Article

2014-03-10 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Putin doesn't see America as weak, former U.S. ambassador to Moscow says

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Posted by Uncle Phester 2014-03-10 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top

#1 "Fomenting instability out of incompetence" is weak.

Posted by rjschwarz 2014-03-10 00:13|| 2014-03-10 00:13|| Front Page Top

#2 So is just being incompetent.

Posted by SteveS 2014-03-10 00:18|| 2014-03-10 00:18|| Front Page Top

#3 America isn't weak.

Just our political class is weak.

Posted by DarthVader 2014-03-10 01:00|| 2014-03-10 01:00|| Front Page Top

#4 "Inconsistent, but not weak".

We'll see - pray hard + keep your fingers crossed that the Bammer has not been fully succumbed to the Sith = Anti-US OWG Globalism.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2014-03-10 01:43|| 2014-03-10 01:43|| Front Page Top

#5 I suspect that Putin thinks of Obama as being an irrelevant "transient effect", and not worth wasting his time worrying about.

Thinking back to Graham Alison's "Essence of Decision", what Putin does need to consider is the "Organizational Processes Model", whereby structural habits within the American foreign policy and defense organizations generate a credible threat, in spite of the impotent fool at the top of the administration.

Posted by Lone Ranger 2014-03-10 02:01|| 2014-03-10 02:01|| Front Page Top

#6 Yes, "transient" is the operative word here, unless the Champ can somehow forego term limits. Vlad has made the same assessment as any elementary school history or social studies student, Champ is shaping up to be the lamest of lame duck presidents. A "paranoid" Russia? Who knew ?

Posted by Besoeker 2014-03-10 02:20|| 2014-03-10 02:20|| Front Page Top

Darth Cheney, same topic.

Posted by Besoeker 2014-03-10 02:55|| 2014-03-10 02:55|| Front Page Top

#8 * See also BHARAT RAKSHAK > "WE ARE SPEAKING VERY LOUDLY, BUT WE ARE CARRYING A SMALL STICK", DIMITRI K. SINE ON WHY RUSSIA DOESN'T TAKE THE US SERIOUSLY.

That sound you're hearing is POTUS Teddy Roosevelt yelling "OH GAAAAAADDDD"!, or in the altern "Bully, by God"!, in righteous indignation.

["LIFE WID FATHER" Classic Movie here].

Posted by JosephMendiola 2014-03-10 03:17|| 2014-03-10 03:17|| Front Page Top

#9 The Western political class isn't weak or cowardly per se. It is suffering from a pathological mixture of zero civilizational confidence, self-hatred and masochism. This results in erratic and occasionally functionally insane behavior.

Putin in contrast is a rational, cautious, deterrable, amoral, explorative and opportunistic aggressor. He has just been provoked by the West's provocative weakness that has been on display for well over a decade.

Posted by Elmerert Hupens2660 2014-03-10 06:08|| 2014-03-10 06:08|| Front Page Top

#10 he has a theory about American power that is quite paranoid

Actually Puti thinks USA are muscle for EU leaders dreams of World Dominance (not for some selfish or racist reasons but for "Human Rights", "protecting the environment", the freedom to choose your gender, and---the most important one---freedom from thinking).

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2014-03-10 06:13|| 2014-03-10 06:13|| Front Page Top

#11 Considering we are 18 trillion in debt and lack the political will cut Big Bird out of public television with 350+ channels of cable television I would say he sees America as financially and politically bankrupt.

Putin is pulling a Ronald Reagan and seeing an opportunity to accelerate Americas ability to react effectively. Quite ironic.

Posted by Airandee 2014-03-10 06:47|| 2014-03-10 06:47|| Front Page Top

#12 'An army of lions commanded by a deer will never be an army of lions.' - Napoleon

Posted by Procopius2k 2014-03-10 08:43|| 2014-03-10 08:43|| Front Page Top

#13 Actually Puti thinks USA are muscle for EU leaders dreams of World Dominance (not for some selfish or racist reasons but for "Human Rights", "protecting the environment", the freedom to choose your gender, and---the most important one---freedom from thinking).

Meanwhile, on Earth Prime, Russia's kept afloat financially by Germany's arbitrary, baseless decision to use Russian-resold Kazakh natural gas instead of German coal, while France sells them assault ships and fire control electronics for their tanks. The German president who made this decision (which Merkel refuses to reverse) collects a salary (or maybe it's a commission) from Gazprom.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2014-03-10 11:15|| 2014-03-10 11:15|| Front Page Top

#14 #11 Considering we are 18 trillion in debt and lack the political will cut Big Bird out of public television with 350+ channels of cable television I would say he sees America as financially and politically bankrupt.
Posted by: Airandee

Airandee nailed it squarely! Faced with the decision of 'guns or ~~butter~~ EBT cards,' Champ will always take the cards.

Posted by Besoeker 2014-03-10 11:33|| 2014-03-10 11:33|| Front Page Top

#15 Tricky use of language. Does not see "America" as weak. Fine. But *does* see Champ as weak - because duh.

Obvious reaction - take advantage of strong opponent's weak leadership.

Posted by Eohippus McCoy1112 2014-03-10 12:53|| 2014-03-10 12:53|| Front Page Top

#16 ..dunno 'soeker - maybe our Lightworker will figure out a way to make a standoff weapon of butter-guns..

Posted by Uncle Phester 2014-03-10 13:13|| 2014-03-10 13:13|| Front Page Top

#17 Consider the source: McClatchey press, the Pravda of the leftist press outlets, dedicated to propping up Obama and progressivism, no matter how many lies they need to print to do it.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-03-10 14:05|| 2014-03-10 14:05|| Front Page Top

#18 Thing, I know you won't believe me now. But, the return to multipolar world is a good thing. Not just for Russians---it's a good thing for you Americans as well.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2014-03-10 15:07|| 2014-03-10 15:07|| Front Page Top

#19 O does not have an OODA Loop to go around. It is very pathetic. And embarass-kin'.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2014-03-10 16:54|| 2014-03-10 16:54|| Front Page Top

#20 #19 O does not have an OODA Loop to go around. It is very pathetic. And embarass-kin'.
Posted by: Alaska Paul 2014-03-10 16:54

..can OODA loops circle a drain.?

Posted by Uncle Phester 2014-03-10 18:00|| 2014-03-10 18:00|| Front Page Top

23:56 JosephMendiola
22:21 SteveS
21:14 SteveS
20:45 JosephMendiola
19:41 Besoeker
18:53 Au Auric
18:42 Uncle Phester
18:35 Uncle Phester
18:29 Uncle Phester
18:03 Au Auric
18:00 Uncle Phester
17:53 Uncle Phester
17:14 Old Patriot
17:11 Old Patriot
16:54 Alaska Paul
16:28 g(r)omgoru
16:22 Zenobia Floger6220
16:06 Uncle Phester
15:31 g(r)omgoru
15:28 Zenobia Floger6220
15:22 USN, Ret.
15:07 g(r)omgoru
14:52 trailing wife
14:42 Zhang Fei