Thanks Sue.
I think there are ways WiRs could add valuable content directly such as doing mass uploads of archived documents to Commons, or add article content as happened here. However I don't think it's a good idea for WMF to involve itself so much with content generation, and the manner in which this project was started and managed had problems as you described. I think that WiRs need a higher level of training and supervision than happened here, especially if the WiR is not already an established Wikimedia contributor and familiar with the relevant policies for their work.
Could WMF also discuss the copyright issues involved?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Timothysandole#Copyright_release_for...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Russia%E2%80%93United_States_relations#Re...
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Russia%E2%80%93United_States_rela...
Thanks,
Pine