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White House Spokesman: Putin is Playing Checkers, Not Chess
Washington Free Beacon ^ | 10/6/15 | Jenna Lifhits

Posted on 10/06/2015 5:02:54 PM PDT by markomalley

White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin was playing checkers, not chess, the latest in a series of attempts to paint Putin as weak.

In a question at the White House press briefing, a reporter implied that the stalled talks between Russia and America are a part of Russian strategy. She asked whether the White House would walk away with Russia’s stalling tactic in mind, or whether the administration believes that Putin will follow through on the U.S.-Russian agreement for a political transition in Syria.

“The White House says that the preferred approach has to be diplomacy, whether it is military-to-military talks, or if it’s a political transition, that diplomacy is the foot forward. All of that is stalled,” she said. “There are no talks on the calendar, military-to-military, or diplomatically at this point.”

“One could look at that and say the Russians could be playing for time and tilting the chess board toward their guy. Does the White House walk away thinking that right now, or is the jury still out on whether Putin is following through on this agreement?” she asked.

Earnest was quick to debunk the claim that Putin was a chess player.

“There is one premise of your question that I would disagree with. I don’t think President Putin is playing chess—he is playing checkers,” he said.

“He is making a series of tactical decisions that are leading to a starkly negative strategic conclusion, which is that by making the tactical decision to ramp up their support for the Assad regime, Russia is being sucked into a sectarian civil war, essentially a quagmire, that poses a whole set of risks to Russia’s interests not just in the region but back at home,” Earnest said.

The White House has been working to reverse the popular image of Putin as a political mastermind who has the upper hand in international disputes. The administration is facing heavy criticism from the public, which sees Obama as ‘desperate’ and ‘scrambling’ to keep up with Putin.
Critics were especially aggravated by Obama’s weakness last week, after Putin gave the U.S. an hour’s notice before launching airstrikes in Syria. The strikes followed a day of talks between Putin and Obama, during which both sides agreed on a political transition in Syria.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: whistlepastgraveyard
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To: markomalley

If Putin is playing checkers, it’s at the world championship level. Meanwhile, Obama plays ____ with his ______.


41 posted on 10/06/2015 5:21:41 PM PDT by ScottinVA (If you're not enraged...why?)
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To: markomalley

If Baghdad Bob had a son.

42 posted on 10/06/2015 5:22:17 PM PDT by McGruff (Trump-Cruz 2016. Make America Great Again.)
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To: markomalley

Putin’s twice as smart as anyone in the White House - they’re too stupid to know even the game they’re ensnared in....


43 posted on 10/06/2015 5:22:28 PM PDT by Intolerant in NJ
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To: Diogenesis

That is SO GOOD!


44 posted on 10/06/2015 5:22:30 PM PDT by bimboeruption ("Occupy till I come" ~ OPORD issued by CIC Jesus Christ)
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To: bimboeruption

I liked it too, especially the one where Putin takes Obama’s lunch money.


45 posted on 10/06/2015 5:24:39 PM PDT by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: markomalley

Well the white house better learn to play checkers in a big damn hurry.


46 posted on 10/06/2015 5:25:25 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.)
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To: Diogenesis

BTTT


47 posted on 10/06/2015 5:26:06 PM PDT by Osage Orange (Obama practices "religion" in the mirror.)
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To: markomalley
How Russians see Obama


48 posted on 10/06/2015 5:26:13 PM PDT by McGruff (Trump-Cruz 2016. Make America Great Again.)
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To: markomalley; All
"White House Spokesman:
Putin is Playing Checkers, Not Chess....


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49 posted on 10/06/2015 5:27:20 PM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: yarddog

I like that too.

I also like the dog walkers and the ones where Putin is looking everyone of those world leaders right, smack in the eye...while Barry genuflects.

What a disgusting wimp.


50 posted on 10/06/2015 5:27:32 PM PDT by bimboeruption ("Occupy till I come" ~ OPORD issued by CIC Jesus Christ)
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To: Diogenesis

CLASSIC! Bookmarked it.


51 posted on 10/06/2015 5:27:33 PM PDT by BBell
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To: Diogenesis

So...friggin’...true!!


52 posted on 10/06/2015 5:28:05 PM PDT by ScottinVA (If you're not enraged...why?)
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To: Diogenesis

There is a photo somewhere of Obama throwing a baseball and he is unusually limp wristed.

I don’t care for Bush Jr. but he at least throws like a man.


53 posted on 10/06/2015 5:31:21 PM PDT by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: markomalley

Putin is playing chess while O’Venal plays pocket pool!


54 posted on 10/06/2015 5:32:36 PM PDT by A Formerly Proud Canadian (I once was blind but now I see...)
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To: Sequoyah101

tiddly winks ;)


55 posted on 10/06/2015 5:32:55 PM PDT by Lera (Proverbs 29:2)
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To: markomalley

Why is this coming from a White House spokesperson?

If you are going to say something demeaning about the leader of another country, than have the guts to say it yourself. This really makes our President look like a chickenshirt.

Is there no one in the leadership of the Democrat Party that will go and wake this President up?

I guess they must all be stupid and chickenshirt.


56 posted on 10/06/2015 5:34:26 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: Diogenesis
Those of you who want to participate in the benefits of Putin's genius can buy an ETF - RSX. The price today is $16.44 per share. Yes, it was over $22 a year ago, but Putin's leadership would have only lost you close to 30% in the last year and you know that can't go on forever. Sooner or later, some of his policies have to succeed, right?

Why pass up this opportunity to invest with a winner? RSX - $16.44 per share.

57 posted on 10/06/2015 5:37:35 PM PDT by Tau Food (Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.)
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To: markomalley

Ok, have it your way, it’s checkers.

Who just got triple-jumped?


58 posted on 10/06/2015 5:38:22 PM PDT by SE Mom (God, restore our beloved country, amen.)
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To: Crazieman

Putin is playin checkers and Obama is playing giveaway.


59 posted on 10/06/2015 5:39:44 PM PDT by taterjay
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To: Starstruck

With himself..


60 posted on 10/06/2015 5:42:13 PM PDT by sheik yerbouty ( Make America and the world a jihad free zone!)
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