What Putin did, on camera, was simply amazing. He is a thug, and a murderer. I have to say that up front because there are some weird, and quite frankly, bizarre posters here on Free Republic who wish to assign any analysis of the Putin/Obama comparison as Putin worship.
So having said that, what is fascinating is to analyze what we are dealing with. Watch the movie "Eastern Promises" starring Naomi Watts and Viggo Mortensen.
The movie depicts the Russian mob in London, and it is very realistic in terms of the brutality and ruthlessness of these people. Mortensen spent months researching the role, learning Russian, and traveling (along) to Moscow, Siberia, and other places within Russia.
Those men in that room at the factory might have known that some of them were already dead men. Putin may have even decided by then who lived, and who died. Also, notice how Putin used psychological tactics against the Billionaire - such as demanding his pen back.
I posted this yesterday: there is a book that is standard reading for every ambassador, State Dept employee, international businessman, and military officer working overseas.
Basically, it lays out the cultural do's and don'ts of every nation and culture - in very blunt terms.
Look what it says about Russia:
"By and large, the Russian people accept that the largest nation in the world needs an authoritarian, strong man. This leader also needs to be predictable; a capricious boss is not reassuring. Similarly, Russian businesses tend to be run by strong managers. If you find yourself in charge of Russian employees, be decisive. It is not as important that your orders are correct; what is important is that you give orders. The presence of a strong, yet predictable,boss actually works to reduce anxiety in many Russians. It is said that Russians are great “sitters” during negotiations. Traditionally, Russians regard compromise as a sign of weakness. Some even see compromise as morally incorrect. Russians would rather out-sit the other negotiator—and gain more concessions from the other side."
Someone should have bought the book for Obama, but then again it probably would not have made any difference. Obama can only act the thug when he has Eric Holder, the IRS, and the FBI intimidating powerless American citizens. With Putin and Russia, Obama finds himself as he really is: a poser who simply plays the part of "President", but is actually totally unqualified for the position. He conned his way into everything his whole life. His education. His political jobs. His patronage. The Presidency.
Putin has sized up Obama and is laughing. The final assessment came during the disastrous Syrian "red line" debacle, where Putin had to come in and save Obama's bacon.
After that, it was all over except for the rolling credits. History will look back over the events of the next couple of years, and will see that event for what it was. Our Munich.