At some level, you've got to love him.
Putin's gall is remarkable.
''We need to use the United
Nations Security Council and believe that preserving law and order in today’s
complex and turbulent world is one of the few ways to keep international
relations from sliding into chaos. The law is still the law, and we must follow
it whether we like it or not.''
This, from the man who supports the Syrian slaughter (and the Iranian theocrats).
This, from the man who sees children as diplomatic pawns.
This, from the man who irradiates political opponents living abroad.
This, from the man who considers criminal justice to be a campaign tool.
This, from the man who uses Russian energy supplies to blackmail impoverished states.
''We must stop using the language of force and return to the path of civilized diplomatic and political settlement.''
Time for some honesty. Putin has no interest in multilateral co-operation. Nor does he care for the cause of peace. Like his Soviet predecessors, Putin has one interest - Russian domination. Don't believe me? Just re-read the letter.
Note the implicit threat to implode the UN - ''No one wants the United Nations to suffer the fate of the League of Nations...'' Note the thinly veiled attacks against President Bush - “you’re either with us or against us.” Note Putin's emotional attack on American exceptionalism.
There's a simple but telling reason that explains why Putin hates Bush. In the summer of 2008, as Russia sought to destroy Georgia's democracy, Bush didn't back down. In fact, he stood up. Putin was forced to back off. He didn't like it.
The Russian President doesn't want a repeat of that misery. Instead, he wants an American President who will bend to his will. Sadly, President Obama is giving him that opportunity. Geneva is a joke. Everyone knows it, but no one has a political interest in admitting to absurdity.
In the end, Putin's letter should be taken for what it is. The 2013 replication of Andropov's 1983 letter to Samantha Smith. A pretense of friendship at the price of American supplication. We mustn't believe the lie.
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