This Administration Thinks It’s Handling Putin Well

Another piece of evidence to support the theory that this administration thinks it’s doing a terrific job, on every front, all the time:

First, it’s spelled ”moxie.”

Second, Obama and his fans love to blur the lines between acknowledging Putin’s ruthlessness and willingness to act, with little fear of consequence, with some sort of admiration for him. Remember when this crew used to sneer at the Bush administration for its bluster and overconfidence? Remember when they insisted the preceding administration wasn’t part of the “reality-based community”?

Third, even if Putin isn’t looking so swift now — not that the Russian people will ever hear of it — this administration is high-fiving itself over public relations while Vladimir Putin and his allies gain territory, power, and influence. Sure, handing top-of-the-line anti-aircraft missiles to the separatists in Eastern Ukraine makes Putin look wildly reckless to the point of foolishness. But how much does that really matter when Putin still has so many other levers of power? A military that dwarfs Russia’s neighbors, Middle Eastern client states, enormous intelligence agencies, leverage from gas and oil exports, a stranglehold on domestic media and public opinion…

Putin is demonstrating that his allies increasingly control what happens on the ground at the crash site, and that international condemnation means nothing to the separatists. His actions in Crimea indicate that international public opinion doesn’t matter much to him, either.

If there’s no serious consequence to Russia, beyond another series of financial sanctions that Putin’s regime clearly doesn’t sweat, who really doesn’t look so slick?

Does this look like a man who worries about sanctions?