Photoplay Diplomacy

The American Spectator ^ | 7-6-12 | George H. Wittman

[afraidfortherepublic]

They say a photo is worth a thousand words. Perhaps presidents Obama and Putin never heard of that expression. It is rare to the point of being unknown when the last time was that two world leaders showed such obvious mutual dislike of each other.

~snip~

It's hard to imagine a discussion over why Russia should allow heavy sanctions to be placed on the Assad regime in Syria or similar Russian cooperation over Iranian nuclear weapon development becoming so vitriolic as to create the intensity of distaste and disregard that showed in the faces of Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin after their meeting at the G-20 in Mexico.

~snip~

Instead the only thing left is to wonder if the two men just really don't like each other; that they in fact can't even stand being seated next to each other. To allow a personal reaction to dominate intergovernmental relations is not merely inexcusable, it is irresponsibly dangerous.

~snip~

It would appear that President Obama lost sight of the fact that the United States is desirous of Russia's cooperation rather than the other way around.

~snip~

The current Russian president has made quite clear his desire to return his country to the preeminence it once held when it was recognized as one of the world's two superpowers. Putin will never deal with Obama on an equal basis and certainly has no intention of granting him acceptance personally.

~snip~

What President Obama does not appear to grasp is that his Russian adversary -- and Putin is that -- intends to treat him as strictly a "short timer" no matter the November election results.

~snip~

The world in which Barack Obama lives is dominated by himself; everything else is simply a backdrop. Putin has been well briefed on this by his intelligence profilers.

[afraidfortherepublic]

This article is well worth reading in its entirety. I had to snip so many delicious segments out to fit the word limitation of FR.

[Da Coyote]

I strongly suspect the abilities of anyone who respects the Obamacretin.

As such, I respect Putin more than I respect the dork.

[AZLiberty]

It must have been an act. They seem happy enough here, agreeing on the destruction of Israel::

[bgill]

Hussein must be remembering the time Putin detained him at the airport and he was frisked by some burly Russian wrestler.