Even after the Cold War, U.S.-Russian relations remain the main theme of our security policy. We need to look no further than daily events in Chechnya to realize that Russia, indeed the entire continent of Eurasia, is still in revolution. It will be that way for a long time. This must be our starting point for a discussion of U.S. security policy. The revolution that ended the Soviet Union continues, and no one can predict how it will come out.
Many observers try to predict the outcome.
We know where we would prefer Russia's future to lie. It would be integrated into Western structures, would perceive a multitude of common interests with the West, and would pursue policies connected to those common interests. That is the Russia that we all hope for. There may be another Russia, however, a Russia that would return to reflexive confrontation with us. This Russia would be authoritarian internally and aggressive externally.