[annalex]

telegraphed his breathtaking weakness

Yes. Putin is a KGB man: that means, cowardice when facing strength, arrogance when offered to negotiate, and readiness to strike when the opponent is not looking. In this scenario both miscalculated: Obama probably seriously thinks that weakness begets goodwill, and Putin, seeing that he is dealing with a pansy, miscalculated in thinking that since the man is weak, so are the Western institutions.

[Gay State Conservative]

...Putin, seeing that he is dealing with a pansy, miscalculated in thinking that since the man is weak, so are the Western institutions.

If we choose to be weak,we *are* weak.Europe has chosen to be weak for decades.*We* have chosen to be weak since November 2008.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

summed up very succinctly and well!

[PAR35]

You were doing OK until you got to here:

miscalculated in thinking that since the man is weak, so are the Western institutions.