People, tell me, what kind of a stupid wanker keeps doing the same thing over and over again and expects different results every single time?
The NYTimes says that Obama is considering meeting with Putin at the UN General Assembly. Words fail me to describe how painfully stupid and self-defeating this is. As every single past experience demonstrates, Putin will see that as a victory over the “weak, degenerate Americans” and will intensify his saber-rattling.
I can only imagine the triumphalist eruptions of Putinoid media along the lines of, “The US supports Russia’s actions in Ukraine and Syria.” Because that’s exactly how Obama’s efforts to talk to Putin and reach agreements with him are always interpreted in Russia. Always. Every single time.
Obama is planning to spit in the face of Ukrainians and of his Syrian allies just so that Putin can congratulate himself on sticking it to the weak Americans. That’s such a noble, important goal. I hope Obama doesn’t break a leg in his rush towards playing the role of Putin’s lackey yet again.
Clarissa's Blog 
Did you know that this meeting was suggested by the Russians with an implied threat to the U.S.?
According to several news reports:
“Russia warned there could be ‘unintended consequences’ if the U.S. does not engage in military-to-military cooperation with Moscow, as the Kremlin stages navy exercises off the coast of Syria. “
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No, I didn’t know. This makes any decision to do what the Russians want even more humiliating. This truly boggles the mind. Why, why would anybody want to hand Putin yet another easy victory?
This is insane.
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Why, why would anybody want to hand Putin yet another easy victory?
Offhand, because he has a large nuclear arsenal and could make things unpleasant for the whole world if he so chose.
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Putin is not threatening a nuclear strike if Obama refuses to meet with him. He’s not that deranged.
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Putin is not threatening a nuclear strike if Obama refuses to meet with him. He’s not that deranged.
I hope not, but reading what you have written about him over the years, I am less and less sure.
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Putin is doing what bullies always do, continually pushing a little more aggressively until somebody pushes back. China is doing the same thing, building artificial islands in international waters claimed by several Asian nations, and now apparently building an airbase on one of them.
Like it or not, the only country will the power to push back is the U.S. That won’t happen with Obama in the white house.
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From your description of the Russian media and populace it sounds like they’re so unhinged that it doesn’t seem like Obama could do anything that they couldn’t spin into a diplomatic and moral victory.
In that context I wouldn’t care about the implications of some stupid meeting at the UN that may or may not happen. Russian TV probably has a news report queued up already about the aftermath of this non-existent meeting.
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Yes, I agree, fuck Russians. But this will be an enormous blow to Ukrainians. At this point, all they are hoping for is not to see public signs of friendship and acceptance from Obama to Putin. Is that so much to ask for after the US blatantly broke the Budapest agreements?
And for what? What good will be achieved by the public rebuff to Ukrainians and Syrian allies?
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Yes, Obama’s actions (and inaction) on the world stage send a very important symbolic message to our allies as well as those who wish us ill.
The current message to the Ukrainians, Japanese, South Koreans, Israelis, etc. is that the U.S. doesn’t have their back — they’re on their own, basically defenseless against the bullies. It’s an absolutely disgusting, shameful situation!
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Ukrainians are fighting a hopeless war and somehow managing not to lose. And all that is sustaining them, all that helps go forward is the belief that the civilized world is on their side.
This might seem like an insignificant thing from this side of the ocean, but in Ukraine and in Russia everybody is waiting with bated breath for Obama’s decision. He’s got to have people advising him who follow the media in these countries, who can explain why this matters.
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