
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There seem to be a lot of differing opinions about Russian President Vladimir Putin among the Washington establishment. Before we can know what to do about him, we need to know about the man. ; Here are the facts. ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Putin is:</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A ruthless dictator.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A liar.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A hypocrite.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A braggart.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A corrupt bureaucrat.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A murderer.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A war criminal.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A megalomaniac.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A sociopath.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A narcissist.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A warmonger</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">An enemy of the United States.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">An avowed enemy of NATO.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">An enemy of the free world.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A sponsor of international terrorism.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A racist.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">An antisemite.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">An embezzler.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A personification of evil.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">&#8230; and the list goes on. ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Stupid” is not on the list because Putin is not stupid. ; In fact, he is very smart and very clever. ; Unfortunately, that amplifies all those characteristics mentioned above. ; Putin did not rise to power, remain in power and extend his power by being stupid. ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There is only one way to deal with Putin. ; He must be consistently condemned. ; The United States and the rest of the free world must treat him as the pariah that he is. ; He must be defeated in all his ambitions. ; This is not the time for isolationism and Neville Chamberlain diplomacy.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">That means he must be driven out of Ukraine. ; His growing influence in the Middle East must be challenged and diminished. ; Maximum sanctions need to be imposed to break the back of the Russian economy. ; His ties to China’s Xi Jinping need to be broken by making him a liability more than a useful asset. ; His benefits to Iran – and vice versa – must be interdicted.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Putin is acting like Hitler –and must be treated as such. He is in an active war against the world democracies – east and west. Bringing about his downfall will require American leadership and a united effort by the world democracies to diminish his power cutting off his oil profits and eventually leading to his ouster.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It is a large task, to be sure. ; Sadly, America may not be up to the task. The Washington establishment – both Republican and Democrat – appear to be playing a game of accommodation. ; Since the invasion of Ukraine, the Biden policy of lip-service, half-assed support has enabled Putin to withstand Ukraine’s summer offensive, rebuild its military and gain ground on the battlefield. ; He has strengthened his support among the Russian people.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The shameful debate over the support of Ukraine is dangerous in both reality and optics. ; It denies Ukraine of much-needed military weaponry and ammunition to not only hold off Putin, but to retake the offensive. ; The fact that such support is even being debated gives Putin a propaganda advantage – and encouragement that he will eventually win the war and take over Ukraine.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Those in the Washington establishment who see a “victory” in ending the Ukraine War by ceding land to Putin are proffering nothing less than a huge victory for &#8230; Putin.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It is difficult to understand the voices of those – on the right AND the left &#8212; who coddle or sidle up to Putin or oppose supporting Ukraine as if he is not all things listed above. ; There is no accommodation with abject and determined evil. ; That has been proven over and over throughout history.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a>Neither President Biden nor President Trump have embraced the existential goals and objectives of truly defeating Putin. ; Neither is proposing the defeat and downfall of Putin. ; Just differing levels of accommodation.</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There can be no dealing with Putin. ; He and his ambitions must be defeated. ; If we fail that challenge, America and the world will pay a very dear price. ; America will further surrender its role as a leader of the free world – much to the detriment of future generations.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It is really that simple. ; Personally? ; I am not optimistic.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, there ‘tis.</p>

What you need to know and do about Putin
