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Inside the mind of Vladimir Putin
CNN ^ | March 25, 2014 | By Newt Gingrich

Posted on 03/25/2014 4:49:09 PM PDT by Jim Robinson

(CNN) -- "If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles." -- Sun Tzu, "The Art of War" (circa 500 BC)

It is time to take Russian President Vladimir Putin seriously. We must develop serious strategies for dealing with a serious man.

Putin has been in charge of Russia since 1999. He is arguably the most effective leader in the world today.

The Obama administration's foreign policy, meanwhile, has variously offered Putin a "reset" photo op, likened him to a "slouch ... like that bored kid sitting in the back of the classroom," and most recently, uttered meaningless protests while he annexed the territory of a sovereign state. Monday's cancellation of the G8 summit in Sochi, Russia, was really the minimum that could be done. Of course the United States and its allies could not go forward with the meeting as if nothing had happened.

The symbolic, tactical approach which is the hallmark of the Obama foreign policy is dangerous, delusional and utterly incapable of understanding or coping with a serious leader like Putin.

Indeed, there is a growing danger that the combination of strong words and weak actions (the essence of symbolic liberalism) will lead Putin to believe he can continue to incrementally rebuild the Russian Empire by gradually absorbing various pieces around the periphery.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: newtgingrich; obama; putin; russia; ukraine; viktoryanukovich; yuliatymoshenko
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1 posted on 03/25/2014 4:49:09 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
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To: Jim Robinson

Putin: Like taking candy away from a sleeping baby.


2 posted on 03/25/2014 4:52:41 PM PDT by 353FMG
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To: Jim Robinson
That’s only part of the quote from Chapter 3 of The Art Of War. The rest reads as follows:
If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
Any guess as to Obama’s level of knowledge of the enemy, much less his own forces?
3 posted on 03/25/2014 5:00:19 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Jim Robinson

Putin is a Russian nationalist and fulfilled a Russian nationalist goal of reincorporating Crimea into Russia. Nationalism is the antithesis of the globalism championed by the “progressive left”. That was his real offense.


4 posted on 03/25/2014 5:10:13 PM PDT by allendale
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To: Jim Robinson

If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
Same source.


5 posted on 03/25/2014 5:18:19 PM PDT by sasquatch
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To: Olog-hai

...Like you stated...


6 posted on 03/25/2014 5:20:49 PM PDT by sasquatch
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To: Jim Robinson
Meanwhile. inside the mind of obama....


7 posted on 03/25/2014 5:31:55 PM PDT by bigheadfred
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To: Jim Robinson
Obummer is going to keep poking a stick into Putin until Putin lashes out and blows Obummer's cover as the 100% fraud that Putin knows he is. The only reason Putin hasn't done it yet is that Obummer is serving Putin's interests as a totally feckless adversary. But, even Putin has his limits. The latest poking was Obummer calling Russia nothing more than a ‘regional’ power.
8 posted on 03/25/2014 5:40:00 PM PDT by iontheball
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To: 353FMG

perhaps the US glorious leader can bring his teleprompter to the next meeting or checker/chess match with Putin and digest the wisdom of Sun Tzu and Machiavelli. Nope. Fear instead Obama will be trapped by writings of Dante.

It’s amazing how Putin and terrorists gain so much with little or no engagement in conflict while Obama loses so much because of his hubris.


9 posted on 03/25/2014 5:47:22 PM PDT by snoopy 'n linus
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To: iontheball

Putin has too much to gain by simply maintaining his cool while Obama continues his craziness. Don’t scare the fish away.


10 posted on 03/25/2014 5:49:36 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
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To: iontheball

..........I also believe the Mossad “has the goods” on Obama and is holding it until he refuses them something when war breaks out. You might say, more or less, “it’s their trump card”.


11 posted on 03/25/2014 5:53:05 PM PDT by Cen-Tejas (it's the debt bomb stupid!)
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To: Jim Robinson

strangely enough... I fear Putin FAR less then 0bama.

at least Putin is honest


12 posted on 03/25/2014 5:56:47 PM PDT by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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To: Jim Robinson

Good analysis.

Sad when one can look at the thinking of Putin and compare it with the words and actions of our current president and realize that Putin, for all his shortcomings, loves Russia and wants to preserve and grow the Russian peoples.

Obama is an enemy of the American peoples.


13 posted on 03/25/2014 5:58:47 PM PDT by Chickensoup (Leftist totalitarian fascism is on the move.)
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To: iontheball

well yea... russia is a regional power...

Cuba is in the region


14 posted on 03/25/2014 5:59:50 PM PDT by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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To: Jim Robinson
Gingrich nails it in his analysis, but I'm not sure he has the basic goals that are US Interests at the forefront.

Historical Russia (no, not the Soviet Union) does have legitimate interests beyond it's current borders. For us to deny that, or worse to attempt to deny them to Russia, does risk existential war.

For what? So that Estonia can be in the German sphere of influence? Georgia too?

Ultimately the Russians are rational...or none of us would be here today. The balloon would have gone up in the 60's or 70's.

Must we have the Western World inhabit all of the Eastern world too?

If anyone contends we must, I ask...WHY?

And if it's "Freedom and Democracy"...why not the Central African Republic?

15 posted on 03/25/2014 6:16:55 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Jim Robinson

Putin sees that Sheriff Taylor is out of town and it’s Deputy Barney Fife on the job. He’s got a 3 year window to git ‘r done.


16 posted on 03/25/2014 7:03:17 PM PDT by JudyinCanada
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To: iontheball; Jim Robinson

obama has reduced the U S to a regional power

but he wont stop until we are powerless


17 posted on 03/25/2014 7:31:51 PM PDT by bigheadfred
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To: Jim Robinson

GOOGLETRNASLATE:
Golden Lion WARNING! Putin’s FSB is preparing a new separatist demonstrations in the south and east. The purpose of the Kremlin - to the south and east 8 referendum on secession , the federalization of all southeastern Regional centers and the introduction of Russian as a second state capture regional administrations, elected pro-Russian majority in council, disobedience Kyiv , creating its own, outside the control of Kyiv authorities , appeal to Putin military assistance and the failure of presidential elections on May 25.

Security Service, Interior Ministry, then you have the time to source all of arrested separatist leaders that incite people, otherwise we will have in the south and east of the “Crimean scenario” and lose another 8 regions. All very seriously.

Should immediately eliminate Ochag separatism, otherwise they will only grow. Center for secession - group in contact “Antymaydan” and its satellite group”

Referendums in 8 areas.” They incite separatist at weekly meetings and initiate separatist “referendum ».


18 posted on 03/25/2014 7:45:52 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com
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To: allendale

BS. Putin cares about Putin period. Putler is just using Russian nationalism as an excuse to take over Europe and the drunken serfs who elected him are just eating it up. They have no understanding of true patriotism. You can rant and rave all you want about globalists, Soros, and the New World Order, but Freepers are smart enough to see through your water-carrying for you hero Uncle Vlad.


19 posted on 03/25/2014 7:49:12 PM PDT by Red White and Blue patriot (USA all the way. Love it or Leave it. Ted Cruz 2016)
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To: Red White and Blue patriot

You signed on in Sept of 2013. It is growing more apparent that you are pushing an agenda. It might surprise you to learn that Freepers are more discerning than your simplistic crap and accusations.


20 posted on 03/25/2014 7:51:04 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Being deceived can be cured.)
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