I have spoken often about the differences between the understanding that existed about Russian affairs among the American intellectual elite during the Cold War, and that which exists today. I’m attaching an essay written by a man I was fortunate to call a friend, William Polk, which deals with Russian history and how it shaped Russian thinking today. Unfortunately my friend Bill is no longer with us. If only we had men (and women) of his caliber today. Instead we get Michael McFaul.