As with other commenters on this thread, I believe you should re-read the piece, especially this sentence: "In virtually any train or bus station in Russia today, in sidewalk kiosks, in bookstores, in libraries, one finds this representation of Alaska and of the sale of Russian America..." Professor Haycox is not making the "benevolent Russians" argument. The extremists who want Alaska back are making that argument, and Haycox is calling it out as flawed.