Is Vladimir Putin insane? Hardly

[bemildred]

14. Don't we all.

I mean I concur as far as that goes. I'd have to watch him a lot more than I have or want to before I'd want to pontificate on his psyche. So I just look at it externally in terms of tactics and strategy based on what I can see and read. The noise level is astounding, you must admit, dueling narratives, none without their flaws.

So I'd agree this is a bad, risky business for everybody, and I don't think he is going to back down, but that's about it as far as predictions. It depends on what is done.

I think the half-ass confrontational-"can't we all just get along" approach is most unlikely to succeed. It's hard to say how much of that is window dressing. He needs some cheese to get out of this, and if it was up to me we'd explore that.

A couple links:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11334098

http://watchingamerica.com/News/234014/imperial-putin/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/moscows-weaknesses-explain-crimea-crisis-not-washingtons/article17341736/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-dr-susan-brooks-thistlethwaite/putins-holy-russia-goes-to-war_b_4886776.html

There is another one I remember, I'm looking for it.