“You can’t move an American armored brigade combat team in peacetime in secret.”
You can. But the point here is to make a statement.
Obama wants to provoke a reaction from Putin to make Trump look bad and to spoil any chance of an alliance between Russia and the US.
I’m sure Putin is familiar with-
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To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 5)