With the amount of surreptitious recording of everything we do and say, it is not surprising that a translated recording of a recent discussion has been made available for our enjoyment. Two world leaders discussing occurrences and strategies, crucial and mundane depending on perspective, . . .
V.P. – “Hello? Hello? I thought you said you had him on the line. (He’s there Comrade Putin, he’s there.)”
V.J. – “Hello Mr. Putin, this is Valerie Jarrett, the President is here. We’re on speaker phone. Go ahead, we can hear you.”
V.P. – “Put him on the phone and take me off speaker.”
B.O. – “Hello, Vladimir. Sorry, I have a sore back. Twisted it on the golf course. Just finished a round. Who knew there were golf courses in the desert, and I think I . . .”
V.P. – “Look, I’m busy so I’ll make this brief. I’m in Crimea and I’m staying there. It’s always been part of Russia so don’t even think about it.”
B.O. – “What? Crimea? (Valerie, quick, where’s that? Oh.) So Vladimir, no problem, but please don’t make me look back in the press OK?”
V.P. – “Make you look bad? Aren’t you doing a good job of that all by yourself? You don’t need my help.”
B.O. – “Look, I’ve given you everything you wanted, I’ve cancelled the missile shield, I gave in on Syria, gave in on Iran, pulled Israel from striking Syria and Iran. I’ve approved Keystone, which maintains higher oil and gas prices to your advantage. I told you I’d be flexible, well I told what’s his name, your assistant, umm, Dmitry, yah, Dmitry. And I’ve been flexible.”
V.P. – “Just don’t get fancy with any real sanctions. You don’t want to make me angry. Ask Merkel what happens if I’m angry. She understands very well, or ask the Ukrainians. Oh, and I hold some of your debt, maybe you’re not aware of that. Do you have any idea what I can do to retaliate if you do anything to make ME look bad? Keep blowing hundreds of millions selling your Obamacare to Americans, and stay out of my business.
B.O. – “But you won’t go into any other areas of Ukraine, will you?”
V.P. – “I protect Russians and Russian interests. Don’t interfere.”
B.O. – “What about some of these other countries like Georgia, or Belarus, or (what did you say Valerie?) . . . or Finland?”
V.P. – “I don’t understand what you’re saying. We’re friends with those countries and we trade with them. That’s it. Nothing else.”
B.O. – “So you are not invading anyone else?”
V.P. – “What did you say to me? Invading? I’m not invading anything. I’m protecting what is Russia’s. I will always protect what is Russia’s.”
B.O. – “Oh, good. OK, so we’re good then. Umm, I should get my guy to meet with your guy, that way it looks like we’re doing something positive.”
V.P. – “What?”
B.O. – “Right now, you’re not making me look very good. That whole Iran and Syria thing really hurt me in the polls, and . . . . ”
V.P. – “I didn’t call to talk about Iran.”
B.O. – “I need to look like I’m doing something. I need to tell those Americans something. I’m President. They’re not the sharpest people, and they’ll believe what I tell them, but I need some help here particularly on the international stage. I have big plans for after I leave office.”
V.P. – “I don’t care what you tell them, or what you do, just don’t impose sanctions. None.”
B.O. – “So is it OK if Valerie sets up a meeting with John and . . . ”
V.P. – “I’m too busy for this.” . . . click.
A fading empire run by a thug is dictating international policy across Europe and throughout the Middle East. The implementation of Putin’s sweeping nationalist agenda will accelerate through to the end of the Obama Administration’s tenure in the Oval Office. Putin may not be brilliant, but his background and his actions tell us he knows how to exploit weakness.
The pandering MSM has completely accepted the new reality that has been imposed on Crimea and the Ukraine. We can look forward to other new realities as Putin the Strongman rebuilds the Russia of Tsarist days. Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia and Grand Duke of Finland, will be proud.
A constituent of the vast baby boomer generation with a career which has been fortunate to know the ponderous corporate worlds, as well as the intimately pressurized, and invigorating entrepreneurial domains of high tech and venture capital, I have harvested my share of mistakes meandering through corridors of enterprise from Silicon Valley, to London and endless, colourful, sometimes praetorian points in between. The voyage has provided an abundance of fodder for a pen yielding to an inquisitive keyboard, a foraging mind, and a passionate spirit.
Whether political or business or social or economic or personal, is it not all political? It is a privilege to write, and an even greater privilege to be read by anyone, and sometimes with the wind at my back the writing may occasionally be legible. I do not write to invite scorn, nor to invite respect, but if I get really lucky the writing can stimulate thinking. I also write for the very selfish purpose of animating my own processes, and engaging the best of what life offers. Above all, whether biting fire or swatting shadows, I am grateful to be gifted the freedom to write and publish whatever flows down to the keyboard. To all those who enabled this freedom, and to all those standing guard to preserve it, I am indebted.