Putin Has But One Strategy: Wait Biden Out

Vladimir Putin, the Russian autocrat, is reading from the same book McConnell has invented, which means Putin has but one strategy: To wait Biden out by making promises he will not honor. As the two leaders meet, much is on the American agenda not the least is interference in our elections through dissemination of propaganda and lies, providing safe haven to Russian hackers now beginning to strike at our national security interests, and a myriad of other large looming issues vis-à-vis Europe, the Ukraine, and Russian aggression around the globe.

The meeting today is quite important for the United States, and President Biden faces one of two choices: Either he arms wrestle Putin from the get go, or he sits back believing the time will come to set the tone. The President must grapple with the Russian leader mindset. One seeped in an education that a win means one man remains standing. Invariably, Putin has no desire to make Biden’s presidency less ominous than Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz would. All three men share the same goals and purpose.

Make no mistakes about this meeting. Like a chess game opening, the first salvo sets the winner.

OPENING STRATEGY

The President’s instincts will be to forge a diplomatic understanding that would lower the temperature between both countries. His first order might be to find the common grounds to agree upon before forcing any disagreeable issues. In reality, the opening dialogue will set the tone for this meeting. Putin will adjust his strategy on the basis of what Biden discusses first.

If Biden opens the discussion, for example, on the subject of arms control, Putin will harden his stance knowing Biden is throwing him a soft ball instead of the hard issues the US is most concerned about.

But if Biden tells Vladimir Putin that he intends to return the nuclear weapons to the Ukraine (a bluff), and to turn the lights off in Moscow if hackers attack again, the President will get a more muted response. It is vital for the President to punch first otherwise he will only invite a more recalcitrant Putin reply, and possibly even direct threats. Biden’s opening subject matter will determine whether he can tackle Putin to the ground.

I, honestly, worry about our President not having the mental muscles to understand what makes Putin tick, and how to defeat him. Hopefully, he did not listen to President Obama’s advice.

The likeliest of sources for the U.S. strategy are the National Security Council, the intelligence services, and the State Department. It is highly likely their recommendations pursued different tracks. I believe the CIA wants to take a tough approach while State would like to see diplomacy play its role first. The fact neither leaked their thoughts on how to tackle Putin tells me either they agreed on one strategy, or Ron Klain convinced both that silence is golden.

Make no mistakes about this meeting. Like a chess game opening, the first salvo sets the winner.

America is a bigger wolf than Russia, but its leaders sometimes run like sacred sheep. Let’s hope Biden can tame the Russian dictator and submit him to our will.

PUTIN HAS BUT ONE STRATEGY

Vladimir Putin had a long run of successes against the United States.

It all started in January 2009 during the red line era of Barack Obama. After today’s meeting, we will know if Putin’s luck has run out, or it will continue past 2024. In the last 12 years, Vladimir Putin has won every single battle he waged against the U.S. across the board.

When he invaded the Ukraine, President Obama dispatched MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat) to the Ukrainian army instead of arming them as they begged us to. When Putin invaded Syria, Obama turned the other way.

Furthermore, when Putin interfered in our elections in 2016, he found Attorney-General Barr to defend his actions by exonerating the previous one from any acts of treason. Even today, when Paul Manafort, the previous Trump campaign manager, delivered election intelligence to a Russian operative, today’s Attorney-General refuses to prosecute Manafort.

Putin has but one strategy: To extend his 12 year run while Biden is in office. How will he do that? The same he has operated in the past. Make promises he will not keep, and use the Mitch McConnell destructive politics to target the Biden presidency.

It is the reason why we should be concerned about diplomacy against a man who only understands force and violence. The likelihood Biden would regret this meeting will become quite obvious in six months if he does not strike Putin first.

America is a bigger wolf than Russia, but its leaders sometimes run like scared sheep. Let’s hope Biden can tame the Russian dictator and submit him to our will.

Putin Has But One Strategy: Wait Biden Out