The problem with arrogant, yet naïve know-it-alls is that when they get it wrong, they get it wrong big time, and the game Barack Obama is involved in leaves not a lot of room for error.
President Obama has made his first mistake in Russia even before he arrives in Moscow today. His attempt to cast Vladimir Putin as yesterday’s man and to drive a wedge between the Prime Minister and President Medvedev demonstrates a misreading of relations in the Kremlin.
Mr Obama declared: “I think that it’s important that even as we move forward with President Medvedev that Putin understand that the old Cold War approaches to US-Russian relations is outdated . . . Putin has one foot in the old ways of doing business and one foot in the new.” That suggests that Mr Medvedev’s outlook differs from that of his mentor despite a lack of evidence.
Mr Obama is coming to the table like a card sharp to a casino, ready to charm his hosts and pull aces from his sleeve to win support for crucial objectives in Afghanistan and Iran. But Russia is a land of chess players, cautious and calculating. Mr Putin does not respond to charm — and he has just closed Russia’s casinos.
It will be interesting to watch this play out in front of the cameras, what we hear of being said behind closed doors, the media spin, and the reality of result. Does Barack Obama have what it takes to charm those who bomb their own people? Will Barack Obama have to live by his own words at the bargaining table with an opponent he has declared an equal?
Is it a good thing that he is representing us, period?
I think it was in Chile, where the socialists took out the communists. This should be a good show. This is one of those moments where we have to recognize the double-edged leader we have been given.
Yup… Competing interests. It gets deadly when the loony left-, right-, whatever- wings engage in competition for power.
I meant according, not accordining (dining while being in accord?)!
Accordining to the dictionary:
card sharp (also card sharper or card shark)
noun
a person who cheats at cards in order to win money.
BHO outdoing Vlad the Impaler is like a mouse being able to win an argument with a hungry raptor.
Outmassed, outclassed, and half-fast (please enunciate clearly).
Obviously NOT a good thing for the Obamanation to be representing us, Bob.
BOHICA!
Since when did a “card shark” become a “card sharp“?
Surrounded on all sides by idiots…
Cold War is over? Hardly, with Putin, former head of the KJB really runing the show. I’m surprised Obama was not “goose stepping” along with the Soviet, er’ Russian soldiers.
“Will Obama Get Played By Russia?”
Is water wet?
Starting his visit by insulting Putin isnt a good start.