PUTIN PUT IN HIS PLACE

As Jay H. Ell has blogged Russia is staking her claim as a world power by being on the opposite of everything -whether this be Iran, Syria, Civil Liberties, extradition of Edward Snowden or whatever. When one says Russia one means Putin. For whatever reason Putin fancies himself as a wheeler- dealer on the world stage. In fact he is a bit player at present and his KGB bullying tactics are at the end of the day not going to get him far.

It is clear that Putin is taking Russia back to the dark ages. His show trials of dissidents and his general lack of respect for democratic standards are there for all to see. His recent belittling of the LGBT persons, the baiting of whom, is a sanctioned sport in Russia, was recently extended onto the LBGT persons of the world. Putin maintained that "these" people were not welcome in Russia where they are prosecuted - all this on the eve of the Winter Olympics when Russia will play host to the world.

SNOWDEN AND OBAMA

Then there is the issue of Wistleblower /Traitor Edward Snowden. In the grand scheme of things Edward Snowden is a nonentity. Obama has been grandstanding about Snowden urging that he should be returned to the USA for trial. This is in contradiction to earlier statements that Snowden was “not that important”. Really he is not that important, but that is not the issue in regard to international extradition. Snowden divulged activities of the National Security Association’s Surveilance Activities and has been formally charged on a host of Federal Crimes.

However, Snowden’s importance is beside the point. America made a very legitimate plea for extradition and that fighter for freedom Putin refused it. He made no attempt to explain why he did this and he gave Snowden amnesty for only a year presumably so he can start playing more games with Obama in a years time. So basically he was telling America that he is the boss. He is not going to be told what to do by them. Once again he firmly displayed his in your face stance towards America.

Obama is an expert at handling game players of this nature as has been illustrated with Netanyahu. He told Putin he was canceling his long planned visit to Russia. This meeting had been floated as a crucial getting together of the two countries who were central to solving the world’s problems. America needed Russia’s cooperation so they would have to swallow the insults Putin gambled. (Putin had great success with George W. Bush who carried on the facade that Russia was still one of the two that mattered).

In addition to nixing this summit, lines were floated by the Obama administration, that America should pull out of the Winter Olympic Games – a prestige event that Putin has personally invested political capitol galore to show that the Russian giant is re emerging. Obama’s official explanation as to why he wasn’t meeting Putin included more than a hint that he Putin, was not that important, if he was not going to get serious about getting rid of nuclear piles and discussing human rights, for example.

PUTIN”S POSITION IN THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

Putin is regarded as a despot by most of the democracies. His homophobic utterings are precipitating an international call for a boycott of the Olympic games. His influence extends to a few countries in the Middle East that are also subject to world condemnation. Nearly all the countries that made up the USSR have either joined his arch cold war enemy NATO or want to join them. He has no vassal states in Africa, Asia or South America that are dependent on him for handouts or to lead them to Communism. He is pretty isolated.

In fact one of the few factors that could give him status is Obama talking to him one on one. His ongoing game playing has lead Obama to withdraw.

WHAT NOW?

*The Olympic Games will be accompanied by more protests internally and externally and there will be no pictures of him and Obama snuggling up to each other cheering their teams on. In short the Olympic games will not reestablish Russia as a World Power.

*Russia will face more internal dissent, Putin will be seen to more repressive.

*Behind the scenes Russia will negotiate on matters such as nuclear stock piling.

*Internationally Russia will be seen to more and more obstructionist with their support of Iran, Syria and North Korea.

*When the year is up Obama would be well advised to not make Snowden a number one priority and give Putin a renewed sense of importance. Forget about Snowden.

*Russia will gradually continue to establish itself as a second level world player behind the USA and China.

*The most interesting issue that might emerge is whether Putin can maintain his control of Russia. The pattern that seems to be emerging in the countries that have had revolutions overthrowing totalitarian regimes is that the replacement regimes slip into despotism themselves. As Marc Anthony might have said, “So let it be with Russia”.

*The response to the new despotism seems to be another uprising by those who initiated the first one. The outcome then depends on who has the guns. Somehow Jay H. Ell cannot believe that the Russians went through what they went through to put the KGB back in power because that is where they are right now. Time will tell whether the Russians will buy this situation and allow this megalomaniac free reign of their future. It will then all depend on the military.