Exclamation Point
US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul has had a very rough go of it in his two plus months in Russia. He has attempted to reach out to the opposition and civil society, such as it is, and has been hounded every step of the way. It came to a head yesterday, when McFaul accused Russian television station NTV of having access to his schedule, intimating that NTV had broken into his email and phone. Although the State Department tried to do some damage control, the story has gone viral.
Russian harassment of ambassadors they dislike is not unprecedented. Indeed, no one should be surprised that this is happening, given Putin’s reascension to the presidency, and the paranoia in the ruling siloviki about the opposition.
But note well that this is the regime of the “Vladimir” that Obama wants the “flexibility” to deal with. Further note well that this is Putin’s idea of giving our Barry space.
This puts an exclamation point to last night’s post: has Obama whispered a word about the abuse that is being heaped on the official representative of the US government in Russia? Has he given the faintest indication that this abuse might bode ill for a constructive relationship with Russia? Has it dawned on him that his behavior and policy invite nothing but derision and scorn from someone like Putin? That Putin views Obama’s panting desire to make a deal when he has the flexibility to do so as a sign of weakness? That the provocations directed at McFaul are a test of Obama’s mettle-and that he is failing miserably?
The questions answer themselves.
Obama is clueless in everything and especially in foreign policy. And Russians show themselves for what they are-uncivilized, ignorant, arrogant third world country!
Comment by voroBey — March 30, 2012 @ 10:11 am
Once again, pesky facts will not be allowed to interfere with the narrative.
Comment by sotos — March 30, 2012 @ 10:29 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chqAJEAjYa4&feature=g-logo&context=G231f2fcFOAAAAAAAAAA
Liberty is rising.
Comment by Mr. X — March 30, 2012 @ 11:05 am
By complaining about this on Twitter McFaul looks utterly naive and guillible. The part that makes everyone in Russia do the roflmao is “what are the laws here?”
Doesn’t the Ambassador of the United States have a security detail?
Comment by LL — March 30, 2012 @ 11:20 am
McFaul will quit soon enough. Horrible pick, horrible (or mentally ill) person.
Comment by andrewi31 — March 30, 2012 @ 11:59 am
“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” – Mohandias Ghandi
Yes, Jim Grant mentions Special Drawing Rights as the new currency of the world. Which of course only a tin foil hat wearer believes is being groomed to replace the U.S. dollar. Nevermind that it’s on the new U.S. customs form they will give you at any post office for shipments valued at over $500, right there at the top of the red form next to the “declared value in dollars” column.
Where are all the shillers of the glories of fiat money that it equals freedom from hated Kremlin-backed goldbugs, anyway? Reggie Quills?
Comment by Mr. X — March 30, 2012 @ 7:18 pm
Not all news out of Russia is bad:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/30/2722744/1-day-head-of-kgb-found-dead-in.html
Comment by GF — March 31, 2012 @ 1:35 am
It really does say a lot about the state of Putin’s Russsia (state of paranoia) that it can’t even identify who its friends are. Obama has openly said he wants to sell out his country’s interests and McFaul is doing everything it can to help him, yet the Putin regime still can’t do anything but undermine their own best interests. This is exactly the same paranoid, delusional behavior we saw from the USSR, and a major reason why that pathetic country collapsed.
Comment by La Russophobe — March 31, 2012 @ 7:20 am
The problem is, I think, that McFaul is an academic not a diplomat or even a politician. I say that as an academic, knowing the weaknesses and strengths of the breed. He does look like a whiner.
+++Not all news out of Russia is bad:+++
Well, this one actually had a reputation of a decent fellow…
Comment by LL — March 31, 2012 @ 2:53 pm
Nice fellow and KGB? Highly unlikely.
Comment by Andrew — April 1, 2012 @ 8:13 am
Craig Pirrong @streetwiseprof
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[email protected] Way 2 show your ass. R has more guts than you could ever-ever-hope to have. @LibertyLynx @catfitz
“Show your ass” seems to be a favorite phrase of SWP and rytb. Worst bunch of self righteous fake liberatian authoritarian blowhards I have ever seen. Unbelievable arrogance. I don’t even think that’s her picture.
Comment by Mr. X — April 7, 2012 @ 2:38 am