After Landslide Re-Election, Russia’s Putin Tells West: I Don’t Want Arms Race

[Black Diamond]

Simple but effective formula: Putin never says another word about the poisoning. A couple of months down the road, he cuts off all support to Syria, Iran and N Korea and it escalates to hostilities. Putin will be the West's new hero. Forgotten will be Crimea and the poisoned Brits. Everyone will be cheering him on to kick Iran's ass.

Look how that played in reverse for Saddam. Or even Stalin. Saddam went from good guy to goat in one move by his choice of opponents. Stalin went from evil oppressor to ally based solely on who his enemy was.

And the World buys it. The same formula works in pro wrestling. Even boxing. Look at Ali. He went from draft-dogging POS because he picked a bigger POS (Foreman) as his opponent. Simple psychology.

I doubt Putin will go that far. The point is just to show how fast he can get off the hook if he wants to.

Much of Europe already liked Putin the last eight years because he exuded strength. Unlike Obama baba.

[High_Plains_Drifter]

Much of Europe already liked Putin the last eight years because he exuded strength. Unlike Obama baba.

And Europe is dependent on the Russian oil teat.

[Gunny]

Much of Europe already liked Putin the last eight years because he exuded strength. Unlike Obama baba.

I liked Putin better than Obama. I would probably have voted for Putin over Obama. I mean, that choice is a no-brainer. However, the same bad actors Putin courts liked Obama. I don't think the major European powers are as enthralled, especially after his takeover of Crimea.

[Black Diamond]

I liked Putin better than Obama. I would probably have voted for Putin over Obama. I mean, that choice is a no-brainer. However, the same bad actors Putin courts liked Obama. I don't think the major European powers are as enthralled, especially after his takeover of Crimea.

There's just something about liking strength no matter how evil the person may be.

[Gunny]

There's just something about liking strength no matter how evil the person may be.

I don't know about liking strength. Maybe you're right. I like him punking out Obama. I tried to feel bad about it, Obama being OUR President and all, but I didn't

[Drummond]

An apology is the same as an admission of guilt so I'm betting no on that one.

Point taken.

I believe that we are now in the process of waking up. We now, finally, understand that Russia is not a power in the world that can be trusted. Oh, in time - IF Russia 'cools it' - things will themselves cool down, and we will 'do business' with Russia once more. HOWEVER -- what we severely lack in the West is a precise understanding of just how different the prevailing psychology is in a society like Russia. They genuinely (.. at the top, anyway, in the Kremlin) DO NOT share our values of decency. Genuinely, they believe 'Might is Right', and everything is subordinate to that in their eyes.

I've a hard time separating that brand of arrogance out from our understanding of the evil of Hitler's own regime, and lust for power. There may be NO difference, at all, when you get down to it.

On terrorism, for example: they'll use our standards to judge the evils of terrorism, but only in terms which benefit them. If they choose, they'll copy that same mentality ... as the near-indiscriminate attacks in Salisbury have just demonstrated.

Add sheer arrogance to an utter contempt for life, and what do you have ? Don't you have the seeds of a terrorist mindset in the making ?

[aboutime]

And Europe is dependent on the Russian oil teat.

True...NOW. But, look at the reality and how it is changing. WE (The U.S.A.) are now capable of providing Cheaper, Better fossil fuels like COAL, OIL, and NATURAL GAS to Europe than Russia....whom, Putin knows, cannot compete with us to maintain his weak economy. We have the upper hand, and Putin knows it.
Putin needs money from Europe to escalate his Military. So, if the U.S. can take away that source of funding. Putin's military dreams are just that.....DREAMS.