[Leaning Right]

It's a real stretch to compare Putin to Stalin, but for the purpose of my argument I'm doing so anyway.

Stalin vs. Hitler: Keep a close eye on Stalin, but back him 100% against Hitler, because Hitler is a much greater threat to civilization.

Putin vs. Islamists: Keep a close eye on Putin, but back him 100% against the Islamists, because the Islamists are a much greater threat to civilization.

Agree? Disagree?

[1rudeboy]

I tend to agree. Keep a close on Putin, back him against the Islamists, and give no quarter to his trolls on FR.

[redfreedom]

Based on Russian history, it makes sense.

[Tau Food]

Agree. As Stalin was better than Hitler (for our purposes, anyway), Putin is better than the Islamic nuts. But, as I read history, FDR and Churchill did not turn over leadership of the war effort to Stalin. Similarly, we should not turn over leadership of a common effort to Putin.

Stalin was very unhappy with FDR and Churchill. Stalin was insisting that we open a western front much, much earlier than we thought best. Putin has a role to play, but the Western world is not stupid enough to just follow Putin's wishes all the time. And, in the end, ISIS will be defeated. They are the real losers here.