Cohen has been a Soviet apologist and disinformation spreader since at least the 1980’s, esp. on the John Batchelor Show.
Here is at least one Wash. Post Opinion column of Cohen that says it all.
Wash. Post, Sunday, August 21, 1983, Page C3, “The Soviet Union Is No Basket Case: It is strong and stable because the Kremlin keeps its promises”, “Stephen Cohen is a professor of politics at Princeton University and writes a monthly column for The nation, from which this article is taken.
He writes the “Every generation or so, Western opinion embraces a new myth about the Soviet Union.
Now it is the ‘Failure and crisis’ of the Soviet system at home...”
“If this picture of a crisis-ridden Soviet regime tottering on the abyss were not so dangerous, it could be dismissed as just another piece of passing foolishness. {KEY PROPAGANDA LINE HERE>]. Unfortunately, it underlies the idea, so popular in the Reagan Administration and other influential circles, that an American policy based one a new arms race and all-out economic warfare will destroy the Soviet Union or “bring it to its knees.” Critics of that apocalyptic analysis risk being labeled “appeasers” or Soviet “apologists”. ...
Last paragraph:
“A Soviet émigré to the United States recently expressed surprise at the opinion that “almost all Soviet people are anti-communist and hate Soviet power.” In an article recounting conversations with many “typical representatives of Soviet people at all levels,” he called this view a “self-deception.” Instead of dangerously deceiving ourselves about the Soviet Union’s “crisis” and what it calls communism, we should ask ourselves why a system with so many problems is so stable. The answer may lead us to wiser and more compassionate policies.”
THAT LAST PARAGRAPH WAS COHEN’S JOB, TO STOP REAGAN’S SDI AND OTHER DEFENSE PROGRAMS WHICH HELPED TO BREAK THE SOVIET PIGGY BANK AND BRING THEM DOWN ECONOMICALLY, AS WELL AS TO DESTROY THEIR INVASION/OCCUPATION OF AFGHANISTAN BY THE USE OF STINGER MISSILES TO DENY THE SOVIETS AIR SUPERIORITY AGAINST THE MUJAHIDEEN.
Another article in the Wash. Post a few years earlier, as I recall, had one American foreign affairs specialist (possibly an Administration official), calling Cohen the top Soviet apologist in America.
That assessment still stands valid today.
Beware of Soviet Wolves in Sheeps’ Clothing/Writing.
I take it, then, due to your grave warning about wolves in sheep’s clothing, that you believe the MSM Trump-Russia narrative.
A left-liberal pushing back against a leftist narrative is worth noticing, especially when the guy pushing back is knowledgeable. Cohen was a longtime professor of political science at Princeton. His field was Soviet studies, with an emphasis on the revolution and post-revolutionary period. He wrote a definitive biography on Bukharin and, while I don't follow the field, he may still be the go-to guy on that subject. He's a thoughtful guy. Yes, he's always been sympathetic to the socialist project -- one of those people who regrets that the Russian revolution became monstrous -- but his historical point of view has always been anti-Stalinist. You don't have to agree with him, but I'd pay attention to what he has to say about Russia.
Point is, this does not mean this guy was some out of the ordinary apologist, he was right there with the herd.