I’m enjoying watching Russia have a temper tantrum. Asked by ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos if Vladimir Putin is “a killer,” President Biden responded “Mmm hmm, I do.” Now the sky is falling in the Kremlin.
As if to underscore the anger in Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry said late Wednesday that it had summoned its envoy in Washington, Anatoly I. Antonov, to Moscow “in order to analyze what needs to be done in the context of relations with the United States.” Russia last recalled its ambassador to Washington in 1998, to protest American airstrikes against Iraq.
The Russians’ state-run media also emphasized Biden’s alleged senility, showing continuity with it’s co-production of President Trump’s reelection campaign. Remember, in July, Trump’s own Department of Homeland Security found that Russia was “spreading disinformation regarding former Vice President Joe Biden’s mental health.” An internal (and suppressed) DHS bulletin obtained by ABC News in September told the story:
“Russia is using both covert proxy websites and overt state media to amplify these allegations, often in conjunction with other election-related malign influence narratives, which is consistent with their tactics in 2016 to undermine a former presidential candidate,” it continues.
The bulletin says the current effort has been ongoing since September 2019.
“Russian covert and covert influence actors posted negative commentary and unsubstantiated allegations about the poor mental health of Biden. For example, proxy websites have claimed that the candidates gaffes are symptoms of dementia, that he is mentally unfit for the presidency, and that he is unlikely to serve his full term due to his age,” the bulletin reads.
Now they’re upset with Biden for stating the obvious? Putin’s murder spree is interesting because it combines the most low-tech and high-tech methods. It’s shocking how often Russian citizens “fall out” of windows. This can happen to a paramedic who complains on social media about having to work when he’s COVID-19 positive, It can happen to a journalist who writes about the troll factory Putin used to influence America’s 2016 presidential election.
But Putin utilizes science in his assassinations, too. Sometimes the victims survive. A Soviet-era nerve agent, Novichok, poisoned opposition figure Alexei Navalny. It was used against ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the United Kingdom. They are all still living. Ex-patriot dissident Alexander Litvinenko was not so fortunate as he died a hideous death after being exposed to polonium-210, a highly radioactive byproduct of early nuclear weapons explosions that can be made synthetically in a nuclear reactor.
The bottom line is that critics of Putin tend to die in violent and suspicious ways both in Russia and abroad. It’s completely accurate to characterize him as “a killer” and Biden would have looked weak and foolish to suggest otherwise.
So, if Russia wants to make a stink about it and recall their ambassador, to me this only raises awareness about what Biden said, and that’s a good thing. Putin has thin skin. You don’t see the United States recalling our ambassador because Russia keeps pushing the line that Biden has dementia.
Under the Trump administration, Russia was coddled and protected. Their behavior just got worse. It’s good to see America change its posture to reflect reality. Russia doesn’t have to be our adversary, but until Putin is replaced, that’s what it is.
I agree completely. It’s important to stand up to mad men and autocrats everyone; not just our homegrown variety. Russia should pay a price for its misdeeds. I think the White House needs to deal with Germany and the Russian pipeline. We’ve helped protect Germany for almost 80 years. They need to find ways to live without that pipeline.
Absolutely agree Russia should pay a price for its misdeeds. But where does Germany currently get its major supply of gas? If that is Russia, it is not likely to change unless you have another economical source.
I keep thinking that part of this Biden/Putin confrontation is kabuki theatre
why?
I just think Biden and his crew want to work with about anyone toward some mutual objectives, not necessarily goals. I think Biden has to first show himself as strong ,serious and sane, and therefore worthwhile for working with and important to work with.
Personally I don’t care about kabuki theatre. The bastard is a killer and he needs to know it. After awhile it gets a little hard to engage in one sided abuse.
On Sunday’s Fareed Zakaria’s GPS, Richard Haas made the point that publicly perhaps the tone should have been more measured to allow for more private negotiations towards desirable goals.
Major Stavrides was of the opinion that this was the right opening approach – need to show that there will be a change in public tone, until the behavior becomes less hostile.