You can tell that Fall is coming. The leaves are changing faster than the White House position on Syria...Leno
- I confess. I've teased cats and dogs with flashlight and laser beams several times in my life. I raise this point, because it appears that's exactly what Putin is now doing with Obama and the United States. Nowhere was this more evident than in Putin's Op Ed in the NY Times today.
- The irony in Putin's piece was that he's the one who appears to have borrowed the language from the progressives---both Democrat and Republican progressives.
- He wrote, "The potential strike by the United States against Syria, despite strong opposition from many countries and major political and religious leaders, including the pope {Wow! Putin threw out the "Pope Card"), will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict beyond Syria's borders..." Putin continued, "A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism"
- If I didn't know those were Putin's remarks, I would have guessed that rhetoric came from the likes of J.F.Kerry, Biden, Obama, Pelosi, Hagel, Reid and others talking about the Iraq War in 2005 (keep in mind, most Democrats urged Bush to go into Iraq prior to the invasion in March of 2003).
- The other irony---or fact---is that Russia has been arming Syria and Iran for the last six decades. And make no mistake, we've had a policy of regime change in Syria for over two decades. Why? Because all of this sabre rattling is really about Iran, not Syria.
- Several weeks ago, I wrote a piece about how Obama would save himself from his own rhetoric on Syria. Who would have guessed it would end up being Putin? But, when you understand the point above about Iran, it all makes sense.
- But let's put that aside for now. Putin, in his Op Ed today, makes himself out to be the "good cop." It's clear who now is considered the "bad cop." Putin makes it clear he has the upper hand now.
- The other irony from this former KGB thug is even more conspicuous. He actually favors "peaceful dialogue" under the provisions of the UN Security Council. How convenient? He knows Russia, as a ranking member, can veto---along with China---any proposal submitted by the United States. Russia has done that countless times in the past.
- Putin is a classic political opportunist. In this case, the opportunity to be a faux "peace maker" fell in his lap courtesy of Obama. And Putin continues to have fun teasing the cat with his laser beam.
