5 Reasons Putin Thinks He Can Outplay Obama

Breitbart ^ | 3 Mar 2014 | BEN SHAPIRO

[mandaladon]

As Russian President Vladimir Putin deploys his military forces to Ukraine, the Obama administration continues to wonder just what the benighted dictator is thinking. Understanding that the best strategy for countering military action is undoubtedly faculty lounge-style condescension, the Obama administration has responded with its full array of resources: scorn, sneering, and bemusement.

On Monday, President Obama announced that Russia was “on the wrong side of history,” adding that the actions of the Kremlin violate international law. His Secretary of State, John Kerry, stated on Sunday, “You just don’t in the 21st century behave in 19th century fashion by invading another country.” National Security Advisor Susan Rice stated, “It’s in nobody’s interest to see violence return and the situation escalate.” When questioned by NBC’s David Gregory whether Putin might in fact see the global situation in a “Cold War context,” Rice shot back, “He may, but if he does, that’s a pretty dated perspective.” To prove just how dated that perspective was, the United States announced on Monday that it would not be sending a presidential delegation to the Paralympics in Sochi, a move that will undoubtedly give Putin the chills.

Meanwhile, the tanks roll through the Crimea.

So, why exactly does Putin think he can get away with rolling tanks into Crimea without serious American response? History.

The Reset Button. In 2008, Putin’s Russia invaded neighboring Georgia after Georgia threatened military action against one of its provinces, the disputed territory of Abkhazia. Russia quickly poured troops into Abkhazia, and the United States responded with tepid language asking Russia to “reconsider some provocative steps.” Meanwhile, Russia began placing more and more troops in South Ossetia, another disputed territory under the control of Georgia.

[Bryan24]

Because he can. Easily.

End of Article

[ExCTCitizen]

Heck, an outhouse could outplay Obama.

[Billthedrill]

Understanding that the best strategy for countering military action is undoubtedly faculty lounge-style condescension, the Obama administration has responded with its full array of resources: scorn, sneering, and bemusement.

I liked that line so much I just had to repeat it. It may percolate into MSM brains that they're being laughed at too. It won't change anything but it's kind of fun to watch.

[SevenofNine]

Yeah you got the point there LOL!

[alstewartfan]

A Communist practitioner will trounce a Marxist dreamer every trip of the train.

[Ouderkirk]

reason #1 : Obama is a pussy

In this case the traditional retort of "you are what you eat" doesn't seem to work. Bath House Barry IS a pussy, and less.

[Marguerite]

Let’s talk a little about the White House violations of the international laws:

Obama’s drone program violates international law. Blind shootings kill numerous civilians, fact completely ignored by Obama. In the vast majority of strikes, the target, any accidental deaths and information about whether a strike was successful are not disclosed.
The international law on war states: “all of the relevant precautions have to be taken to make sure that civilians are not killed, in accordance with the relevant international rules.”

The long list of the countries where United States intervened to overthrow democratically elected governments - Guatemala, Iran, Congo, Chile - to train and arm insurgencies - Nicaragua, Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan in 1980 - and to launch aggressive wars - Afghanistan in 2001, Iraq in 2003, Bosnia, Serbia, Libya.

The Geneva Conventions points out that there should not be wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages in a war.
This rule was ignored by the US military in Serbia, where they bombed bridges, factories, water facilities, hospitals, accidentally killed many refugees, destroyed passenger trains with Serb civilians, bombed apartment blocks, the deliberate bombing of China Embassy, the TV station in Belgrade, where hundreds of reporters, journalists and technicians worked, had the embarrassment of a stray missile even hitting Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, about 40 miles from Kosovo’s border.

The same thing happened in Iraq, where dozens of thousands civilians were killed and civilian facilities destroyed.

The U.S. presidents think that they can simply dictating the laws that others must obey, with latitude to violate the law themselves when finding it necessary.

Russia hasn’t done to Ukraine a 0.00000000001% of what the US did to Serbia, but Obama dares accuse it of “violaton of the international law”. Such brazen hypocrisy is simply UNBEARABLE.

[TigersEye]

That is a great line. It accurately characterizes the way 0bama handles everything. He’s a one trick pony.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

“Putin’s playing chess; we’re playing marbles.”

With all due respect, Putin is not playing chess. He is playing a role that is somewhere between mafia don, totalitarian dictator, and KGB chief. You can bet good money that this move on the Crimea has been planned for a long time, and the protests and unrest were fueled and manipulated to allow this intervention. Putin is Stalin, or Hitler, with a better press agent.

[Ticonderoga34]

reason #1 : Obama is a pussy

Bottom line, that is the reason.

Putin isn't going to play along with the American Media's mirage that Obama is the smartest coolest man on the planet. Putin knows that a spoiled incomptent man/child is the US President and he is going to take full advantage of the situation.

In one way, I can't blame Putin. If I was him, I would do the same thing.

[Marguerite]

" Georgia threatened military action against one of its provinces, the disputed territory of Abkhazia (and South Ossetia). Russia quickly poured troops into Abkhazia"

Let's set the record straight on that: During the night of 7 to 8 August 2008, Georgia launched a large-scale military offensive against South Ossetia, in an attempt to reclaim the territory. Georgia successfully captured most of Tskhinvali within hours. Russia reacted by deploying units of the Russian 58th Army and Russian Airborne Troops into South Ossetia one day later, and launched airstrikes against Georgian forces in South Ossetia. Russian and Ossetian forces battled Georgian forces throughout South Ossetia for four days. On 9 August, Russian naval forces blockaded a part of the Georgian coast and landed marines on the Abkhaz coast. The Georgian Navy attempted to intervene, but was defeated.

After five days of heavy fighting in South Ossetia, the Georgian forces retreated, enabling the Russians to enter uncontested Georgia and temporarily occupy the cities of Poti and Gori. The parties reached a preliminary ceasefire agreement on 12 August, signed by Georgia on 15 August in Tbilisi and by Russia on 16 August in Moscow. Several weeks after signing the ceasefire agreement, Russia began pulling most of its troops out.

[kjam22]

I’m still not sure why we care about the Ukraine.

[sickoflibs]

Obama warned him.

[Milton Miteybad]

Reason No. 1: Putin is an intelligent, determined leader of a populous nation endowed with massive resources, and Obama is a clueless sniveling boob.

You hardly need any more reasons than that one.

[Marguerite]

“scorn, sneering, and bemusement”

He was trained for the first two by his husband Michelle. The third must be his own.

[MortMan]

5 reasons?

Obama. Obama. Obama. Obama.

Oh - and Obama.

[muir_redwoods]

There are really only two reasons and Obama lacks the pair of them.

[freekitty]

Obama’s on Purin’s side. Always has been.

[Marguerite]

“this move on the Crimea has been planned for a long time”

Correct.
After the dismemberment of the Soviet Union by Gorbatche in 1991, Russia never accepted the loss of Crimea, which was Russian territory since 1774, and rightly theirs. The fact that the Ukrainian-born Krustchev attached it to Ukraine in 1954 was ignored until 1991, because it was someting formal, on paper only, Russia and Ukraine being both part of the USSR.

Crimean consider themselves Russian at 80% of the population. Since 1992 Russia wants to reintegrate it (very strategic territory with the only Russian ports which don’t freeze in wintertime). Putin couldn’t miss the occasion to do it. The situation in Ukraine opened the way to him.

[Avid Coug]

“...John Kerry, stated on Sunday, “You just don’t in the 21st century behave in 19th century fashion by invading another country.”

When I read that line, I had to check the bylines at the top of the post to make sure this wasn’t a satire article. Kerry sounds like the old “Valley Girl”: “Ooohh! That’s just sooo 19th Century! I mean... really!”