" At the bottom of the Kremlin’s neurotic view of world affairs,” Kennan wrote, “is traditional and instinctive Russian sense of insecurity.” This insecurity manifested itself in a “patient but deadly struggle for total destruction [of] rival power.”20 He warned that this was particularly the case in hot spots like Berlin, where the Soviets were not to be trusted on any level. “Everything possible will be done to set major Western powers against each other,” he wrote. “Anti-British talk will be plugged among Americans, anti-American talk among British.” The Soviets were masters of sowing seeds of mistrust. “Where suspicions exist, they will be fanned; where not, ignited.” So "
― Giles Milton , Checkmate in Berlin: The Cold War Showdown That Shaped the Modern World
![Giles Milton quote : At the bottom of the Kremlin’s neurotic view of world affairs,” Kennan wrote, “is traditional and instinctive Russian sense of insecurity.” This insecurity manifested itself in a “patient but deadly struggle for total destruction [of] rival power.”20 He warned that this was particularly the case in hot spots like Berlin, where the Soviets were not to be trusted on any level. “Everything possible will be done to set major Western powers against each other,” he wrote. “Anti-British talk will be plugged among Americans, anti-American talk among British.” The Soviets were masters of sowing seeds of mistrust. “Where suspicions exist, they will be fanned; where not, ignited.” So](/image/2612090.jpg)