite the elegant eulogy, Saker, thank you.
Another Tragedy occurred today. Memory Eternal! Andre Vltchek has passed away today!
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/middleeast/2020/09/22/turkey-probes-death-of-american-journalist-andre-vltchek.html
He was one of the most courageous journalists today. I deeply respect him, even if I do not agree with him on some points, particularly his stance of Christianity. May he rest in peace!
Great loss. Spent many hours listening to him on John Bachelor show ( despite efforts by producers there adding evermore adds and cutting up the broadcast).
A signed copy of his recent book is on a short list of things to save in case of fire.
A great communicator, probably too soft spoken for todays discourse, is you can call it that. RIP
He truly was an intellectual giant and peacemaker amongst a world of warmongers false intellectualism. May his memory be eternal! May his desire for peace which has been heard by God also eventually be heard by man
Lovely Post Mr. Saker,
Stephen Cohen was a brave soul, a decent man, an intellectually honest man. While I was a child, such giants commonly strode the world’s stage, trying to set things right, trying to ease the burden of those who would come after. I am old now and those giants are largely gone but, Mr Cohen can now once again walk in their company.
Rest in Peace Mr. Cohen; as us old football players used to say of a great effort, he left nothing on the field.
thanks Saker for recognizing Stephen as a great American.
Thank you so much for this beautiful Eulegy….We need Men of this knowledge and Humanity to speak every day in the US. God willing a few will come up after Mr Cohen example….
Tanks Saker, you speak my feelings perfectly.
Beatiful words for a just man !
Here’s an article, that appeared yesterday on Counterpunch, which should dampen the gushing adulation of Cohen expressed here a little …
The Tragedy of Stephen F. Cohen and the Bolshevik Revolution
https://www.counterpunch.org/2020/09/24/the-tragedy-of-stephen-f-cohen-and-the-bolshevik-revolution/
… personally, I am more saddened and shocked by the sudden death of Andre Vltchek, who was a much younger man than Cohen. But in my opinion they were both politically unsound naives who talked a lot about revolution, socialism, communism, but knew zilch about it because, like practically everybody hailing from or living in the US, they had never bothered reading, studying and understanding the classics from Marx and Engels to Lenin, Stalin, Mao… Two or three years ago Vltchek travelled Cuba and wrote in an article about it something like “Hell, I don’t care what communism is, as long as it looks like this.” … great! With this sort of thinking we’ll never get there anyway. And if the facts in the linked article above are true, Cohen is actually personally responsible for some serious political maldevelopments.