How to Solve the Putin Problem

Putin’s Their Problem, Not Ours

Simply put, we should make clear to the Russian business executives and oligarchs who are the target of Western sanctions that Putin is their problem, not ours. These people may lack the spark of political genius or the high-minded patriotism that drove our country’s Founding Fathers -- but they aren’t stupid. It won’t be long before a bunch of them get together for a quiet conversation -- perhaps in a Moscow board room, more likely on a yacht anchored off the Cote d’Azur -- to, um, decide what might be best for Russia’s future.

Since subtlety doesn’t work with Russians, the president and his European counterparts should also make absolutely clear that we have no interest whatever in how these people solve their Putin problem. If they can talk good old Vladimir into leaving the Kremlin with full military honors and a 21-gun salute -- that would be fine with us. If Putin is too too stubborn to acknowledge that his career is over, and the only way to get him out of the Kremlin is feet-first, with a bullet hole in the back of his head -- that would also be okay with us.

Nor would we object to a bit of poetic justice.... For instance, if the next time Putin’s flying back to Moscow from yet another visit with his good friends in Cuba, or Venezuela, or Iran, his airplane gets blasted out of the sky by some murky para-military group that somehow, inexplicably, got its hands on a surface-to-air missile.

Herbert E. Meyer served during the Reagan Administration as Special Assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence and Vice Chairman of the CIA’s National Intelligence Council.

a reply to: kitzik

I doubt it would work. Someone other than Putin is benefiting from his actions.

Why is Putin a problem at all?

If he is trying to grab up territory that only benefits the US national security by consolidating our problems.

We have a bigger problem with Obama, why don't you go solve that one first?

a reply to: jajaja

Obama may be incompetent, but at least he isn't trying to start WW3.

Putin seems to be doing just that.

originally posted by: OpenMindedRealist
a reply to: jajaja

Obama may be incompetent, but at least he isn't trying to start WW3.

Putin seems to be doing just that.

No he isn't, NATO, Nuland, McCain et al are.

a reply to: kitzik

hmmmm...Could solve problems over here as well.

But our sofas are just way to comfy.

Peace

originally posted by: OpenMindedRealist
a reply to: jajaja

Obama may be incompetent, but at least he isn't trying to start WW3.

Putin seems to be doing just that.

WWIII is an impossibility with the spread of nuclear proliferation and the increased globalization of the economies. There is no nation that would gain more than they lost by starting a WW among the superpowers. The best you will get is another large proxy war somewhere.

originally posted by: Senators

originally posted by: OpenMindedRealist
a reply to: jajaja

Obama may be incompetent, but at least he isn't trying to start WW3.

Putin seems to be doing just that.

WWIII is an impossibility with the spread of nuclear proliferation and the increased globalization of the economies. There is no nation that would gain more than they lost by starting a WW among the superpowers. The best you will get is another large proxy war somewhere.

The people living on the ISS have a lot to gain, a whole planet. Perhaps they are behind all this.

a reply to: jajaja

Or perhaps Putin is behind it.

Currency is nothing but numbers on a hard-drive anymore. All that really matters is resources and land. WW3 would make that painfully clear.

originally posted by: OpenMindedRealist
a reply to: jajaja

Or perhaps Putin is behind it.

Currency is nothing but numbers on a hard-drive anymore. All that really matters is resources and land. WW3 would make that painfully clear.

Yup, Putin is behind all the worlds problems.

Starving in Africa... Putin
Piracy in the seas.. Putin
American economy almost bankrupt... Putin
My cat shat on the floor... Putin
Ebola... Putin.

Marie Haaf confirmed it on Twitter.

a reply to: jajaja

Nah, Putin is only responsible for the quiet invasion of the Ukraine and detaining an Estonian agent, at the moment.

originally posted by: OpenMindedRealist
a reply to: jajaja

Nah, Putin is responsible for the quiet invasion of the Ukraine and detaining an Estonian agent, at the moment.

We don't know the story behind the Estonian agent detaining.
Quiet invasion, it's been all over the news, hardly quiet at all, same for the NATO and US and EU manipulation of Ukraine, nobody is an Angel in this mess, however, at least Putin sent humanitarian aid to the people affected, the west sent cyber defences, command and control, logistics, and advisors and a bag of cookies.

How to solve the Putin problem? America needs to stop trying to put a coup in Ukraine. Joe Bidens son is working those natural resources right as we speak

Who says Putin is a problem?

What the OP posted is basically extortion. Hurting everyone around your target and explain it is the fault of your target.

It would be like making the whole gym class do push-ups and blame it on a single classmate generating hatred towards that classmate.

Stupid trick that works on stupid people. If they fall for it they will be the only ones that get hurt at the advice of the oh-so-honourable west... who WILL of course exploit this as further reason why Putin can not be trusted.

I will say it plainly.

I don't love Putin or Russia. Because of personal and my country's history with Russia.

Still, I give credit where it's due. Putin is the first Russian politician in years who made a leap towards putting Russia back on the political world map. He's a fast, careful, patient and very, very clever player who knows when to bite and knows when to pet. He also has immense issues to deal with internally. His entire empire is built around him, his cronies and the broader bunch of oligarchs who have their positions and money thanks to him. When Putin goes down, everything goes down in Russia. He has no clear successor. Dimitrij Miedwiediew was supposed to be one, but it appears he will remain a sidelined puppet. Putin did all of that on purpose; he made himself unremovable, impregnable. Even those who do not support him will stand behind him, because there's no other option.

If you have any deep historical knowledge of Russia you know that this country never embraced democracy. It's in their nature to have a strong-handed, iron-willed, chiseled and heroic leadership composed of one man or woman. They're very feudal in this matter, something the West fails to grasp. It's a Slavic thing in a way.

Now Putin is neither stupid nor overly cruel. He's very dangerous, but it charms the Russian people. Right now, I'd say and most experts might agree with me, that Putin is beyond any removal. If anything, recent affair with Ukraine has strengthened his position even more. Even his political enemies admire him in a way.

I'd fear Russia without Putin far more than with him. At the very least he keeps everything in check, more or less. Without him it would degenerate into chaos, and I really do wonder whether he has an appointed successor ready or not.

a reply to: Senators

"WWIII is an impossibility"

Keep dreaming....Ever heard of the cuban missile crises?

blah blah blah.

Why is it ok for us to go to war, sell guns to rebels, overthrow governments, etc etc? I love the double standards here. Just leave the rest of the world alone. Our leaders want us war hungry again. There was a time when everyone wanted to stop worrying about the rest of the worlds drama but the media has ya'll begging for more war already. F Russi and the Ukraine and the rest of the world for that matter. No more murdering people, defend our borders and light anyone up that dares take a swing.

originally posted by: EA006
a reply to: kitzik

I doubt it would work. Someone other than Putin is benefiting from his actions.

The problem is, that people dont understand that these arent his actions. And this ex us cia moron should know that but then they are interested in a political meltdown inside russia, which they are using putin as a figurehead for.

Make no mistake, if Putin really was the evil vlad they wouldnt dare whisper it out of fear of a strike. They do it because his a pussy and they know they can get away with it.