Just to clarify, why exactly is Russia the Big Bad Wolf?
I don't recall the last Russian terrorist attack, unless you count Ivan Drago killing Apollo Creed
Under President Putin’s reign, nuclear-armed Russia is transforming its military machine into
a modern, technological, 21st-century force. Through heavy-handed tactics, Putin has not only
brought Russia back into play as a world power, he has also secured his position at the nation’s
helm by getting a choke hold on Russian media and emasculating Russian parliament.
Today, much like he did in 1999, Putin manufactures or exaggerates threats to arouse alarm
and create anxiety. He then seeks to exploit the fear and anger of his people by presenting
himself (and his policies) as the solution. He has done this in Crimea, Ukraine and now Syria.
This is how [former KGB] Vladimir Putin operates.
Western leaders need to recognize this reality.
Putin is a cruel, calloused tyrant with an intense determination to emasculate the West
—especially America—to expand Russian power, and to establish Russia as the world’s
leading nation. He has taken Crimea and decimated Ukraine. He is building alliances
with the East that are designed to undermine the West. Now he is forging himself as
the supreme authority in the Middle East and the linchpin in Mideast politics.