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Subscribe to RSSMichael McFaul, the new U.S. ambassador to Moscow, is one of the world's leading experts on Russia and has already become a lightning rod for Kremlin suspicions that he's come to foment revolt. NBC's Jim Maceda speaks to him about his new posting.
At first glance, Michael McFaul seems an odd fit for the post of U.S. ambassador to Russia. Pushing 50, McFaul, a political scientist and tenured professor at Stanford University, has spent almost all his career in the halls of academia, not in diplomacy.
And he hardly looks like a threat; on the contrary, he’s engaging and jovial, combining a plain-speaking folksiness with a laid-back attitude he must get from his Montana and California background. Yet Professor, now Ambassador, McFaul has hit the Russian tarmac with all the force of a howitzer shell.
Just two days on the job (he arrived in mid-January) and he’d become headline news on Russia’s Kremlin-controlled Channel 1, which ran a story about a string of Russian opposition leaders lining up outside his new residence at Spaso House that day, suggesting they were coming to get their instructions from the man who once wrote "Russia’s Unfinished Revolution."
The Russian reporter’s suggestion was that McFaul, a fluent Russian speaker, had come back to finish business.
A red flag of anger suddenly waved defiantly across the national media. McFaul hadn’t yet found his work-out gear in his boxes and he was already being compared to those evil ambassadors of yore, conniving in the shadows to topple the host regime.
Siberia-style cold shoulder
But McFaul has taken the Siberia-style cold shoulder in stride. In fact, he says, he was only at that meeting for protocol.
Both Russian government and opposition leaders had come to see the visiting Deputy Secretary of State, William Burns, not him.
And he points out the Russian media never mentioned the rest of his second day on the job.
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"I had some very warm, cordial and substantive meetings with people like the Foreign Minister, Prime Minister [Vladimir] Putin’s foreign policy adviser, President [Dmitry] Medvedev’s foreign policy adviser, so when I read that it was unwelcome – well, we didn’t have the camera crews out for those so I guess that’s the problem, right?" he says.
The real problem, of course, is that, with presidential elections in March, McFaul’s past advocacy for a more democratic Russia has become easy prey for the Kremlin propaganda machine.
Tens of thousands of Russians defy cold to demand fair elections
In the same vapor breath, thousands of pro-Putin protesters who braved sub-zero Moscow temperatures in early February could be heard chanting "No Orange" (referring to the 2004 pro-democracy Orange Revolution in Ukraine) and "No U.S. Embassy!"
But, typically, McFaul is brushing off his rude welcome. In a veiled apology, he says he’s learning from his mistakes (while not naming any).
Anti-Putin protesters: Coping with bitter cold and big questions
'Invigorating!'
And he’s raring to go. "If you stop learning, to me as an academic that’s the most insulting thing you can say about anybody.’’
How does he sum up his first month as Ambassador? "Invigorating!"
And McFaul is already making his presence felt in other ways. He’s checking official records, but believes he’s the first resident of Spaso House to set up a Nerf Basketball hoop in one of the giant reception rooms.
US finds democracy a tougher sell abroad
He thinks he’s also the first to play badminton in the salon. McFaul is confident the chilly "first impression" will change.
"We’ll find our way and I think also Russia and our Russian guests will find their way in dealing with a different kind of group at Spaso House," he says.
And if it doesn’t get any better, Ambassador McFaul can always resort to his two secret weapons: basketball and badminton diplomacy.
More from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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He's the perfect person for the job!
Looks like Putin is trying the same tactic the repubs are using over here, stir up a bunch of fear and anger and then tell people "I have all the answers, but the other guy will get you killed."
Lol @ Tim
Every politician does that. Not just Republicans. It seems like it's more Republicans right now because of the GOP campaigns. But we saw the same thing from the democrats and republicans back in 2008.
Only an incompetent fool like Obama could assign an incompetent fool like this guy to be ambassador to an important country like Russia.
C'mon November!
I agree with Jim-1165189! Finally...we have an ambassador who is fluent in the language of the country he's assigned to and knowledgeable of the country's history...perfect! Particularly in Russia.
Historically we have sent too many "political appointees" as ambassadors who don't know fudge about the country they're assigned to, let alone speak the language of that country! Talk about embarrassing, mis-steps, etc.. been there, seen it...this guy's a breath of fresh air.
McFaul is not fluent in Russian language (the last ambassador was). Again he is totally blind to what the Clinton cronies were doing to Russians in the 90s, and totally ignorant about the country's history.
Read the review from Mark Ames for his book at amazon. This guy is a failure.
Only an incompetent fool would think that change is coming in november.
@oldotto2 Ambassador McFaul is a political appointee, the first political appointee to Embassy Moscow in more than 20 years (Ambassador Strauss was the last appointee, serving as the last Ambassador of the Soviet Union and first Ambassador to the Russian Federation, in 1991-1992). Ambassador Beyrle, his predecessor, is a career Foreign Service Officer and served in Russia/Soviet Union four times during his career. But, why let facts get in the way of a good argument!
While I hope this guy is the right one for the job, as our relations with Russia need to be on good terms with the Iranian situation looming, I wish the person assigned to this post would have better "street credibility" with the Russians to start off with. There are too many other problems needing attention and we don't need drama with them to cause the current problems to be more difficult to deal with.
It sounds like, from the article, that it was the government controlled media, not the Ambassador, who created the drama.
McFaul suffers an ideological blindness, and he is known for overlooking the corruption, graft, and authoritarianism of the Yeltsin administration. The anti-Americanism in Russia traces back to the 1990s - an opportunity completely blown by Clinton and Bush - because of the unbearable pain caused by Washington's shock therapy reforms (which had failed by all measures anyway). Go to the exiled and read their archive on this man - not this Disney version from msnbc. Today's McFaul seems diminished and more like a gaffe machine.
"...we don't need drama..."
I guess if they didn't create some out of nothing there wouldn't be a problem then? Doesn't seem like this guy did anything to deserve the "first impression" he got
I think this was 100% the right message to send to Russia in terms of an ambassador.
REMEMBER DEMOCRACY.
It may not be the "perfect" system... but it certainly is the one best poised for protecting individual liberties.
As for what Tootin-Putin thinks, I couldn't care less. Either you're a democracy that embraces free speach (even when the words provided aren't what you agree with) - or you're a repressionist regime. Which is it, Mr. Putin? Are you afraid of discourse?
And even better at protecting the ruling class.
There will NEVER be a agreement with the Russians or Iran or any other country over there that will stand for they do not want the U.S. in their business for any reason===wait and see.
"Kremlin [suspects] that he's come to foment revolt" Nonsense, the horrific gangster style corruption of Putin and other thugs are responsible that...and if the US doesn't stop allowing corporate looting at an unprecedented scale, they might be next.
US would love to get rid of Putin in Russia, and see pro western oligarchs take over in that country. To say that there is no such agenda is laughable. US loves exporting it's own brand of Pepsi-and-Coke 'democracy' to other countries.
zFlynn We have gangster style corruption in the US in the way of the 1% party you know the republican party, the only racist political party in the US.
@Max^108 You have summarized US foreign policy in Russia so succinctly!
Oh wait, you've spouted a bunch of ill-informed, anti-American nonsense... but you did it so well!
If you'd spent any time there, or had even a passing familiarity with US-Russia relations, you'd know that our goals are to work with the Russians to strengthen the rule of law, help them eliminate what is endemic corruption at every level of the government, and build up democratic institutions and civil society so that an honest dialogue -- you know, democracy -- can occur. Of course, the US promotes commercial interests in Russia... that's what the Foreign Commercial Service is for, not really a surprise or a secret. Russia promotes its business interests in the US, as well as most foreign missions in the world. The Agricultural Trade Office, part of USDA, helps American farmers and agribusinesses put American products on Russian store shelves and navigate the Byzantine regulatory system in Russia. But, I suspect, Max, that you don't really care much for nuance, or details.
He has been sent there by the Obama regime to get new ideas about how we can become more like the former USSR! Apparently Obamas tactics are not working fast enough and only the idiots in this country are still believing in him!
Maybe he's trying to figure out how to become allies with Iran.
Yet another person advocating the return of the robber barrons. That worked so well the first time
I didn't know Russia has Wendy's.
It does, not to mention TGI Fridays, Chilis, Burger King, Sbarro, and of course, McDonald's...
It's the cold war all over again.
All the guy has to do is play Nerf Ball and Badminton and let his presence create unrest. He is a match to light a fire. The perfect guy to create tension between the US and Russia.
First of all, Russia is still very much has a corrupt government. Putin did not change that and in fact fit right in with the other crooks. Whether the U.S. will have much influence with changing the way Putin does business is doubtful. Unless Putin can deliver more than what he does now, he will eventually be thrown out of office and a new crook put into power. The best answer for the U.S. is to maintain good relations with the Russian people.
You know you can reverse countries and change Putin to president, And its still true.
Another professor entering the Real World and leaving the protected walls of idealism !
How many of these people are now working for the annointed one and failing miserably ?
GIVE ME A BREAK !!!
Seems like our government wants WW3, for some reason, they think they can win, or that those few mega elites that are paying them/bribing them will save them from the aftermath they are creating. Buckle your seat belt's folk's it's gonna get even more ugly out there I bet.
Wonder what we'd be saying if the Russian or Chinese Ambassador's had the Occupy Wall Street leaders over to their Embassy's to talk.And the new Russian Ambassador was known for his book on the US called "The Corrupt Class System in the United States".I'm guessing we wouldn't consider those as friendly acts.Yet,we think its OK for us to interfere in Russia's internal affairs.
Uncle Bob how are we interfering with Russia's interanl affairs? I think it takes more than exchanging ambassadors to constitute interference. But I suppose you have an example?
No story here, little putin the perp acting like a victim. please.
this ambassador is perfect, pol science educated, but not a politician, personable, and speaks Russian. What else could we give them as an ambassador? nah, putin acts like a victim which tells me he is the perp. Soon he'll whine nuclear threat from America while selling nuclear weapon materials to Iran. Russians really need to send him to Siberia.
But do we really have a "democracy"?
If you really think about it, there is little democracy in the US. The main reason is that our federal government was set up as a "republic", or representative government. Our two party system picks who we get to vote for in an election, with no strong third party in sight. How much choice do we really have when our options are predetermined? Why the Electoral College?
Why would the US have this man as ambassador to Russia, that would be like Iran having the cousin of their leader as ambassador to Israel. The US will try anything to piss off Russia. I guess if you want to get the ball rolling towards war you have to have a catalyst.
Kinda tells you something, doesnt it?
If Putin were not up to no good, things would surely be different. As it is, the "Unfinished Russian Revolution" is a most appropriate title...and Putin seems to have become just one more part of it.
Bravo for those Russians out there who dare to think and express the desires their people have had for centuries.
They will overcome in the end.....
Oh, and one more thing...
In this line of postings you will find a lot of KGB/SVR agents prococateur disguised as "Americans" spewing out crap that will denigrate the US ambassador.
Dont hold it against them...they are just doing what they are paid to do and to get that extra bottle of free vodka they receive every week for betraying their own people as they have done for centuries.
Seems nothing has really changed in Mutharusha...
The biggest problem was assigning someone who had ill-will towards the Russians in the first place. His book was so full of western rumors and media reports that rang completely false to Russians and Americans who have a long time familiarity with that country. The prior ambassador was well liked and effective, and non-political. As an American living in Russia I am amazed by the utter BS that passes as news in the west about Russia but it explains why so many of the public and politicians are clueless about what is really going on here.
It is no where near as sinister and authoritarian as claimed in the west or there would not be so many millions of people, including Europeans and North Americans wanting to live here. I am much more concerned of a US ruled by a Neo-Con or Teabagger than a Russia with Putin as president. The rest of the world would agree with that concern as well. His economic policies assure his reelection because few people were not positively impacted by the growth, high employment, greatly expanded middle class and opportunities like never before. Maybe a sensible political figure will arise but so far there is no viable candidate with a plan or the support to make anything happen. All the candidates whose ads are covering TV are pretty flawed or one-issue oriented. A country with so many smart and well educated people will eventually find someone who has their act together but right now, the strongest alternative is the Communist party which gained 20% of the recent legislative elections.
Watch out Russia! If you give 'em too much lip they might use military action and say that "everything is on the table..."
Oh, wait a minute....That would never, ever happen to you. With that large nuclear arsenal pointed our way, you are safe as can be. Now I wonder why Iran is trying to get nukes? Hmmmm. Let me think about it....